Groundwater in Nagpur division falls 42% below five-year average, Chandrapur worst hit at 73%
Weak rain has pulled down groundwater across Nagpur division, raising fears of a drinking water crisis and damage to the coming rabi crop.
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Rainfall was lower this time in Nagpur division, and the effect is now showing in the water beneath the ground. Groundwater levels are falling fast, raising fears of a serious drinking water crisis and of damage to the coming rabi crop.
The latest figures from the state's Groundwater Surveys and Development Agency (GSDA) show that at the end of September, groundwater levels across the region were recorded 42% below the average of the past five years.
Chandrapur is the worst-affected district, where groundwater levels have dropped by 73%. In Wardha the shortfall is 55%, and in Nagpur district the level has fallen by 52%.
The GSDA has also analysed the data tehsil-wise. Of the 64 tehsils in the division, groundwater has dropped by 1 to 2 metres in 31. In 27 tehsils the fall is up to 1 metre. Only six tehsils showed no decline.
In the six districts of Nagpur division, groundwater has gone down by 0.80 metre on average. In September the water table was 2.70 metres below ground, against a five-year average of 1.90 metres. The assessment is based on data from 622 observation wells in Nagpur, Wardha, Bhandara, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli and Gondia districts.
District-wise, the water table in Chandrapur fell by 1.25 metres to 2.97 metres below ground. In Wardha it fell by 1.24 metres to 3.50 metres below ground, the lowest level in the division. In Nagpur it fell by 1.17 metres, to 3.41 metres below ground.
In Bhandara, groundwater fell by 46%, with the water table dropping 0.75 metre to 2.42 metres. In Gadchiroli the level fell by 0.27 metre, or 16%, to 1.92 metres. Gondia was the least affected, where the level fell by just 0.12 metre, or 6%, to 1.98 metres.
