Telangana intensifies groundwater protection drive amid rising consumption

Hyderabad: The Telangana government is ramping up its groundwater conservation initiatives to secure drinking water supplies across the state, according to Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy.

The minister convened a review session with Ground Water Department officials at the Secretariat on Friday to assess the state's water security strategy. During discussions, he tasked department heads with launching enhanced outreach programmes aimed at educating farmers about sustainable groundwater practices and efficient water management techniques.

Addressing water quality challenges, Uttam Kumar Reddy highlighted the administration's commitment to tackling fluoride and nitrate contamination issues. He pointed out that while groundwater reserves in Telangana have expanded, consumption patterns have accelerated correspondingly, necessitating proactive conservation measures.

Groundwater extraction in the state climbed from 45.93 per cent in 2024 to 46.86 per cent in 2025, the minister noted. He instructed officials to devise comprehensive strategies to curb wasteful water consumption and promote rainwater harvesting infrastructure, particularly through the construction of recharge pits.

The state has established an extensive monitoring network to track groundwater dynamics. The surveillance system includes 1,771 piezometers deployed for continuous groundwater level assessment, alongside 352 observation wells, 921 command area observation wells, and 64 streamflow checkpoints, officials informed the minister.

On the financial front, Telangana has collected Rs 25.80 crore in groundwater usage fees levied on industrial facilities, mining operations, residential complexes, and packaged water manufacturers. Groundwater recharge activity surged significantly throughout 2025, officials reported.

The state has also completed drilling and distribution of borewells funded under the SC and ST sub-plans to eligible beneficiaries.

Irrigation Principal Secretary E. Sridhar, Ground Water Department Director Laxman, and Deputy Director P. Jyothi Kumar participated in the review meeting.