Hyderabad: Telangana’s average groundwater level is projected to slip from 9.4 metres below ground level (mbgl) in June 2026 to 10.3 mbgl in July and 11 mbgl in Aug under a 30% rainfall deficit scenario, according to the state contingency plan for Vanakalam-2026.The report cautions that several districts could face severe groundwater stress by Aug, with Vikarabad (15.6 mbgl), Medak (15.2 mbgl), Sangareddy (15 mbgl), Nizamabad (14.6 mbgl) and Siddipet (14.2 mbgl) expected to record the deepest water tables.The assessment, based on readings from 1,771 piezometers across all 33 districts, shows growing pressure on groundwater resources. While 20 districts recorded water levels between 5 and 10 mbgl, the remaining 13 districts were already in the 10-15 mbgl category.In June, Khammam recorded the shallowest groundwater level at 5.4 mbgl, while Medak and Vikarabad reported the deepest levels at 13.3 mbgl. The contingency plan projects further depletion across the state by Aug due to deficient rainfall.The steepest declines compared with May levels are expected in Hyderabad (-3.3 metres), Nagarkurnool (-3 m), Mahabubnagar (-2.8 m), Nizamabad (-2.7 m) and Peddapalli (-2.7 m). The state average groundwater level is estimated to fall by 1.09 metres in July and 1.7 metres in Aug compared with May.The groundwater stress comes amid concerns over reservoir availability. The contingency plan notes that most major, medium and minor irrigation reservoirs are at or near minimum drawdown levels, with available live storage largely sufficient only for drinking water needs. Below-normal rainfall forecasts for the Godavari and Krishna basins are also expected to restrict fresh inflows.To tackle the situation, the plan recommends reducing dependence on water-intensive crops, particularly paddy, and promoting pulses, oilseeds and millets. Farmers have also been advised to adopt short-duration and drought-tolerant crop varieties.The report stresses the need for moisture conservation measures, including ridge-and-furrow farming, contour bunding, mulching, farm ponds and groundwater recharge structures. With rainfall expected to remain below normal and El Nino conditions likely to intensify, the plan calls for efficient water use, crop diversification and conservation-based farming to sustain agricultural activity during Vanakalam-2026.
