Wells dug recklessly, Hyderabad and Secunderabad drained as water levels drop
Hyderabad: Most of the 200-300 feet deep borewells in the twin cities have dried up due to deteriorating groundwater levels.
The study of hydrographs by the Groundwater Development department indicates that over the years, the water table has depleted in many places across the twin cities like: Bowenpally, Aghapura, Erragadda, Basheerbagh, Langer Houz, Jubilee Hills, Begumpet, Koti, West Marredpally, Gudimalkapur, Musheerabad, Sanathnagar and Madhapur.
Besides, poor rainfall, shrinking lakes and depleting water levels in reservoirs, the two main reasons for the situation are illegal overdrawl of water through intense borewell drilling and lack of water recycling.
This is robbing many residents who have borewells of 200-300 ft depth, of groundwater.
In order to maintain the groundwater level and stop overdrawal of water, under the AP Water, Land and Trees Act, consent for digging of borewell of width not more than 4.5 inch and depth not exceeding 500 feet is given.
“However, most of the borewells dug are of 6.5 inch wide and the depth goes beyond 1,200-1,400 feet depending on the owner’s financial strength,” said scientist and member of Greater Alwal Allied Service Association (GAASA), Dr G.V. Rao.
“A 6.5 inch borewell allows a five-seven HP motor to function against the one-two HP motor in a 4.5 inch borewell. As a result, it drains away the water up to 200 feet underground, robbing groundwater of neighbours who have borewells of less than 300 feet depth,” added Dr Rao.
As per the latest data by the Groundwater department, the water level has dipped by 2.20 meter in the Twin Cities as compared to last year. In 2013, the groundwater level was 7.39 meter BGL and in July 2014, the recorded groundwater level is 9.59 BGL.
Mr Ramesh Kumar, deputy director of the groundwater department, Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy district said, “The department installed piezometers at Ameerpet, two places in Asifnagar, Bandlaguda, Charminar, Khairatabad, Marredpally, Nampally, Serilingampally, Saidabad and Bahadurpura mandals and recorded the groundwater levels. We found that groundwater levels have dropped in all mandals in the Hyderabad district this year."
