HYDERABAD: Despite the delay in the arrival of southwest monsoon in the state leading to water bodies drying up, and several experts predicting a very weak monsoons this year, there is some respite. Groundwater level in many parts of Hyderabad and Rangareddy districts has improved considerably, meaning farmers can continue to rely on borewells in case of a further delay in monsoon.
Thanks to the 30 percent excess rainfall received in the region last year, the water table seems to have come to the rescue of farmers this time. Chevella mandal in Rangareddy district, which has over the years, remained one of the worst in terms of groundwater levels, has recorded the highest rise of 21 metre in the water level. When water was available at 30 m depth last June, it has come up to 9 m last month.
“The water table has recharged due to the 30 percent excess rainfall last year. If the monsoons are weak this year, it will reflect in the water table next year,” said Ramesh Kumar, deputy director, Groundwater Department (Hyderabad and Rangareddy). Thirty of the total 37 mandals in Rangareddy districts have recorded a positive in June compared to last year. The overall increase in the district is stated to be up to 3 metres. Several mandals like Ghatkesar, Hayatnagar, Maheshwaram, Manchal, Medchal, Yacharam, Pargi, Vikarabad, Nawabpet and Pudur, apart from Chevella, have recorded a rise of between 4 m and 11 m.
According to him, even a normal monsoon this year would reflect negatively on the water table next year. “Percolation of rainwater is almost nil with the city growing into a concrete jungle and tanks in the peripheral areas vanishing. Rainwater harnessing, if not taken up on a large scale, would not help,” he said.
The data for Hyderabad city’s 11 mandals shows figures that remain marginally the same as last year. When groundwater, on an average, was available at a depth of 9.91 metre June last year, it has improved to a depth of up to 9.72 metre, with Nampally mandal recording an improvement of 5.13 metre. When water was available only at a depth of 12.6 metre last year, this June water is available at 7.4 metre depth.
Groundwater levels have improved from 14.3 metre depth to 4.20 metre this year, an improvement of 10.10 metre. At the same time, in Bantawaram mandal where water was available last year at 27.6 metre depth, it is now available at 15.92 metre, an improvement of 11.69 metre.
Pargi mandal recorded an improvement of 8.9 m, followed by Hayatnagar, Manchal and Maheshwaram, which recorded an improvement of 7.65 m, 7.25 m and 7.2 m respectively. Yacharam and Vikarabad witnessed an improvement by 6.5 m and 6 m, followed by Medchal at 5.76 m. Pudur, Nawabpet and Ibrahimpatnam mandals recorded an improvement of 4 m each.