Hyderabad: Groundwater levels see new lows ahead of peak summer

HYDERABAD: The city, which has seen only a meagre groundwater depletion last year due to severe floods in 2020, may now have to suffer with sinking water table.
Alarm bells are already ringing in Trimulgherry, which is among the worst-hit areas with a depleted groundwater table.

Based on data being collected by the ground water department (GWD) from different piezometers installed across the city, the recorded ground water level in Trimulgherry during April 2022 dropped to 10.26 meters below ground level (mgbl) from 13.05 mbgl in March 2022.This is the first locality where the table has dropped 2.79 mgbl.
Apart from Trimulgherry, the areas which have also seen depletion include Khairatabad (1.62 mgbl ), Asif Nagar (1.56 mgbl) Marredpally (1.49 mgbl), Musheerabad (1.12 mg-bl), Bandlaguda (1.30 mgbl) and Ameerpet (1.04 mgbl).
While major depletion can be seen even during the beginning months of summer, the officials of GWD anticipate that it may plumment further in peak summer months.
“Trimulgherry and Marredpally areas have seen deep groundwater depletion as both are rocky areas and chances of rainwater percolation into the ground are very less,” a senior official from the groundwater department told TOI.
With regard to other areas, officials said, “Increase of construction activity after a gap of two years could be the reason for depletion.”