Hyderabad is facing a severe groundwater crisis, with the Dynamic Groundwater Resource Assessment Report 2025 revealing that 15 of its 16 mandals are classified as critical or over-exploited. This places the city on par with Rajasthan's most arid districts, including Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Barmer, and Jaisalmer.
Alarming Comparisons
The report, released by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, highlights that Hyderabad's groundwater stress is comparable to Barmer, one of Rajasthan's driest districts. While Barmer has 14 mandals in critical or over-exploited categories, Hyderabad has 15. The city also mirrors Punjab's groundwater 'dark zone' districts like Jalandhar and Ludhiana. In Hyderabad, 50% of mandals are over-exploited and another 43% are critical, underscoring the scale of depletion.
Affected Areas
The critical and over-exploited mandals include Secunderabad, Khairatabad, Ameerpet, Himayatnagar, Musheerabad, Nampally, Shaikpet, and Saidabad. In neighboring Rangareddy and Medchal-Malkajgiri districts, around 10 mandals fall under the same categories. Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district, adjacent to Greater Hyderabad, has five mandals classified as critical or over-exploited.
Expert Analysis
Experts attribute the crisis to rampant groundwater extraction through borewells and a lack of effective recharge systems. Unlike Rajasthan, where agricultural demand drives depletion, Hyderabad's crisis stems from domestic consumption, concretization, and construction. Borewells drilled to depths of 1,200 to 1,500 feet are failing to yield water, leaving only hard rock beneath.
B Venkateswara Rao, retired professor at JNTUH's Centre for Water Resources, noted: "Residents are drawing groundwater at an unsustainable rate. The gravity is evident from borewells failing at extreme depths."
Despite receiving 900–1,000 mm of annual rainfall, much of the water is lost through stormwater drains instead of recharging aquifers. KM Lakshmana Rao, a disaster management expert, emphasized: "Residents must adopt recharge mechanisms linked to borewells. Citizens must become active participants in groundwater conservation to avoid a deeper crisis."
Call to Action
The report underscores the urgent need for community-led recharge initiatives. Apartments and households are urged to implement rainwater harvesting and recharge structures to replenish aquifers. Without immediate action, Hyderabad risks a water crisis rivaling the most drought-prone regions of India.
