Major dip in groundwater table in Karimnagar

While the highest depletion of 3.69 metres was recorded in Choppadandi mandal, the water table has gone down to 15.31 metres in Gangadhara mandal

Karimnagar: The groundwater table has depleted in a major way in the district, with the levels falling by more than three and a half metres in some places within a span of just three months. While the overall groundwater table, which stood at 7.01 metres below ground level (bgl) in January this year, has fallen to 8.10 metre bgl by the end of March.

While the highest depletion of 3.69 metres was recorded in Choppadandi mandal, the water table has gone down to 15.31 metres in Gangadhara mandal. Lack of water in water bodies and indiscriminate drawing of groundwater is being cited as one of the main reasons for the depletion of groundwater.

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Paddy was cultivated in 2.65 lakh acres in the district in the Yasangi season and 70 percent of the crop is being cultivated depending on borewells. As there was no water in irrigation projects, tanks and ponds, farmers drew groundwater indiscriminately to protect their standing crops. As a result, the groundwater table has depleted, officials said.

Though water from SRSP was supplied to its ayacut up to April 6 according to the schedule, the paddy sowed lately still requires water. There were incidents of farmers giving representations to the district administration to supply water to tail-end lands through canals. Many agricultural wells have dried up, with several incidents of farmers removing silt and deepening wells to get water.

Water table, which was available at 12.75 metre in January, has gone down to 15.31 metre in Gangadhara mandal, Choppadandi from 11.12 to 14.81 (a 3.69 metre decline), Karimnagar 8.15 to 10.60 (2.45), Ramadugu 9.44 to 11.10 (1.66), Ganneruvaram 8.42 to 9.71 (1.29) and Thimmapur from 6.8 metres to 8.82 metres (2.02 metres depletion).