HYDERABAD: Telangana has dubiously ‘consolidated’ its position among the water-stressed states in the country vis-a-vis ground water reserves. Staring at an impending crisis, the newest state is using up 58 per cent of the ground water, an alarming three per cent jump compared to last year.
According to National Water Policy norms, states utilising above 45 per cent of ground water reserves are considered as water-stressed. With rains playing truant, indiscriminate borewell digging and no concrete efforts to recharge the ground water have changed the dynamics of ground water usage in the State.
It has gone up from 55 per cent in united AP to 58 per cent in the current year.
Another crisis in the making is drawing up of ground water from the static ground water reserves.
Water reserves upto 120 metres is considered as ‘Dynamic water reserve’ that can be easily replenished.
However, anything below 120 metres is called ‘Static water reserves’ which is highly difficult to replenish.
Joint director of the State Ground Department G Sambaiah said that the State government was contemplating a ban on digging of borewells. He said 14 mandals in Medak, 11 in Karimnagar, 10 in Warangal, four in Nizamabad among others are over exploiting ground water.