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Groundwater table receding alarmingly in Vikarabad district: Report
The groundwater table has receded further in Vikarabad district up to 20 meters in 30 per cent area of the district signalling danger if water conservation measures are not initiated immediately, according to a groundwater department report.
Vikarabad: The groundwater table has receded further in Vikarabad district up to 20 meters in 30 per cent area of the district signalling danger if water conservation measures are not initiated immediately, according to a groundwater department report.
The population of Vikarabad, Tandur, Parigi and Kodangal Assembly constituencies is put at 9.27 lakh. A total of 4,809 drinking water schemes are quenching their thirst. Water is being drawn from borewells which are quenching the people’s thirst leading to groundwater table receding further and further.
Compared to April last year, groundwater table in 10 per cent of the mandals receded more than 20 meters and in 20 per cent of the mandals the table has gone to depths of 15 meters. Vikarabad district figured among the 18 districts where the groundwater table receded further and further. In four mandals of the neighbouring Mahabubnagar district the water level is abysmally low.
At a time when the groundwater table is receding, the farmers have been advised to raise only dry crops. Since the government has been providing 24x7 power supplies to farm sector, the farmers have been pumping water from borewells continuously to raise the paddy crop under borewells. On account of drawing water more than the requirement, the groundwater table is fast receding. The agricultural experts advise farmers to raise vegetable crops along with the dry crops.
Application of sprinkler and drip-irrigation will be useful in conserving the water and it will help augment t he groundwater table. To conserve water in the areas where groundwater table is receding, saplings should be planted as part of the Haritaharam programme. If the saplings planted are nursed carefully, there is scope for rainfall. Everyone should take upon responsibility on themselves to plant saplings in the Haritaharam programme implemented in June and July annually. The target fixed for each village to plant saplings is 40,000.
Further, construction of check dams under watershed development programme is advocated. Also, care should be taken that each family should construct a water-harvesting structure in each village.
