Rampant drilling of bore-wells in Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) area continues unabated with the approval of elected representatives, though summer has ended and water supply situation in the area is said to have improved.
According to official data with the board, nearly 67 public bore-wells were sanctioned in the last two months alone with nearly 20 sanctioned under MP Local Area Development Scheme and as many sanctioned through the MLA Local Area Development funds. Incidentally, more than one bore-well has been sanctioned in the same area, which could lead to overexploitation of ground water.
Sources reveal that the water level in many cantonment areas has receded to around 600 feet when just about three years ago water could be available at 450 feet. The depletion in water levels has raised concerns.
J. Umeshwar Rao, a resident of cantonment and an activist has petitioned the CEO SCB and the Hyderabad Collectorate to take note of the drilling, which is being sanctioned unfettered.
“Public representatives including ward members, MLC, MLA and the MP assure their voters bore-wells which they promise during elections. In many areas, these representatives try to outdo the other by sanctioning bore-wells without assessing the need,” Mr. Rao said.
In Picket Bazaar for instance, within 50 meters there are six public bore-wells, he said. Similarly in Railway Employees colony in West Maredpally, a bore-well was drilled on the road, he pointed.
Ground Water Department officials inform that water level in Marredpally is the lowest in Hyderabad district. Though the department was unable to provide numbers for the north and western part of the cantonment, officials said that water table is at 20.55 meters from the surface in Marredpally and surrounding areas to an extent of an average-sized mandal in Hyderabad district. The water levels are much lower than the district’s average of 9.66 meters in Marredpally.
CEO Sujatha Gupta had written to Hyderabad Collector last month not to issue sanction of bore-wells under local area development scheme, SCB sources said. A response is awaited from the district administration. Ms. Gupta could not be reached for comment.
