Hyderabad: Telangana Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said the state government was implementing strict measures for groundwater conservation and drinking water security.
The minister conducted a review meeting with Ground Water Department officials at the Secretariat on Friday.
During the meeting, Uttam Kumar Reddy directed officials to create greater awareness among farmers on groundwater conservation and water management practices.
He said the government was taking special measures to ensure safe drinking water for people across the state.
Groundwater conservation review focuses on water safety
Uttam Kumar Reddy said the government was paying special attention to issues related to fluoride and nitrate contamination.
He stated that although groundwater availability had increased in Telangana, water usage had also risen significantly.
The minister instructed officials to prepare special plans to prevent water wastage.
He noted that groundwater usage in the state increased from 45.93 per cent in 2024 to 46.86 per cent in 2025.
Uttam Kumar Reddy also stressed the need to encourage the construction of recharge pits to harvest rainwater effectively.
Groundwater conservation monitoring expanded across Telangana
Officials informed the minister that the state was using 1,771 piezometers to continuously monitor groundwater levels.
They said authorities were also monitoring groundwater through 352 observation wells, 921 command area observation wells and 64 streamflow checkpoints.
The minister said the government earned Rs 25.80 crore through groundwater usage charges collected from industries, mining units, apartments and packaged drinking water units.
Officials further informed the meeting that groundwater recharge had increased significantly across Telangana during 2025.
They also stated that borewells sanctioned under the SC and ST sub-plans had been drilled and handed over to beneficiaries.
Irrigation Principal Secretary E. Sridhar, Ground Water Department Director Laxman and Deputy Director P. Jyothi Kumar attended the meeting.