'More mandals in Telangana inching towards water critical categories'

According to the Ground Water Resource Assessment 2025, released here on Monday, agriculture remains the dominant consumer of groundwater, accounting for over 90% of total extraction Over the years, the number of "safe mandals" in Telangana has steadily declined, while those classified as semi-critical and critical have continued to rise. According to the Ground Water Resource Assessment 2025, released here on Monday, agriculture remains the dominant consumer of groundwater, accounting for over 90% of total extraction. The data highlights a worsening trend. In 2024, 85 mandals were categorised as semi-critical, where groundwater extraction ranges between 71% and 90%, and 13 were classified as critical, with extraction levels between 91% and 100%. The latest assessment shows a further deterioration - an additional 20 mandals have slipped into the semi-critical category, taking the total to 105, while six more have moved into the critical category, raising that number to 19. "Because of free electricity, paddy, a water-intensive crop, continues to be a preferred choice, with many farmers relying heavily on borewells. It is high time that crop diversification and the promotion of water-efficient crops are prioritised," officials said. If groundwater stress pushes more mandals into the over-exploited category, the impact could soon extend to industrial development as well, they opined. Releasing the report during World Water Day celebrations with students from the Geology Department at Osmania University, Central Ground Water Board (South) regional director Nalli Jyothi Kumar reminded them that groundwater accounted for nearly 60% of the irrigation that drove the first phase of the Green Revolution, and stressed that water will remain indispensable if we are to avoid another crisis. Praising Telangana and Andhra Pradesh for the quality of data produced in groundwater assessments, he noted, however, that the vast database still requires methodical analysis to drive meaningful improvements. "We hope to establish MoUs so that young scholars can analyse data, conduct research, engage in collaborative studies, and generate ideas for water conservation," he said. Mr. Jyothi Kumar also pointed out the shortage of water management professionals in the field and encouraged students to pursue careers in water management and research to secure rewarding opportunities. Addressing the students, Assistant Director (Rainwater Harvesting) at HMWS&SB, Jala Satyanarayana, highlighted the gap between theory and practice in water conservation. "Many discouraged me, saying Hyderabad was not suitable for recharge structures. But we proved otherwise -- not only weathered fractures, but even deeper fractures can be recharged," he said, citing successful examples from Sanath Nagar, LB Nagar, and Nagole Cooperative Bank Colony.