Good rains but no increase in groundwater level

In spite of good rainfall in the two districts of Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy last month, the groundwater level has not seen a major increase. Officials at the Telangana groundwater department say that the deficit rainfall last year has had its effect on the groundwater levels.

Drawing of excess water from borewells and indiscriminate surge in digging new borewells is cited as the reason for the groundwater plummeting to low levels. According to the latest statistics from the groundwater department, several areas such as Asifnagar, Darulshifa, Khairatabad and Nampally have witnessed a fall in groundwater levels.

In comparison to June 2014, this year in many areas the groundwater levels have dipped by -1.10 metres and in Nampally it is -4.30 metres. In some areas the water level has plummeted by a few metres Below Ground Level (BGL). Usually there is an improvement post-monsoon with BGL rising but there has been no increase that is noteworthy says a senior official.

There has been only a 0.06 increase in the average depth to ground water level in MGBL this June in comparison to last year in the same month. From 9.72 average depth to ground water level in mgbl in June 2014 it is 9.66 in June 2015. Asifnagar, Marredpally, Saidabad and Bahadurpura have fared better than other areas in the Hyderabad district.

In Ranga Reddy district, Hayatnagar saw a dip by -4.25 m, Maheshwaram by -3.15 m, Medchal by -21.25m, Bantawaram by -16.75m and Yalal by -2.71m. The district average in June 2014 was 12.99 and this year it is 15.70 recording a fall of -2.71m.