Andhra Pradesh

Minister paints grim picture of groundwater position

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, FEB. 10. Groundwater table in the State has gone down by two to three metres on an average due to the continued drought. The numerous watershed and water-harvesting schemes are not able to arrest the trend. The situation, however, may change if there are good rains.

It was stated after a review of the situation by the Minister for Groundwater, M. Mareppa, here today that a ban had been imposed on sinking of fresh borewells at 4,003 villages in the State spread over 465 mandals in view of the critical condition.

Telangana, where groundwater tapping is more, tops the list with 2,230 villages and Rayalaseema ranks second with 1,378 villages. Coastal Andhra has only 395 such villages.

The State suffered a rainfall deficit of 28 per cent for the season from June last to January 2005, realising only 611mm against a normal of 848 mm. The number of dark villages in each region varied corresponding to their rainfall deficits.

The deficit in Telangana, which accounted for more than a half of these villages, was 34 per cent, while it was 31 per cent in Rayalaseema and 22 per cent in Coastal Andhra.

Earlier, Mr. Mareppa disclosed that the number of wells in the State had gone up to 22 lakhs now from eight lakhs and that the area irrigated by them to 26 lakh hectares in 2004 from 10 lakhs ha in 1975. This had subjected the groundwater system to a heavy strain with 85 per cent of the State's area being covered by hard rocks. In the light of this phenomenal increase in the number of well and fall in water table, severe restrictions had been imposed on drilling borewells in the State under WALTA Act. The restrictions were such that the rig owners would have to register themselves with the competent authority and those planning to dig a borewell must take permission from the MRO concerned.

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