Hyd Faces Deepening Groundwater Crisis

Hyderabad has been identified as the worst-hit metro for groundwater depletion in India, surpassing even Delhi and Mumbai, according to the Dynamic Groundwater Resource Assessment Report 2025 released by the Union ministry of Jal Shakti. Greater Hyderabad, including parts of Rangareddy and Medchal-Malkajgiri districts, has 26 critical or over-exploited groundwater extraction units, the highest among all Indian metros.

In comparison, Delhi, with a population nearly three times that of Hyderabad, has 21 such units. Bengaluru, with a comparable population, has only 16 units in these categories. The spread of critical and over-exploited groundwater zones in Greater Hyderabad is more extensive than in several large states, including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, and Maharashtra, each with fewer such units. The report classifies regions extracting less than 70% of available groundwater annually as 'safe', 71-90% as 'semi-critical', 90-100% as 'critical', and anything above 100% as 'over-exploited'.

None of the 16 units in Hyderabad district falls under the 'safe' category; only one is 'semi-critical', while the remaining 15 are 'critical' or 'over-exploited' due to excessive groundwater extraction. Over-exploited areas in Greater Hyderabad include Khairatabad, Ameerpet, Himayatnagar, Bachupally, Serilingampally, Hayathnagar, and Saroornagar. The crisis is attributed to rampant borewell drilling and rapid construction activity across the urban expanse of Greater Hyderabad. Despite receiving annual rainfall of 900 mm to 1,000 mm, inadequate open spaces and green cover for groundwater percolation result in a significant portion of rainwater flowing directly into drains.

This, combined with poor recharge practices, has led to water tables falling to depths of 20 meters and beyond. Other metros like Bengaluru have managed to partially contain groundwater stress by establishing thousands of percolation wells, while Delhi has imposed stricter curbs on illegal groundwater extraction and improved access to piped water supply. Hyderabad's unique geological challenge of rocky terrain, coupled with poor implementation of rainwater harvesting systems, further exacerbates the crisis. Illegal borewells, which far outnumber the official count, add pressure to the already strained groundwater table.

The report also highlights that a significant portion of Telangana has moved out of the safe groundwater category, with fluoride contamination detected in several localities in Hyderabad. The study paints a bleak picture of the groundwater situation in Hyderabad, calling for urgent and effective measures to address the crisis.