Groundwater rises by 1 metre in Hyderabad

Though over 200 mandals in the state are reeling under a rainfall deficit, the state capital has witnessed a rise in the groundwater level.

The officials at the Groundwater Department of Hyderabad and Rangareddy districts give credit to to the 180mm rainfall recorded till July 21, for this rise.

The twin cities have recorded an average ground water level rise of 1.10m in July 2012 when compared to the same period last year. Except for Kulsumpura and Darulshifa, groundwater level has increased in all the other 11 mandals of Hyderabad district. “The rise is due to adequate rainfall in the the city last month. The rains impacted not only Hyderabad, but 10 mandals in Rangareddy district bordering Hyderabad,” said N Raja Reddy, deputy director, ground water department, Hyderabad and Rangareddy districts.

But, the picture in Ranga Reddy district is not so bright. Twenty-Seven of the 37 mandals in Rangareddy district have recorded a 2 meter decline in groundwater level on an average. Moinabad, Manchal, Bantawaram, Doma mandals have recorded a steep decline of 12.66m, 8.05m, 7.86m, and 6.65m respectively. “Definitely, the fall in the groundwater levels suggest deficit of rainfall in most parts of the district,” he said.

Also improper recharge methods, rainwater harvesting and over-utilisation of groundwater are the reasons for the fall, he added.

However, mandals bordering Hyderabad like Balanagar, Nawabpet, Uppal, Qutubullapur, Saroornagar, Ibrahimpatnam, Rajendranagar, Hayatnagar have all recorded a rise, with Ibrahimpattnam and Kandukur recording a rise of 6.60m and 7.38m.

According to the officials, there were various reasons for the rise and fall in the groundwater. The geology of the region, including the soil pattern and composition played the most important role. “But the perception that rainwater is wasted in the cities has been proved wrong.