Groundwater level plummets further in drought-hit Telangana

Hyderabad. May 12: There is more bad news for Telangana, which is reeling under a severe drought, with the groundwater levels plummeting further.

With deficit rainfall for two consecutive years, the average groundwater level fell by 2.89 metres bgl (below ground level) in April 2016 when compared to April 2015.

The state groundwater department on Thursday released the report for the last month, which indicates that water level fell alarmingly in some parts of the state.

In a state facing water scarcity due to second successive drought, reeling under heat wave conditions and sharp fall in levels in major reservoirs, the decline in groundwater table is further adding to people's woes.

The average groundwater level for the state in April 2016 was 15.66 metres whereas it was 12.77 metre during the same period in the previous year. The net fall of 2.89 metres has been attributed to deficit rainfall of 24 percent in 2014-15 and 25 percent during 2015-16.

According to the report, the fall ranging from 1.23 metres to 5.99 metres was observed in all 10 districts in the state. The highest fall in average water levels was observed in Nizamabad district and the shallowest fall in Khammam district.

The maximum recharge of groundwater takes place during monsoon but for two years the state did not get sufficient rains.

The analysis indicates deep water levels of more than 20 metres in 137 mandals, between 15 to 20 metres in 69 mandals and between 10 to 15 metres in 98 mandals.

The report said there is an urgent need to take appropriate measures to improve the groundwater conditions in stressed areas. It called for giving top priority to water conservation, augmentation and management.

The department in its report for March 2016 had revealed that the average groundwater level fell by 2.61 m-bgl compared to that of March 2015.

IANS