Hyderabad’s IT and education hub stares at severe water crisis

Uttara Varma | TNN | Updated: Jun 17, 2019, 7:14 IST

The groundwater department measures water levels according to mandals

HYDERABAD: The Information Technology, education and economic heart of the city is in the grip of water crisis. Residents in areas such as Gachibowli and Financial District are grappling with meeting their basic water needs for months owing to dipping groundwater table and poor water supply. “Groundwater situation in the area is critical,” said Chandra Reddy, district water department in-charge for Ranga Reddy on Friday.

The groundwater department measures water levels according to mandals. Both Gachibowli and Financial District are categorised under the Serlingampally mandal. The department’s report for the 2018-2019 up to May shows that the current average in Serlingampally is 13.79 metres below ground level (mbgl) from 10.85mbgl last year.
While groundwater level reduced by 2.94mbgl on paper, what is more frightening is that the department does not have historical records of specific areas such as Gachibowli or Nalagandla.
Chandra Reddy said, “The actual levels could be as poor as 25mbgl to 30mbgl. This is because the rocky landscape does not allow water to permeate. Also poor rains and mindless concretization are to blame.”
“For measuring the groundwater, one needs to have separate borewells dug. These areas have rocky terrain and do not easily allow for such deep borewells,” said Chandra Reddy, adding that required infrastructure will be created under the Phase 2 of World Bank project.

Rainfall is the principal source of input for groundwater recharge. In Ranga Reddy district, under which Serlingampally falls, 487.9mm rainfall was recorded against the normal rainfall of 692.8mm during 2018-2019 (up to May). This is 29.6 per cent less than the normal.
Sources in the Hyderabad Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) said that the problem is due to lack of rains and consequent drying up of Manjeera and Singur water sources. The water board stopped drawing water from these sources in February this year. Officials speaking on condition of anonymity said they hope the water levels increase once the monsoon starts.