VISAKHAPATNAM: Though the day temperatures have been increasing and the weathermen have predicted sweltering months ahead, here is some good news for people in Vizag city. The groundwater table is better this time than the previous years and it may be sufficient enough for the summer season (April and May).
Vizag city and surrounding areas received good rainfall in 2021. City received a 24-hour rainfall of 282 mm in September 2021, a record for the month. The last time the city recorded such heavy rain in September was in 2005.
Speaking to TOI, deputy director of groundwater department, Vizag, M Nagamalleswara Rao, said the district’s average depth to water level in March 2022 is 6.5 meters below the ground level (bgl) while it was 7.9 meters in March 2021. Similarly, the district average depth to ground water level in the coming May 2022 will be around 8 meters. The groundwater table level was measured using piezometers installed at various locations of a district.
“The groundwater level will dip in April and May due to high temperatures and increase in the consumption of the groundwater. However, we are expecting that groundwater tables may not dip alarmingly in the coming months, but people should not exploit the precious liquid,” Rao added.
As city has been growing rapidly towards north (Madhurawada side), the consumption of groundwater has been increasing on Vizag city’s outskirts for the past few years. Ironically, majority of the apartments in Madhurawada, Pendurthi and a few other areas in the city are yet to connect to the pipeline water supply of GVMC.
CREDAI-Vizag members said the consumption of the groundwater has been increasing for past few months as the construction activity has picked up in the region.
