Groundwater table seems to be plummeting in many parts of Mysuru district. The fact that officials have taken up redrilling exercise of borewells in many villages is a sign of depletion in the groundwater table in Mysuru district.
The authorities sought the opinion of geologists before redrilling the borewells, in an attempt to extract drinking water. Senior officials of the Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation Department told The Hindu that borewells were redrilled up to 450 ft deep in many villages.
Measures taken
Failure of pre-monsoon showers had made the district administration take up all measures to provide drinking water in many villages. A few villages, including Kallahalli and Karapura, were being supplied water through tankers and this was stopped after the borewells were restored. According to sources, 244 new borewells were dug, 301 rejuvenated, handpumps installed, and redrilling of 230 borewells taken up in the district.
The authorities have identified over 36 villages which were likely to face drinking water shortage. Depletion of ground in Mysuru, where a few rivers flow, is a matter of concern. They said urbanisation, deforestation, use of borewells for agriculture, and dip in rain, were the main reasons for depletion of groundwater levels.
