VIJAYAWADA: Ground water level has decreased in Krishna district compared to last year owing to poor monsoon. Though intermittent rains during late July and August have provided some relief to farmers from poor monsoon, ground water levels have fallen by 1.74 m compared to the corresponding month last year.
Besides decrease in the water level what is striking is that there is a huge gap between the lowest and the highest levels of ground water in the district. While Musunuru mandal registered the lowest water level with water available at a depth of 55 m, the highest water levels were registered in Machilipatnam mandal where water is available at a depth of 0.02 m.
Ground water level depends on various factors like amount of rainfall, form of rainfall like whether it is a drizzle or a downpour, release of water into the canals, nature of crops like whether they are water-intensive or not and the nature of rocks in the region among various other factors.
“Though depletion and rise in water levels cannot be linked to a specific cause, poor monsoon might be the reason for decrease in water level when compared to last year. While in August last year, water was available at 5.36 m depth, this August water levels went further down by 1.74 m,” said A Varaprasada Rao, deputy director of Krishna district Ground Water Department.
Poor monsoon and delayed release of water into canals have caused a severe problem in the district in the month of June. Even there was a scarcity of drinking water. But unexpected rains in the latter part of July and August have eased the situation.