Jainoor, March 25: Despite the good reserves in the ground, the sharp and steady rise in day temperature this month has alarmed experts over the possibility of water shortage as the season progresses. “It is better to curb wastage of water now than to rue later”, observes G. Kumaraswamy, Adilabad Deputy Director Ground Water, as he forwards the simplest theory to ward off even an unforeseen crisis.
Thanks to the good rainfall last monsoon, ground water was recharged by 9.5 mts and is a good 5 mts more at present than the level recorded during the corresponding period last year. The district average shows ground water to be close to 7 mts at this juncture. As the day temperatures had remained comparatively cool in the first two months of this year, there was less of evaporation. The ground water levels, which had receded by about 7.5 mts during January and February, will plunge by 1 to 1.5 mts in April and by over 2 mts in May.
“High day temperatures will deplete ground water faster. Villages in Utnoor and Asifabad Divisions could face water shortage at the end of the season”, warns Mr. Kumaraswamy. The hilly mandals of the agency area of Utnoor like Narnoor, Jainoor, Sirpur (U), Indervelli and Utnoor have always faced drinking water shortage in summer months. All the drinking water sources in villages like Pipri in Narnoor, located on a higher altitude, dry up as the season makes headway making life difficult for the tribals.
As compared to the travails of last year, animals are not expected to find the going difficult this summer. Almost all the irrigation tanks and major watering holes in the forests and close to habitations have retained water.
Even wild animals need not roam long distances in search of water. Unlike last year, the domesticated animals too will find sufficient water closer to the villages, according to an official of the Animal Husbandry Department.
-Agencies