The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Significant improvement in groundwater level

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 16, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Significant improvement in groundwater level

By T. Ramakrishnan

CHENNAI, FEB. 15. Groundwater availability in the State appears better this time than in the previous year.

Seventyeight per cent of wells all over the State have recorded a rise in level, from one metre to more than four metres, according to an assessment made by the Central Groundwater Board (CGWB) last month. A fall in the level has been noticed in the remaining 22 per cent.

For comparison of the groundwater levels of the two years, 414 wells are under the board's observation. (The Central agency monitors the level of nearly 900 wells.) In January 2004, only 44 per cent of the wells registered a rise in level.

Among the districts where all or most of the wells have recorded improvement this time are Perambalur, Ramanathapuram and Sivaganga, known as dry areas. Other such districts include Cuddalore, Dharmapuri, Erode, Kancheepuram, Madurai, Pudukottai, Tiruvannamalai and Tuticorin.

Vellore contrast

Vellore presents a contrast with 13 of the 24 wells assessed registering a fall in the level. In Karur there were as many wells which recorded a fall as those which registered a rise.

The main reason cited by the CGWB for the overall improvement is that the northeast monsoon (October-December) was normal. The State received 433 mm of rain against the expected 430 mm. In the previous years, the rainfall was deficient.

Water experts say rainfall in the whole of 2004 should also be considered. The State registered 1096 mm, up from the normal 908 mm. As the deviation from the normal was a little more than 20 per cent, the annual rainfall was surplus, going by meteorological standards.

Tsunami relief

The CGWB is sinking nine deep borewells in tsunami-hit areas of Nagapattinam and Tirunelveli districts. "We will complete the work by the end of March and hand over the wells to the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board for operation and maintenance," says R. Chakrapani, regional director (south eastern coastal region). The depth in Tirunelveli will be 60-150 metres and in Nagapattinam 300 metres. The exact yield will be known only after tests are carried out.

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