Inadequate wells hamper groundwater levels monitoring

Hyderabad: As there are fewer wells to gauge groundwater levels in city, government may not be in a position to know the correct levels of groundwater at various places when groundwater levels are depleted.

There are only mere 16 wells to check the groundwater levels when there has been a requirement of a well per 5 kilometres radius area.

Groundwater levels vary from colony to colony depending on the population density. The numbers of points from which the ground water levels are monitored are not sufficient to provide an overall condition of city’s ground water levels.

With minimum of one well to gauge groundwater levels in each mandal, Ground Water Department of Hyderabad has set up 23 groundwater monitoring wells covering 16 mandals in the city which clearly is insufficient. Out of the total 23, two wells have been dysfunctional since a few weeks.

K Dhananjaya, Director, Ground Water Department explains that a ground water testing bore well at every 5 Km radius is necessary to get a clear picture. He says “Fluctuation in groundwater levels may also vary from colony to colony depending on the population density.

He said that lack of funds is the main constraint to get better research equipment. People are digging deeper in search of groundwater every year in areas such as Habsiguda st. 8, Tirumalgiri, Alkapuri Colony, Kukatpally, Nizampet where water presence can be found only after going to the depth beyond 1,000 ft.

Ishwarya (26), a resident of Alkapuri Colony narrates about her high expenses on tankers last year as ground water levels went down drastically. “Last year we dig 1,200 ft and yet couldn’t find ground water.

As a result of which, we had to buy tankers every day. Levels have recharged this year with water at 900 ft”. With growing population and urbanisation, it is only going to become more difficult for groundwater levels to recharge.

By: Sasidhar Kocharlakota