The development of unauthorized borewells is the main cause of the significant fall in groundwater levels in hyderabad and throughout Telangana. Officials report that the groundwater depth in the state decreased by 1.74 metres and in hyderabad by 1.03 metres between april 2023 and april 2024.
 
In april 2024, hyderabad inhabitants had access to water on average from 10.51 metres below the surface, up from 9.48 metres during the same month the previous year.
 
The main causes of the water depletion issue, particularly in metropolitan areas like hyderabad, are the widespread drilling of illegal borewells and the neglect of rainwater collection systems, according to N Shankar, the director of the groundwater department.

Enforcement measures against unlawful borewells continue to be insufficient, despite protests from the public and the groundwater department. shankar voiced worries about the groundwater department's lack of enforcement procedures and his confusion regarding the conduct of other pertinent departments.
 
In addition, as groundwater levels keep falling, people are excavating deeper borewells, which exacerbates the depletion and draws from decades' worth of water supplies. It may take years to replenish these depleted aquifers, which emphasizes how urgently water conservation measures must be implemented.
 
Across districts, Mahabubnagar, Rangareddy, and nalgonda recorded significant declines in groundwater levels, indicating a widespread issue. The Groundwater Department monitored levels through 1,718 stations across 33 districts, revealing an average depth of 10.51 meters below ground level in april 2024, with variations ranging from 5.70 MBGL in Jagityal to 15.79 MBGL in Medak.
 

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