Parts of Telangana stare at drought this summer as groundwater levels deplete rapidly
This crisis is casting a shadow of uncertainty over crops that are just one to one-and-a-half months away from harvest
Hyderabad: The rapid depletion of groundwater in parts of Telangana is emerging as a major threat to the standing Rabi (Yasangi) crops that are in a crucial stage. With wells and borewells running dry and tanks and ponds empty, the groundwater situation is becoming increasingly dire.
This crisis is casting a shadow of uncertainty over crops that are just one to one-and-a-half months away from harvest. The critical watering period at the end of March is essential for crops such as paddy, groundnut and vegetable crops. In the absence of adequate irrigation support, farmers are bracing for potential losses. Vegetables, in particular, require watering multiple times to achieve the desired yields. As the State grapples with this severe water shortage, the fate of Yasangi farmers, who rely solely on groundwater sources, hangs in the balance.
Godavari basin crisis
The once-thriving Godavari basin, which saw a considerable rise in groundwater levels due to consistent water lifting operations, is now facing a severe groundwater crisis. The Kaleshwaram barrages — Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla — had maintained maximum water levels, forming a 120-km freshwater lake in Godavari that enriched the groundwater table. Water used to seep into the ground, even at depths of five to 10 feet in some riverbank pockets.
However, this scenario has drastically changed, leaving the region dry and farmers desperate. The drying up of the vast stretch in the Godavari basin, once perpetually under a sheet of water due to regular pumping operations under the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP), has led to an alarming decline in groundwater levels.
The KLIP barrages are now emptied, with crest gates fully open, causing a big drop in groundwater levels in Peddapalli district’s Manthani, Mutharam, Palakurthi, Anthargaon and Dharmaram mandals. This situation serves as a stark example of the broader water crisis affecting the State, severely impacting agricultural activities.
In February 2024, groundwater levels in these mandals were recorded at 5.09 metres below ground level. By February 2025, the levels had plummeted to 5.44 metres. This fluctuation has left farmers in a state of despair, struggling to sustain their crops with diminishing water resources.
Farmers have voiced their frustration, accusing the Congress government of neglecting the Kaleshwaram project due to political vendettas against the BRS. They argue that during the BRS administration, irrigation water flowed through canals without the need for motor pumps. The current situation, however, has left borewells dry, with no water available for irrigation.
Krishna basin
In the Krishna basin, the storage levels in major areas are fast dipping. The anticipated water release through canals has not materialised. Farmers, relying on borewells, have extensively opted for Rabi crops in districts such as Nagarkurnool, Nalgonda, Vikarabad, Mahabubnagar, Rangareddy, Narayanpet, Suryapet and Yadadri Bhongir, which are part of the Krishna river command.
Water levels in Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar projects are falling rapidly, despite surplus inflows received this year. They are likely to touch dead storage levels again as the prospects for the Rabi season look bleak.
Comparing February 2025 with the decadal average of February (2015-2024), 162 mandals (26 per cent) experienced a fall in the groundwater table by varying levels, the highest being 15.12 metres. A decline of more than 2 metres was observed in 52 mandals. Such a drop in the groundwater table, despite the State receiving 21 per cent excess rainfall this year, is presenting a bleak picture for the upcoming summer months.
Over 30 per cent of groundwater recharge witnessed during the BRS regime was attributed to the revival and rehabilitation of lakes and canals under Mission Kakatiya and other irrigation initiatives, which facilitated regular replenishment of water levels.
30 lakh borewells in question
Due to the lack of water storage in lakes, canals, projects and check dams, groundwater extraction through borewells has intensified. This rapid extraction has further depleted groundwater levels, as confirmed by water experts. Borewells that were full until recently are now failing. Farmers are drilling new bore wells, reaching greater depths, with little success.
Previously, the regular replenishment of lakes provided irrigation water to nearly 45 lakh acres without any issues under 30 lakh borewells. “I dug two borewells last year, but they dried up due to the lack of water this year. The loans borrowed to meet the cost still remain unpaid, and now my crops are drying up, making it impossible to recover the investment,” lamented Sattayya, a distressed farmer from Tippayiguda in Rangareddy district.
