Andhra Pradesh   

Alarming depletion of groundwater

SANGAREDDY: Groundwater levels in the district were depleting alarmingly and if proper steps were not taken in time this may lead to further problems to the farming community, which was more dependent on rainfall as there was lack of proper water resources.

During the last two decades the groundwater levels fell by 20 metres on an average in the district and at some places it was even worse at 30 metres.

Between 1985 and 1990 the groundwater table fell between 0.5 metres to 1 metre each year, followed by 0.7 to 1 metre between 1990 and 2000 and 1 metre to 1.2 metres between 2000 and 2008. This situation was at places where normal rainfall was recorded. At places where rainfall was below normal the condition was worse and water levels went down by 100 feet.

Neither the officials nor the farmers bothered about suggestions made by geologists such as maintaining 350 metres distance between each bore dug, over exploitation and excessive use of water and going for alternative crops where water usage would be reduced.

As there was no excessive rainfall and only 9 per cent of the rain water could be recharged, it had an adverse impact on the groundwater table. “None heeded to our suggestion of constructing contour trench in the fields. Few farmers who followed the advice were able to cross the bridge,” says Groundwater Department assistant hydro geologist T. Vithal.

On the other hand, the department was never informed about the existing borewells in the district and their condition. “The last information we received regarding borewells in the district pertains to 2006,” said G. Kamala Devi, deputy director.

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