VIZIANAGARAM: Water woes are likely to increase in the months ahead if the rapid depletion of groundwater table is any indication. The main source of drinking water for people in the district is groundwater which normally is available at a depth of seven to 4.83 metres. The water table has already touched 4.83 metres last month from 4.25 metres in the month preceding it thus indicating a crisis in peak summer.

Officials say that though the present groundwater level is satisfactory, it depleted considerably when compared with the corresponding period last year when the table stood at 4.07 metres.

Following moderate northeast monsoon in October 2005 (70.3 per cent) and in November (51.5 per cent) the water table in peak summer 2006 was 5.79 metres which was one metre(approximately) higher than 6.74 metres for the same period in 2005. Even at 5.79-metre level, a few villages faced drinking water shortage. The administration supplied water to Koduru in Badangi mandal and Chodupallipeta in Poosapatirega mandal through tankers then.

The readings

The recent Piezometer readings point out that except in four places -- Bobbili(0.76 m), Mamidipalli in Salur mandal(0.10 m), Sathivada in Nellimarla mandal (1.05 m) and Vepada (1.45m ) -- where the water levels improved, at all other points depletion was recorded. The recession in groundwater table was due to failure of the northeast monsoon. People in Vizianagaram municipality have in some pockets begun experiencing the crisis. The municipality is supplying 19 mld of water against the demand of 30 mld for 2.17 lakh population. In Parvathipuram for 52,000 population the supply is 5 mld against 7-8 mld, Bobbili for 51,000 population (4.8 mld against 7 - 8 mld) and in Salur Municipality the supply is 4.2 mld against the demand of 5- 6 mld for a population of 40,000.

The district administration is gearing up to face the situation.

Already a contingent plan with Rs. 5.60 crores was prepared.

In all 1096 works have been identified which include flushing of 485 silted borewells, repairs to 86 defunct PWS schemes, providing 245 borewells with handpumps and transportation of water through tankers, if necessary, to problem villages.

The execution of repairs to some schemes has already begun, according to RWS officials.

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