HYDERABAD: Southwest (SW) monsoon, which had a good start in Telangana, is now declining as 20 districts in the state recorded below normal rainfall in August as per the recently released report by groundwater department.About 36 per cent below normal rainfall was recorded in Asifabad and Mancherial districts, followed by 35 per cent in Peddapally, 31 per cent in Jagtial, 27 per cent in Sircilla, 25 per cent in Nizamabad and Nirmal, 23 per cent in Medak, 19 per cent in Vikarabad and Adilabad, 18 per cent in Bhupalpally, 17 per cent in Karimnagar, 16 per cent in Jangaon, 14 per cent in Warangal (U), 12 per cent in Nagarkurnool, 6 per cent in Warangal (R), 5 per cent in Sangareddy and Yadadri, 4 per cent in Siddipet and 2 per cent in Kamareddy.
Of these 20 districts, eight districts which received 20-59 per cent below normal rainfall, fall in the category of being rainfall deficit. Overall, for Telangana, the rainfall deficit stands at 11 per cent below normal as it rained 527 mm till August against the normal of 591 mm. Effect of falling rainfall levels can be observed on groundwater levels across the state. As per the report, groundwater levels in August this year fell in nine districts as compared to August 2016.
Since southwest monsoon is likely to recede by September end, scope of improvement in groundwater is very limited, noted the report.Fall in groundwater levels has been recorded in Mahbubnagar, Gadwal, Medchal, Vikarabad, Adilabad, Nirmal, Mancherial, Asifabad and Jagtial districts. In the remaining districts, groundwater levels have shown improvement ranging from just by 0.11 metres in Bhupalpally to a maximum of 6.54 metres in Siddipet.
Overall, across the state, average groundwater level improved by a meager 1.98 metres from being 12.11 meters below ground level (mbgl) in August 2016 to 10.13mbgl this year August.
Situation in Hyderabad, however, is better than most districts in the state as rainfall in August was recorded 35 per cent above normal in Hyderabad. Groundwater levels also showed an improvement of 6.06 metres in August 2017 as compared to last year August. While the average groundwater level for Hyderabad was 11.68 mbgl in August last year, this year, it is 5.62 mbgl.
As per the report, groundwater level deeper than 20 mbgl has been reported from 57 mandals across districts of Sangareddy, Mahabubnagar, Rangareddy, Medak and Siddipet and in 59 mandals, groundwater levels between 15-20 mbgl has been recorded. The report noted that measures have to be taken in these 126 mandals for improvement of groundwater levels.
what the report says
Recently released report by groundwater department, Southwest monsoon is now declining in 20 districts
Overall, for Telangana, the rainfall deficit stands at 11 per cent below normal as it rained 527 mm till August against the normal of 591 mm
Fall in ground water
levels has been recorded in M’nagar, Gadwal, Medchal, Vikarabad, Adilabad, Nirmal, Mancherial, Asifabad and Jagtial districts