NAGPUR, March 5: The region as well as the State seems to be poised for a comfortable summer, as far as the groundwater situation is concerned, for, the groundwater levels in several parts of the state, including Vidarbha, have shown a marked rise as compared to levels this time last year.More important fact is that the ground water levels in several parts of the State, as recorded in the month of January by the Central region of the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), are higher as compared to the decadal mean, that is the levels stand at their highest in the decade between 1988-1997.This situation can predictably be ascribed to the heavy unseasonal rainfall that lashed the State during the closing months of last year. These rains, although causing severe damage to the standing crops, have gone on to replenish the groundwater levels. The groundwater situation in the State, particularly in Vidarbha, was quite bad up until this monsoon, due to the below average rainfall recorded in the region for almostthree years.Speaking to The Indian Express, Santosh Kumar Sharma, regional director, Central Ground Water Board, said that in another unprecedented trend in recent times, the groundwater levels in Marathwada and parts of Vidarbha and in other localised patches have shown a rise up to two metres and in some cases even up to four metres, when compared to the levels in November 1997. Sharma said that normally, water levels fall in January as compared to November of earlier year, as very little rainfall is expected after November.The CGWB monitors groundwater level four times during a year, collecting data which is analysed for further comparison and analysis of groundwater resources availability. The monitoring is carried out in the months of January, May, August and November. The monitoring in January acquires importance, considering the use of data in assessing the pre summer groundwater situation.The analysis of January data this year shows that water levels have risen by up to two metres inVidarbha and Madhya Maharashtra parts, constituting 43 per cent of the wells monitored, as compared to January 1997. Rise in water level by more than four metres has been recorded in isolated patches such as Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Buldhana, Dhule, Nasik and Sindhudurg districts, constituting about six per cent of the wells.When the data is compared with that of November 1997, it is noticed that 37 per cent of the wells in Marathwada and Vidarbha have shown a rise between zero and two meters, while two to four metres of rise is noticed in the seven per cent of wells in the localised parts. A total of 43 per cent of the wells have thus recorded rise as compared to November, which is quite unique trend, Sharma said.As far the average ground water levels during the decade is concerned, Sharma said that 24 per cent of the wells in State, the water levels have gone up by zero to two metres, when compared to the decadal mean. Water level rise by two to four metres above the average of the decade have beennoticed in parts of Vidarbha, Western Maharashtra and Konkan. About 20 per cent of the wells in the state have shown quite a big rise of more than four metres.The groundwater quality is also monitored along with the levels and Sharma said that the water quality in the state, barring some isolated small patches, continues to remain quite good.
