The erratic monsoon in the State last month not only resulted in a deficit of around 30 per cent of rains but also a dip in the ground water levels in 30 of the 32 districts, according to State Ground and Surface Water Resources Data Centre of Water Resources Department.
Officials at the centre told Express that barring both Krishnagiri and Erode registering a ground water table rise of 1.05 metres, the 30 other districts registered a dip. Drastic dips were witnessed in the agrarian districts of Coimbatore, Theni, Villupuram and Thiruvanamalai. In Coimbatore, the water levels dipped by 5.55 metres followed by Tiruvanamalai (3.85), Villupuram (3.18) and Theni (3.37 metres). Sources said, one could strike water in Coimbatore at a depth of 8.36 metre last year but now farmers have to dig nearly 14 metres to get water. In Theni, the ground water table which was already low at 11.02 metres last year, further receded to 14.39 metres. What is more alarming is that in all agrarian as well as hard rock region, the ground water level has fallen. Officials at the centre blamed the erratic rainfall in the state last month. “The precipitation is not sufficient besides there is heavy extraction of ground water,” officials said. But at the same time, officials feel that the ground water situation could improve if it rains this month. “We still have December rains and hope things improve by then,” the official added.
Meanwhile, in Chennai, the ground water level has also reduced by 1.3 metres in November. Officials said the data is being taken from PWD monitoring wells in the city. They said Chennai Metro Water has area-wise observations wells and their data is more area specific. However, the monsoon in the city has been erratic, so in Velachery the ground water table could have risen and in Kodambakkam it could have dropped, said a official at the centre.