Deccan Chronicle        22.03.2011

March 21: Thanks to last year’s heavy rains, the city’s ground water levels are higher compared to previous years. Officials say that the increase in rainfall has caused the water levels to go up regardless of the summer. Along with rainfall, the water level in an area depends on the kind of geology that the place has. The city has witnessed huge rainfalls last year and the water bodies were flooded.

According to an official list, barring areas like Gachibowli and Yacharam which recorded a decrease in the ground water level from 4.73 metre to 7.84 metre and 13.53 metre to 14.76, the ground water levels in other areas have risen by a minimum of 3 metre with areas like Nampally, Marredpally, Malkajgiri, Nacharam recording an increase of 12.13 to 6.29 metre, 24.52 to 17.03 metre, 19.20 to 11.18 metre and 12.60 to 7.74 metre respectively.

Officials, however, say that more artificial recharge pits need to be dug by people in open areas like playgrounds for rainwater to be stored. “The rainwater is going waste due to concretisation of the city and also due to less number of artificial recharge pits that help in absorbing rain water,” said Ms T. Swarna Kumari, the joint director of AP Ground Water department. The officials in the Water Board say that they are gearing up for the summer to supply an additional 1000 water tankers in the city in order to face any crisis situation.