Hyderabad: With nearly 70% of the CURE area recording deficient rainfall this monsoon, groundwater reserves across the metropolitan region are coming under severe stress, with average water levels plunging by over 20 feet compared to Sept last year.
33 of the 46 mandals monitored across the CURE area (GHMC-CMC-MMC region) recorded deficient rainfall, according to the latest Telangana ground water department (TGWD) assessment. The average groundwater depth stood at 38 feet below ground level in Sept compared to 15.5 feet a year ago — a dip of 22.5 feet. Groundwater levels improved by only 1.4 feet from the pre-monsoon level in May, suggesting that the monsoon recharge was insufficient to reverse the sharp year-on-year depletion. As per the data, the entire CURE region received only 457 mm of rainfall against the normal 619 mm up to Sept 30, deficit of 26%. Of the 46 mandals, just 13 received normal rainfall, while 33 recorded deficits ranging between 21% and 49%.
Experts said Hyderabad’s groundwater crisis is not solely a result of deficient rainfall, pointing to the city’s poor rainwater recharge practices as a major concern. Instead, much of the rainwater has ended up flowing into the Musi rather than being retained,” JNTUH former professor, water resources, B Venkateshwar Rao said. Monsoon fails to replenish aquifers The deterioration has occurred despite the seasonal recharge received during the monsoon. “While the monsoon has been deficient, even the rainfall received could have contributed to groundwater replenishment if rainwater harvesting and recharge pits were effectively implemented across the city. He highlighted the urgent need for govt to prioritise and scale up rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge pits across the city and strengthening local recharge infrastructure, which could help the city build a groundwater buffer and reduce its vulnerability to drought-like conditions in years of poor rainfall.
Only about 2% of the area has groundwater within 16 feet of the surface. Around 22% lies between 16 and 33 feet, while the largest share — 46% — has groundwater between 33 and 49 feet. More worryingly, 24% of the area has groundwater between 49 and 66 feet, while another 6% has groundwater deeper than 66 feet.
This impact is particularly visible in the groundwater distribution across the metropolitan region.