VIJAYAWADA:Timely monsoon in the State has not only brought cheers on the faces of the farmers, but also gave relief to the Groundwater Department staff, who are happy with the improvement of groundwater levels across the State compared to last year.
In June last year, the average groundwater level registered in the State was 14.14 metres below ground level where as it is 12.60 metres now -- an improvement of 1.54 metres. In Rayalaseema region, it was 20.43 metres below ground level in June last year and it stood at 15.24 metres this year -- a marked improvement by 5.19 metres. However, in case of coastal Andhra Pradesh, the average groundwater level stood at 11.43 metres below ground level now, which is 0.09 metres deeper than water table in June last year when it was 11.34 metres below ground level.
As per the data available with the officials, Anantapur showed a marked improvement, followed by Chittoor, Kadapa, Kurnool and Prakasam districts. On the other hand, Krishna registered a further depletion of 2 metres, followed by Visakhapatnam, East Godavari and West Godavari districts.
In June 2017, the average groundwater level in Anantapur was 26.09 metres below ground level (MBGL) and this year it has improved to 18.50 MBGL, an improvement of 7.59 metres.
In Chittoor, the average groundwater level has improved by 5.29 metres from 22.30 metres last years. The improvement is 5.22 metres in case of Kadapa, 2.27 metres for Kurnool and 2.19 metres for Prakasam. It should be noted that all these five districts are considered drought-prone and backward.Interestingly, depletion of groundwater levels was observed in developed and developing districts this year. In Krishna district, the groundwater depleted by 1.98 metres from 10.46 MBGL last year. In Visakhapatnam, it was 1.25 metres from 7.71 MBGL and in case of East Godavari, it was by 0.66 metres. In West Godavari district, groundwater level which stood at 19.31 MBGL last June, fell further down to 19.64 MBGL.
Though it might not look alarming when compared to groundwater levels of these four districts with Rayalaseema districts, the fact remains that, while the situation is improving in Rayalaseema districts, the water table is on the downward trend in some of the coastal districts.
Neeru-Chettu
Water Resources Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao said groundwater table in the State has increased by 2 metres on an average and attributed it to the various measures taken up under the Neeru-Chettu and Neeru-Pragathi schemes.When pointed out the depletion levels in Krishna district and a few other places, he said there is nothing to worry. Officials are expecting that the situation will further improve with the first 10 days of June receiving more rain than normal and more rains are expected in the coming two weeks.
Rain forecast in North Coastal AP, Rayalaseema
Vijayawada: Moderate to heavy rainfall is likely to lash various places in North Coastal AP on Monday under the influence of low pressure formed over Odisha and Tamil Nadu. Light to moderate rainfall is predicted at a few places in Rayalaseema in the next three days, according to IMD. Vepada, Yelamanchili, Bondapalle and Bheemunipatnam in Coastal Andhra witnessed 5 cm rainfall, while Ardhaveedu, Vizianagaram, Paderu and Denkada recorded 1 cm rainfall. Orvakal and Jupadu Bungalow recorded 4 cm and 3 cm rainfall.
