HYDERABAD: Groundwater levels have declined in 554 of Telangana's 621 mandals, with the state's average groundwater depth reaching 8.28 metres below ground level in October, according to the Telangana Groundwater Department's monthly report.
The average depth represents a decline of 2 metres compared with October last year. The area where groundwater is found at depths exceeding 20 metres has expanded from 478 sq km to 2,040 sq km, compared with the October averages for 2016–2025. Around 89 per cent of the state's mandals recorded a decline against the decadal average.
Greater Hyderabad recorded a particularly sharp decline, with the average groundwater depth increasing by 7.17 metres in a year, from 5.42 metres in October 2025 to 12.59 metres in October 2026.
The decline comes amid a deficient monsoon. Telangana received 628 mm of rainfall between June 1 and October 31, against the normal 831 mm, recording a deficit of 24 per cent. Only 11 of the state's 33 districts received normal rainfall, while the remaining 22 recorded a deficit.
Jogulamba Gadwal recorded the highest rainfall shortfall at 50 per cent, followed by Narayanpet at 44 per cent. Nagarkurnool and Nalgonda recorded deficits of 42 per cent each.
With surface water availability constrained, farmers are increasingly depending on borewells for irrigation. The failure of existing borewells has also forced some farmers to deepen them or drill new ones, adding to the pressure on groundwater reserves, according to reports. (with inputs from media organisations)