‘Telangana initatives in irrigation sector resulting in water table increase’

Hyderabad: Telangana registered an increase in water table by more than four meters in the last six years yielding approximately 400 TMC of additional groundwater recharge and decrease in groundwater draft by about 15 per cent compared to previous assessment, said Special Chief Secretary, Irrigation and Command Area Development, Rajat Kumar on Tuesday. Presently, about […]

Hyderabad: Telangana registered an increase in water table by more than four meters in the last six years yielding approximately 400 TMC of additional groundwater recharge and decrease in groundwater draft by about 15 per cent compared to previous assessment, said Special Chief Secretary, Irrigation and Command Area Development, Rajat Kumar on Tuesday.

Presently, about 93 per cent of villages and 70 per cent of watersheds from the State were in the safe category, he said after releasing three volumes of Dynamic Groundwater Resources of Telangana State – 2020 at Jal Soudha here.

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The “Dynamic Groundwater Resources of Telangana State-2020” was compiled by the Ground Water Department and Central Ground Water Board (CGWB).

He also chaired the 6th State Groundwater Coordination Committee (SGWCC) meeting on National Aquifer Mapping Programme (NAQUIM).

While releasing the reports, Rajat Kumar said the groundwater resources were assessed at periodic interval of three years as per methodology adopted by the Central government using latest data.

He highlighted that the various interventions taken by the Telangana government in water sector like restoration of over 27,000 tanks under Mission Kakatiya, completion of the world’s largest lift irrigation scheme – Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) in record time, filling of more than 10,000 tanks at regular intervals, construction of 1400 ARS, providing potable water under Mission Bhagiratha, reforestation under Haritha Haram.

All these measures led to an increase in water table by more than four meters in the last six years yielding approximately 400 TMC of additional groundwater recharge and decrease in groundwater draft by about 15 per cent as compared to previous assessment, he said.

He further stated the books will be of immense help to the planners, policy makers, administrators and all other concerned stakeholders towards sustainable development, management and regulation of these precious replenishable groundwater resources.

About 80 per cent of the State has been completed under NAQUIM taken up by CGWB. He asked all officials to continue their efforts and ensure that Telangana becomes a model State in water conservation and management.

He also advised the CGWB officials to complete the remaining area under NAQUIM at the earliest.

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