Hyderabad: There was a definitive increase in the groundwater level in December last year, as compared with November, according to data put out by the groundwater department. Much of this appeared to be the result of the state had received 964 mm of rainfall as against the norm of 845 mm.
The department monitors the water levels through a network of 964 piezometers placed in 589 mandals statewide. “Through these, we learnt that there has been a rise in the groundwater level of 2.99 metre during December last year as compared to December 2018. The rise is observed in all districts,” an official of the department said.
The minimum rise of 0.13 m was observed in Adilabad and maximum rise of 8.12 m in Siricilla district. The average groundwater level in the state varies from 3.62 metres below ground level (MBGL) to 17.72 m BGL. 12 districts — Kamareddy, Wanapar-thy, Peddapally, Mahbubnagar, Mulugu, Bhupalpally, Nizama-bad, Naray-anpet, Siddipet, Rajanna-Siricilla, Karimnagar and Warangal Urban — received 22 to 45 per cent excess rainfall.
The department said that the data for December when compared with the decadal average (2009-2018) showed 0.01 m to 12.29 m rise in observed in 439 mandals, or three-fourths of the state. The remaining 150 mandals suffered a fall in the groundwater level of 0.01 m to 11.73 m.
A dip in groundwater in December last year when compared to the decadal average for December (2009-2018) of 0.5 m was observed in 23 mandals, 0.5-1 m in 30 mandals, 1-2 m in 38 mandals and less 2 m in 59 mandals. These mandals are mainly in the Kamareddy, Sangareddy, Bhadradri, Jayas-hankar, Ranga Reddy, Mahbubnagar, Medak (western), Vikarabad, Siddipet (northern), Medchal (eastern), Yadadri (eastern), parts of Nalgonda and Nagarkurnool districts, the groundwater department said.
