Hyderabad City's groundwater level drops like never before

Hyderabad: The city is reeling under acute groundwater depletion and the main reason is the rapid growth of colonization, rampant use of water from the borewells and inadequate rainfall.

The groundwater table in the city is going down rapidly as the extraction rate is high. According to the researchers of Telangana Groundwater Department, the average groundwater level during June 2019 dropped to 14 meters below ground level(mbgl) from 12.7 mbgl in 2018.

The worst-affected areas include densely crowded areas like Marredpally, Asif Nagar, Trimulgherry, Charminar, Hasmatpet, Shaikpet, and Ameerpet.

In Marredpally, the water table has dipped by 22.43 meters below the ground (MBGL) compare to last year. In Hashmatpet, water levels have dropped by a whopping 10.47 mbgl, in Ameerpet, the water table has dipped by 20.28 and in Asifnagar is 7.75mbgl, says Pandith Madhnure, Director of Telangana Groundwater Department.

The groundwater levels in the city saw fluctuations at an alarming scale in the past 10 years. The groundwater level in 2018 -12.7 mbgl , in 2017 it stood - 9.3 mbgl, in 2016 - 12.5 mbgl, in 2015 - 11.8 mbgl, in 2014 - 9.46 mbgl, in 2013 - 7.39 mbgl, in 2012 - 6.2 mbgl in 2011 - 5.5 mbgl, in 2010 - 5.2 mgbl and in 2009 - 6.1 mgbl.

Groundwater is being exploited with the increase in population and using water indiscriminately to meet the domestic and irrigation needs. The groundwater is drawn through shallow and deep bore wells that are dug up to a depth ranging from 100-300 ft depending upon the geological terrain of the area.

Normally, bore wells are dug up to 150 ft, but recently there have been fresh requests from residents in some areas for digging bore well below 400 ft and it is also the reason for groundwater depletion.

The quality of groundwater deteriorated due to the drainage and industrial effluents seepage and mixing with groundwater which is not potable due to the presence of high TDS (total dissolved solids)and toxic chemicals. The affected areas of polluted water are Patancheru, LB Nagar, IDA Jeedimetla, Bholakpur, says Madhnure.

According to experts, the level of groundwater level may increase if the city receives a sufficient amount of rainfall during the monsoon season which is already delayed by a fortnight.

Speaking about the situation, the director said that the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project is expected to pump a massive volume of Godavari water and make it available to large areas in the State. Kaleswaram water would be also allocated for Hyderabad, which would be a boon to the city and also lower the city's dependence on groundwater.