Hyderabad Emerges as Worst Metro for Groundwater Loss
Hyderabad has recorded the highest level of groundwater depletion among all major Indian metros, according to the newly released Dynamic Groundwater Resource Assessment Report 2025 from the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti. The findings place the city ahead of Delhi and Mumbai, highlighting the scale of Hyderabad’s worsening water crisis.
The report identifies 26 groundwater assessment units across Greater Hyderabad as either critical or over-exploited, the highest count in any metro region. These zones span parts of Rangareddy and Medchal-Malkajgiri districts, reflecting widespread and systemic stress. In comparison, Delhi has 21 such units and Bengaluru, with a population similar to Hyderabad, has just 16. The situation is most severe within Hyderabad district itself. Out of 16 groundwater units, not a single one qualifies as “safe.” Only one unit is classified as semi-critical, while the remaining 15 fall into the highest-risk categories. The most affected neighbourhoods include Khairatabad, Ameerpet, Himayatnagar, Bachupally, Serilingampally, Hayathnagar, and Saroornagar.
Officials from the Telangana Groundwater Department attribute the crisis to unregulated borewell drilling and relentless construction activity across the city’s fast-expanding 2,000 sq km footprint. While around 2.5 lakh borewells are officially registered, experts believe the real number is significantly higher, adding further pressure on already depleted aquifers. Hydrogeologists point to additional structural challenges. Much of Hyderabad sits on hard rock terrain, which slows down natural recharge during rainfall. Despite receiving nearly 900–1,000 mm of rain annually, the city loses most of its rainwater to runoff due to insufficient percolation, poor maintenance of harvesting structures, and limited open green spaces.
Experts such as K. Laxma and B. Venkateswara Rao note that the lack of effective recharge systems is causing groundwater levels to sink deeper each year, in some locations dropping beyond 20 metres. In contrast, cities like Bengaluru have managed to ease groundwater decline through widespread adoption of percolation wells, while Delhi has benefited from stronger enforcement against illegal extraction and better access to piped water. The new report signals an urgent need for Hyderabad to scale up sustainable recharge, regulate extraction, and redesign urban water management before the crisis deepens further.
