India's groundwater crisis is intensifying, with multiple regions reporting alarming depletion, drinking water shortages, and contamination. According to the Dynamic Groundwater Resource Assessment Report 2025 released by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, Hyderabad has emerged as India's worst-affected metropolitan region for groundwater depletion, surpassing larger cities like Delhi and Mumbai.
Hyderabad Faces Critical Groundwater Stress
The report reveals that 26 mandals and tehsils across Greater Hyderabad, including areas in Rangareddy and Medchal-Malkajgiri districts, have been classified as either critical or over-exploited due to excessive groundwater extraction. This is the highest number recorded among all Indian metros. Delhi, with a population of around 3.3 crore, has 21 such units, while Bengaluru has 16. The concentration of groundwater-stressed zones in Greater Hyderabad is higher than that seen in several large states, including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, and Maharashtra.
Hyderabad district records no safe groundwater zones. None of the 16 groundwater assessment units in the district falls under the safe category. Only one unit has been classified as semi-critical, while the remaining 15 have been placed in the critical or over-exploited categories. Areas such as Khairatabad, Ameerpet, Himayatnagar, Bachupally, Serilingampally, Hayathnagar, and Saroornagar are among the worst affected. Under Central Ground Water Board guidelines, regions extracting less than 70% of available groundwater are considered safe. Areas extracting 71-90% are categorized as semi-critical, 90-100% as critical, and those extracting more than 100% are termed over-exploited.
Urbanization and Borewell Drilling Worsen Crisis
Officials attribute the worsening situation to rapid urbanization, extensive construction activity, and widespread drilling of borewells across the city. K Laxma, director of the Telangana Groundwater Department, stated that hardly 15% of the city is equipped with rainwater harvesting recharge pits. Despite Hyderabad receiving annual rainfall of 900 mm to 1,000 mm, a significant portion of rainwater flows directly into drains due to inadequate open spaces and green cover for groundwater percolation. He warned that groundwater levels are falling steadily due to inadequate recharge efforts. If rainwater harvesting pits are properly maintained, groundwater levels can remain within 10 meters depth. In the absence of recharge practices, water levels are now falling to depths of 20 meters and beyond.
Experts say Hyderabad faces a unique geological disadvantage compared to several other major cities. Unlike cities such as Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Delhi, Hyderabad is largely situated on rocky terrain, making natural rainwater percolation more difficult. In softer soil regions, rainwater seeps underground more efficiently during rainfall events, aiding groundwater recharge. The problem in Hyderabad is further aggravated by poor implementation of rainwater harvesting systems, said B Venkateswara Rao, retired professor at the Centre for Water Resources, JNTUH. Officials estimate that while Hyderabad district officially has around 2.5 lakh borewells, the actual number could be far higher. Across Greater Hyderabad, the number of borewells is believed to be close to 10 lakh. Many borewells are reportedly drilled illegally beyond the 400-foot depth limit prescribed under the Water, Land and Trees Act (WALTA), 2002.
Telangana Groundwater Stress Widespread
The groundwater assessment also highlights growing stress across Telangana. Out of the state's 620 groundwater assessment units, only 473 remain in the safe category. The remaining units have shifted into semi-critical, critical, or over-exploited classifications. Groundwater quality is also becoming a concern, with fluoride contamination detected in several areas, including Bachupally, Balanagar, Malkajgiri, Ghatkesar, and Medchal.
Karnataka Villages Face Drinking Water Shortages
While Hyderabad grapples with groundwater depletion, Karnataka is facing widespread drinking water shortages ahead of summer. According to data from the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Department, 344 villages across 58 taluks are currently affected. Bengaluru South in Ramanagara district is the worst-hit area, with 55 villages facing water scarcity. Raichur follows with 41 affected villages, while Uttara Kannada and Tumakuru have reported shortages in 27 and 26 villages, respectively. Several districts in north Karnataka and the Bengaluru Rural belt are experiencing increasing pressure due to falling groundwater levels and rising demand.
Authorities have deployed large-scale emergency measures to tackle the shortage. Currently, 210 villages depend on water tankers, while 125 villages rely on private borewells. Overall, 99 tankers and 282 borewells have been deployed across affected districts. Dileesh Sasi, chief executive officer of Uttara Kannada Zilla Panchayat, said areas around Haliyal and Mundgod are the worst affected because water levels are depleting and supply is constrained due to terrain challenges. He noted that they are working on multi-village schemes, hiring private borewells, and deploying tankers. Gram panchayats and officials have been instructed to ensure adequate water supply across the district. In Kumta, the village is dependent on tankers as borewell water quality is poor. However, officials said 11 districts have not reported any drinking water shortages so far due to stronger infrastructure and drought preparedness.
