Weak Monsoon and Illegal Borewells Deplete Groundwater in Medchal-Malkajgiri

The absence of adequate rains during this monsoon season has added very little to the groundwater table across the north-eastern parts of Hyderabad, leaving residents in several areas grappling with serious worries over groundwater availability. Weak monsoon rains have resulted in only a marginal rise in subterranean water levels, raising fresh alarms about future water security.

The situation has raised widespread concerns over the sustainability of borewells and day-to-day household water access across neighbourhoods in Medchal-Malkajgiri district, where markedly lesser rains have been recorded this season so far. Both government officials and local welfare bodies have flagged indiscriminate borewell drilling and excessive extraction as major factors exacerbating the crisis.

According to Ground Water Department (GWD) reports measuring the water table through piezometers, the 15 mandals of Medchal-Malkajgiri district showed only a marginal rise in groundwater levels over the last one month. The GWD assessment between July and August indicated that groundwater levels registered an incremental rise ranging from 0.35 metres below ground level (BGL) to 3 metres BGL.

Among the localities surveyed, Kukatpally mandal stood top in Medchal-Malkajgiri district in groundwater rise, recording an improvement of 3.08 metres BGL. In contrast, the Bachupally area registered the lowest groundwater rise in the entire district, recording an increase of just 0.35 metres BGL.

A senior GWD official told Telangana Today that groundwater resources across the district remain under intense pressure due to massive borewell digging. The official warned that such uncontrolled activity creates a deepening water crisis by draining underground aquifers much faster than nature can refill them.

“The rainfall reported in this monsoon in the north-eastern parts of Hyderabad couldn’t refill the groundwater,” the senior official stated. The official further pointed out that house owners in residential areas are continuing to allow borewells to be drilled indiscriminately and illegally, leading to massive groundwater extraction.

Alarmed by the deteriorating situation, Residents’ Welfare Associations (RWAs) in Malkajgiri have appealed to the Telangana government to intervene and address the sharp rise in unauthorised borewells witnessed over recent months.

The associations highlighted that this rampant, unchecked drilling practice has steadily depleted the local water table, dried up existing residential borewells, and caused severe water scarcity for households across the region.