Hyderabad, May 28: It’s not just the falling water levels in the reservoirs that has become a matter of grave concern in the the city and the surrounding areas in Rangareddy district but also the depleting ground water table.
A survey by the Ground Water Department found that at 55 places in the two districts the ground water levels have dipped because of over-exploitation and severe heat wave conditions.
Reports show that the ground water level fell by a metre in April compared to March. The officials expect a further dip due to the hot spell.
“Besides the severe heat, extensive drawing of ground water through unregulated borewells has become another reason for sharp decrease in ground water tables in both Hyderabad and RR district,” officials said.
The most affected localities in the city are Picket, Saidabad, Kulsumpura, Chandrayangutta, Bahadurpura, Saheb Nagar, Moinabad, Kothapet and Nacharam.
Because of increasing paved surfaces water percolation has been decreasing.
Most of the rain water is getting evaporated instead of sinking down into the earth. The average volume of rain water percolation in the city is 1,314 hecta metres per year. But the rate of exploitation is over 500 per cent of the percolation rate.
As per the report, the below ground water levels (the depths at which water is available) in various areas are: Sanjeevareddy Nagar (19.05 metres), Humayunagar (2.50), Kulsumpura (6.84), Chandrayangutta (8.86), Darulshifa (4.98), Khairatabad (12.87), AP Secretariat (5.55), Marredpally (17.62), Musheerabad (6.70), Nampally (11.04), Gachibowli (4.32), Picket (6.45), Juvenile Home (8.87).
Balanagar (11.20), Bantaram (18.60), Basheerabad (10.35), Dharur (8.35), Doma (9.91), Mohammedabad (10.05), Sahebnagar (20.62), Yalgarpally (14.43), Kulkacherla (10.58), Malkajgiri (11.54), Marpalle (20.79), Gundla Pochampally (16.26), Moinabad (21.06), Mominpet (8.34), Vattinapalli (12.64), Peddamul (16.66), Pudur (11.02), Quthbullapur (6.05), Kothapet (13.05), Shabad (23.06), Shankarpally (13.84), Tandur (7.05), Nacharam (12.50), Vikarabad (18.70), Yacharam (13.21), Yalal (15.76), Malkaram (16.33), Palmakole (12.47), Dharmasagar (21.72), Shamirpet (3.78), Mangalpally (12.87), Rajendranagar (14.66), Manchal (11.80), Bodakonda (15.13), Kandukur (13.24), Bahadarpura (13.34), Kota Basupally (8.45), Nawabpet (12.66), Alur (9.12), Pedda Uminiyal (8.71), Parigi (21.56) and Serilingampally (4.92).
The minimum water level is 2.50m bgl at Humayunnagar and maximum is 19.05m bgl at Ameerpet. The corresponding figures for Ranga Reddy are 3.79 bgl at Shameerpet and 23.06 bgl at Shahbad.
Hydrologists in the department attribute the situation to the unscientific and indiscriminate sinking of borewells without seeking professional advice.
Sinking of too many borewells, poor rainfall, geology of the area, underground rock formations and soil conditions contribute to decline in water table. Only continuous rainfall can alter the grim situation, they added.
There is at least 25-35 percent deficit rainfall in the twin cities and neighboring Ranga Reddy district, which, according to officials, is the main reason for the fall in ground water level.
Five pumps installed at Osmansagar
With the water level in Osmansagar (Gandipet) reservoir dropping to a record low, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) has installed four 100 HP pumps and one 50 HP pump at the lake to draw water. Pumping will start when the reservoir level falls below 1,760 feet. The present level is at 1,762.20 with a capacity of 0.233 TMC of water.
Managing director M Jagadeeshwar inaugurated the pumps on Thursday.
The pumps will draw 15 Million Gallons of water per Day (MGD) which will flow to the Asifnagar Filter Beds from where 12 MGD of clear water will be released for supply. The water will be supplied to Humayun Nagar, Kakatiya Nagar, Vijaya Nagar Colony, Salarjung Colony, Red Hills, Ghode ki Khaber, Manghalhat, AC Guards, Asifnagar and other areas.
—Agencies