Sixty additional meters for the measurement of changes in groundwater have been sanctioned for Krishna district.
These 60 Piezometers are in addition to the 41 that have already been established.
The additional Piezometers will go a long way in the over-exploitation of groundwater, a precious resource and a lifeline in upland areas of the district. The negative consequences of the over-exploitation of groundwater resource are larger drilling costs for poorer late-comers, failed investment, decreasing yield of tubewells and failure of village water resources and the danger of people turning to unsafe water sources. Groundwater deputy director A. Varaprasada Rao said that the new Piezometers, which are basically tube/borewells with a measuring gadget installed in them were being established with World Bank funds. He said there were seasonal and annual changes in groundwater level. The average groundwater level in the districts according to data recorded at the end of April was 10.6 meters below ground. When compared to the correspondent date last year the groundwater level fell by 2.5 m. The reasons for this were many—delay and reduction in rainfall and even over-exploitation of groundwater. Though the average groundwater level was 10.6 meters there was a huge difference between the delta and upland areas. While the groundwater level was just 1.45 m below the ground in Koduru mandal the level was 57.4 m below ground in Musunur mandal. The sudden reduction of groundwater levels could have an adverse impact even on delta farmers. The surface pumps they use would be rendered useless and they would have to go for submersible pumps which may not be available at short notice and the crop would wither. The additional Piezometers would help in the close monitoring of groundwater usage and availability and better management of the precious resource, Mr Varaprasada Rao said.
