Dakshina Kannada stares at water scarcity; alarming groundwater depletion in 5 years

MANGALURU: In spite of heavy rainfall, the whole of Dakshina Kannada district is staring at water scarcity early next year—the reason being groundwater depletion.
According to statistics obtained from the department of mines and geology, the depletion of the groundwater level in October this year has been the highest in the last five years. Interestingly, rainfall up to October this year has been way higher compared to the district’s average annual rainfall.
According to data, the average groundwater level across the coastal belt of Karnataka for October is 4.5 metres.However, this year, the water level has receded to 9.30 metres, considered the highest in the last five years.
In October 2014, the groundwater level in Mangaluru taluk was 6.96 metres. This has fallen down to 14.86 metres this October. Last year, at the same time, the groundwater level in Mangaluru was 11.92 metres. In Puttur, the groundwater level has receded from 3.8 metres to 9.1 metres while in Sullia it has dropped from 5.21 metres to 6.01 metres. The groundwater level in Belthangady has fallen from 3.51 metres to 9.51 metres and in Bantwal it is 7.01 metres. Last October, Bantwal had a groundwater level of 4.09 metres.
What rain data says
Data on rainfall received this year shows the district received an additional 1,343.6 mm rainfall up to October this year, compared to the same time last year. Up to October 31 last year, Dakshina Kannada received 3,238.8 mm rainfall, while this year the number has shot up to 4,582.4 mm. In fact, this number is way higher than the district’s annual average rainfall of 3,912.2 mm. This year, Belthangady received the highest rainfall in the district with 5,835.3 mm and Mangaluru taluk the least with 3,753.1 mm.
However, barring Sullia, all other taluks have witnessed groundwater depletion compared to last year.
Senior geologist Janaki P said a flood-like situation earlier in the rainy season this year and excess heat currently being witnessed, are likely to be the reasons for the depletion. “While floods changed the course of river water, leading to less percolation, heat has led to excess evaporation of water from the ground,” she said, adding if the temperature continues to be high, the district might have a bleak summer.