Funding Gaps Hinder Relief Efforts in Karnataka
Authorities say limited funding is making it difficult to fully address the crisis. Of the Rs 60 crore allocated for emergency drinking water works during 2025-26, only Rs 43.7 crore has been released. Against a total requirement of Rs 132.2 crore, officials have received Rs 91.5 crore. Randeep D, director of the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Department, said they are working towards mitigating drinking water supply issues and ensuring that every household has access to sufficient and good quality drinking water.
Maharashtra's Marathwada Sees Tanker Deployment Cross 400
In Maharashtra, the water crisis has intensified sharply across the Marathwada region. The number of water tankers deployed has now crossed 400, more than doubling from around 156 tankers recorded a month earlier. Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar is the worst-affected district and accounts for nearly two-thirds of all tanker operations. Official figures show that the district has 259 tankers in service, followed by Jalna with 85, Dharashiv with 17, Nanded with 14, Parbhani with 11, Beed with eight, Latur with three, and Hingoli with two. Over 1,150 private wells have been acquired in the region for refilling tankers and fulfilling the water needs of affected residents. Standing instructions have been in place to arrange a tanker if villagers claim scarcity, a senior official from the revenue department said, appealing to residents to ensure judicious use of water.
Rainfall Deficiency Worsens Marathwada's Water Woes
Marathwada has received only 38 mm of rainfall since June 1, reflecting an overall rainfall deficiency of nearly 23%. Some districts have recorded even larger deficits, including Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar at 73%, Jalna at 62%, and Hingoli at 55%. Earlier official figures showed that 127 villages and hamlets across the region were facing severe shortages, with Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar accounting for 85 affected settlements. A senior official from the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Divisional Commissioner's office said that as summer progresses, drinking water sources are depleting, leading to scarcity in several pockets. Local authorities have standing instructions to arrange water tankers immediately upon receiving complaints from residents.
Live storage in major, medium, and minor irrigation projects across Marathwada has dropped to around 41%. Although storage levels remain slightly better than last year, several reservoirs have reached concerning levels. The crisis has been worsened by extreme temperatures. During late April, parts of Marathwada recorded temperatures around 43°C, accelerating evaporation losses and increasing pressure on available water resources.
Punjab Faces Groundwater Depletion and Uranium Contamination
Punjab is confronting a different but equally serious water challenge, combining excessive groundwater extraction with contamination concerns. Rajya Sabha MP Satnam Singh Sandhu raised the issue during Question Hour, warning that the state is facing a water emergency. According to Sandhu, 19 of Punjab's 23 districts have been classified as dark zones, indicating severe over-exploitation of groundwater resources. Punjab's groundwater extraction rate has reached 156.36%, the highest in India and far above the national average of around 60%. He linked the situation largely to water-intensive paddy cultivation. Sandhu stated that due to paddy cultivation, 19 districts are in the dark zone and more than 62% of the groundwater samples contain uranium levels higher than anywhere else in the country. The high uranium content poses a potential risk of cancer. He also cited findings suggesting that groundwater levels could fall below 300 meters by 2039 if current extraction trends continue.
Centre Announces Funding for Water Conservation
Responding to the concerns, Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil said the Centre has allocated Rs 32,000 crore in the current financial year for water conservation and the revival of dark zones under the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission. The minister said water-stressed regions are being prioritized for intervention and funding. Patil also highlighted the importance of public participation in water conservation efforts, stating that around 44 lakh water conservation structures have already been created nationwide. He added that the Karmabhoomi se Matrabhoomi initiative aims to encourage NRIs and migrants to support water conservation projects in their native villages, with a target of creating one crore such structures across the country.
Growing Warning Signs Across India
The situations unfolding in Hyderabad, Karnataka, Marathwada, and Punjab underline the growing pressure on India's groundwater resources. From unchecked extraction and rapid urbanization to drought conditions, contamination, and climate stress, the challenges vary across regions. However, experts agree that stronger groundwater recharge measures, sustainable water management, and large-scale conservation efforts will be essential to prevent the crisis from worsening in the coming years.
