The Hindu : Unchecked tapping leaves borewells dry

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 22, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

Unchecked tapping leaves borewells dry

By Suresh Krishnamoorthy

HYDERABAD JUNE 21. Borewells in several colonies in and around are drying up due to indiscriminate commercial exploitation of groundwater by a few unscrupulous operators. Numerous representations to the powers-that-be have not yielded any solace.

With the recent rains, residents of the area are barely recovering from the worst summer they have ever faced. Worst-hit are those living in the APSRTC Colony, Burhani Colony and Lakeview Extension. Over 90 per cent of borewells in the area had dried up and their appeals for help fell on deaf ears.

Two years of efforts to find a sympathetic ear to their problems have not led to salvation. People have been running in vain from pillar to post with their representations. In a last-ditch effort, residents of the three colonies have now formed the Federation of Trimulgherry Area Colonies Welfare Associations.

In a representation to the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, they said that the groundwater table was on the decline due to commercial exploitation of water from a number of borewells located in the three colonies. A family residing in the colony was alleged to be indulging in round-the-clock selling of water for commercial purposes to the tune of 200 tankers per day.

The president of the federation, Hakimuddin Javawala and the secretary, Visweswaraiah, said that they represented the matter to officials of the Alwal Municipality, the Ranga Reddy District Collector, the Minister for Commercial Taxes, K. Vijaya Rama Rao and to the Chief Minister. They said a few years ago water was struck at a depth of 15 metres. Today, even when the borewells touched the 100-metre mark, it is difficult to strike water. It was some consolation, when a project for supplying Manjira water came to the area in April last.

However, there is a problem with the timings. The Manjira water is being supplied to the area in the wee hours. It is a problem for the housewives to collect water at such unearthly hours, they say. The residents now have two demands -- stop commercial exploitation of water and supply Manjira water at better timings.

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