The Hindu 19.05.2010
Water crisis deepens in upland mandals of district
Staff Reporter
| Indiscriminate sinking of borewells leads to rapid depletion |
GUNTUR: There has been an alarming decrease in the groundwater levels in many upland mandals in the district. If staggered rainfall patterns witnessed in 2009 resulted in 40 per cent deficit rainfall, the indiscriminate digging of borewells has resulted in depletion of ground water levels.
While the average ground water levels has seen a marginal decrease of -0.212 metres in just one month, it was -0.049 metres over the last one year. The situation in Guntur is no exception, as the levels have been frighteningly deteriorating in many residential areas. The ground water level in the upland village of Gummanampadu in Bollapalli mandal is the lowest at 29.914 metres.
For instance at Gujjangundla and SVN Colony, the recordings of highest Depth to Ground Water Level was 23.71 metres in April 2010, a glaring depletion of -9.870 metres when compared to recordings noted in April 2009. The depletion of ground water levels is significant in areas which have been witnessing rapid construction activity for the last five years.
Many apartments in these areas are depending on water tankers.
“The situation might well go out of control soon and we have urged the GMC to make it mandatory for digging of rain water harvesting structures in apartments and individual buildings,'' Deputy Director, Ground Water Department, A. Ramakrishna Reddy told The Hindu on Tuesday. In the upland mandals, the department is insisting that the Andhra Pradesh Water Lend Tress Act (WALTA) should be implemented on letter and spirit. As per the act, all applications pertaining to digging of borewells should be forwarded to the Ground Water Department. The Tehsildar should sanction new borewells only after receiving the report from the MRO. “But most MROs buckle under pressure from political groups and see the other way even as borewells are dug up indiscriminately,'' said a senior official of the Ground Water Department.
It might require the active intervention of District Collector, who is also the Chairman of Walta, to check the rampant digging of borewells. The civic authorities should also explore the possibility of tying up with NGOs working in rain water harvesting fields to raise awareness among the residents.
