Telangana: Groundwater table hits rock-bottom in Secunderabad

SECUNDERABAD: Come summer, the residents of Marredpally and Musheerabad may face water scarcity as the groundwater table in the areas has been been plummeting rapidly since February, according to a recent report by the ground water department (GWD), Hyderabad district.
The report was formulated using piezometer measurements of groundwater levels at Government Junior College in West Marredpally, Marredpally, Gandhi hospital in Musheerabad, Sanjeevaiah Park and Hussain Sagar.According to GWD officials, the range of dip water table in these areas is between 0.24 and 1.32 meters below ground (MBG) level.
Based on GWD’s February 2019 report, the groundwater level at Marredpally was 20.87 meters this month last, as compared to 7.45 meters now. This means, the water level has observed a dip of 13.42 meters within a year.
“Due to massive construction activity, rock-sheet has been soread over the entire Marredpally area, which is the main reason for groundwater depletion. Chances of rainwater percolating intoare very less,” said an analyst from GWD.
In Musheerabad, the water level in February last year was 9.38 meters. It rests at 6.30 meters this year and has observed a fall of 3.08 meters.
A small dip has been found in Secunderabad. The groundwater was measured at 3.71 meters and is at 2.95 meters this year. A fall of 0.76 meters has been observed.
“While the groundwater depletion is not new to us, to our relief, the Centre has encouraged the construction of rain water harvesting pits in all properties, which may help in avoiding a water crisis,” DS Subhash, a resident of Marredpally told TOI.
According to Rohini, a resident of Musheerabad, the GHMC needs to stop sanctioning construction projects in the area.
The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) has swung into action and unveiled a summer action plan. They plan to have additional water tankers and water filling points in Marredpally, Secunderabad and Musheerabad.