Soak pits increase groundwater level

Kakinada: The construction of soak pits in the district is showing excellent results. The groundwater levels have increased in the district despite lack of rains. It was expected that the water availability levels during monsoon was expected to increase further. The programme is linked to NREGS.

In the wake of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu stressing the importance of having water harvesting structures leading to recharge of groundwater, a renewed focus on water harvesting structures or recharge pits gained momentum in the district.

With hectic construction activity, exploitation of groundwater has increased in urban areas. Speaking to The Hans India, Dr S V Vijay Kumar senior scientist of Deltaic Regional Centre, National Institute of Hydrology, Kakinada, suggests that the following precautions be taken while having soak pits.

According to him, it is not advisable to have soak pits for sites below 300 sq yards as the soil is likely to become tender owing to moisture affecting foundation.

For bigger sites measuring 400 or 500 sq yards, soak pits can be taken up with 3 m depth, 1 m diameter and layers of sand, pebbles and gravel, he added.