Telangana water level drops, crisis likely

Hyderabad: Groundwater levels are already plummeting alarmingly in Telangana even before peak summer. While summer has just set in, groundwater levels in all district have already touched rock-bottom, raising alarm bells over impending drinking water crisis across the state. The situation entered danger zone in over 1,000 villages. All municipalities and municipal corporations are experiencing water scarcity. The situation is worse in villages and agency areas.

People are now forced to spend more for buying drinking water. Last year, the state government tried to supply drinking water by hiring private water tankers. But this year they are reluctant to supply as their dues from the last year are yet to be cleared. The groundwater department gathered the data based on 10 erstwhile districts. Situation in Karimnagar district is worst with the groundwater table falling to 16 metres. This was followed by Nizamabad (13.88 m), Ranga Reddy (13.73 m), Medak (12.16 m), Nalgonda (11.45 m), Khammam (10.92 m), Mahabubnagar (9.79 m), Warangal (9.6 m) and Adilabad (9.05 m.

Warangal district topped in maximum number of villages which entered danger zone at 213. This is followed by Adilabad (190), Nizamabad (188), Mahabubnagar (177), Nalgonda (163), Medak (108), Ranga Reddy (100), Karimnagar (92) and Khammam (82). Another worrying factor is a steep decline in levels in all water bodies in a month. The level in all districts has came down significantly in February as compared to January. The 24x7 free power being provided to agriculture since January 1 is also cited as a factor to the depleting groundwater level.

The drive initiated by the Telangana government to remove auto starters from agriculture borewells could not achieve the desired results as farmers were not cooperating, fearing that the government might bring back the old system of giving power in phases to meet peak power demand in summer from domestic and industrial sectors.

State pays no heed, no plan B for water

There has been no initiative from the state government to make alternate arrangements for drinking water during summer.  Funds have been stopped to all the drinking water schemes under the pretext of the Mission Bhagiratha. With the work progressing at a slow pace, chances of the Mission Bhagiratha water reaching households in summer are remote. So far, laying of main pipeline works to draw water from Krishna and Godavari rivers for Mission Bhagiratha has been completed. The crucial part of laying inter-village and intra-town pipeline is still pending in all the districts.

Unless the intra piplelines are not laid, the water will not reach the households. However, contractors are delaying the intra-pipeline laying works under one pretext or the other. While right of way has become a problem with property owners and farmers refusing to allow pipelines in some districts, people are opposing digging up of roads and not restoring them later to lay pipes. This has led to tussle between contractors and local bodies. While local bodies are insisting on contractors to repair the dug up roads, contractors are refusing to do so saying that it is not their job. With this, representatives of local bodies are opposing digging up roads. Going by the current pace of works, the Mission Bhagiratha water is expected to  reach households only by December.