COIMBATORE: After several years, the groundwater levels in Coimbatore city have seen significant rise, thanks to the abundant rains in the month of May. And many farmers are even putting to the plough, land that has remained barren for want of water.
The rise in levels is higher than in recent years at this time of the year, according to the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board (TWAD Board).
In Kottur panchayat, the water level was 7.8 metres from the surface in 2014, but rose to 1.9 m in May 2015. Even overexploited areas like Narasipuram, Vedappatty and Asokapuram have shown an increase. In Narasipuram, the level rose to 61 m from 63.1 m last year. In Vedappatty, it rose to 57 m (64.2 m in 2014) and in Asokapuram to 32.8 m (36 m).
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n areas like Kottur, Makkinampatti, Ambarampalayam and S Puravipalayam, the water level is 1.9 m (7.8), 2.3 m (11), 3.2 m (7.6) and 4.7 m (8.6) respectively.
However, in one place in Coimbatore, the groundwater level has fallen, according to the TWAD Board report. In Kalampalayam, the level fell to 10.8 meters from 7.4 m last year.
Farmers in many places attest to the TWAD Board findings. The levels in their wells have risen, they told Express.
Venugopal, from Irigoor, said, “In 1980, I dug an 18-foot-deep well for farming in my land. The water level then was at 12 feet from the surface.
However, in 2003, it dried completely in summer and I increased the depth to 25 feet. I was getting water at 17 feet. In 2008, the well dried again and I had to dig it to 30 feet. I was getting water at 25 feet till May 2015. But after the May rains, the level rose to 15 feet.”
The well has not had so much water in two decades. “Now we have enough water to farm and I am planning to grow crops on some barren land this year,” added Venugopal.
But, it is not just the copious amount of rainfall that the region experienced. “People now know how important rainwater harvesting is. This has also contributed. The decline in agricultural activities is also a factor,” said a senior official of the PWD’s Water Resources Department.