<p>Chitradurga: Groundwater level in Chitradurga district, known for drought, has improved in the last one year, thanks to the good spell of rains that had lashed the region last year, desilting of tanks done under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and the effective implementation of the Atal Bhujal Yojana.</p><p>However, seven villages in Hiriyur taluk are still facing a water crisis, and water to these places is being supplied through tankers on alternate days. So, the water situation is not as grim as it used to be in the district.</p><p>Sources in the zilla panchayat said geologists of the Groundwater Directorate conducted the physical test of groundwater level in observation wells across the district and found that the groundwater table has improved. Though the situation is not overwhelming, it is far better than the previous year.</p><p>Now, the district administration and zilla panchayat have the onus of maintaining a similar groundwater table in the coming years, and therefore, the officials hope for a good spell of rains this year too.</p><p><strong>Wetted-tape method</strong></p><p>Speaking to DH, Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Somashekhar S J said the geologists of the Groundwater Directorate insert steel tape into observation wells in each hobli in the district to measure the depth to the water table. This method, often referred to as the wetted-tape method, provides an accurate measurement of the water level below the land surface. It represents the water level in the water table of that region.</p><p><strong>Watertable</strong></p><p>He added that the average groundwater level in Challakere taluk in 2025 is 9.20 metre below the land against the last year’s 18.64 metre. In Chitradurga, it is 14.70 metre against last year’s 29.39 metre. In Hiriyur, it is 14.65 against last year’s 16.51 while in Holalkere, it is 14.56 metre against last year’s 24.59 metre below the land. In Hosadurga, it is 8.93 metre against last year’s 16.59 metre and in Molakalmur, it is 12.85 metre against last year’s 16.96 metre.</p><p>Devaraj Reddy, a hydrologist from Chitradurga, said there is no shortage of drinking water in the district this year. The district recorded 1,400 mm rainfall last year against the annual average rainfall of 452 mm, which is three times more. So, many tanks and borewells have not dried up, and people are able to draw water from them.</p>
<p>Chitradurga: Groundwater level in Chitradurga district, known for drought, has improved in the last one year, thanks to the good spell of rains that had lashed the region last year, desilting of tanks done under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and the effective implementation of the Atal Bhujal Yojana.</p><p>However, seven villages in Hiriyur taluk are still facing a water crisis, and water to these places is being supplied through tankers on alternate days. So, the water situation is not as grim as it used to be in the district.</p><p>Sources in the zilla panchayat said geologists of the Groundwater Directorate conducted the physical test of groundwater level in observation wells across the district and found that the groundwater table has improved. Though the situation is not overwhelming, it is far better than the previous year.</p><p>Now, the district administration and zilla panchayat have the onus of maintaining a similar groundwater table in the coming years, and therefore, the officials hope for a good spell of rains this year too.</p><p><strong>Wetted-tape method</strong></p><p>Speaking to DH, Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Somashekhar S J said the geologists of the Groundwater Directorate insert steel tape into observation wells in each hobli in the district to measure the depth to the water table. This method, often referred to as the wetted-tape method, provides an accurate measurement of the water level below the land surface. It represents the water level in the water table of that region.</p><p><strong>Watertable</strong></p><p>He added that the average groundwater level in Challakere taluk in 2025 is 9.20 metre below the land against the last year’s 18.64 metre. In Chitradurga, it is 14.70 metre against last year’s 29.39 metre. In Hiriyur, it is 14.65 against last year’s 16.51 while in Holalkere, it is 14.56 metre against last year’s 24.59 metre below the land. In Hosadurga, it is 8.93 metre against last year’s 16.59 metre and in Molakalmur, it is 12.85 metre against last year’s 16.96 metre.</p><p>Devaraj Reddy, a hydrologist from Chitradurga, said there is no shortage of drinking water in the district this year. The district recorded 1,400 mm rainfall last year against the annual average rainfall of 452 mm, which is three times more. So, many tanks and borewells have not dried up, and people are able to draw water from them.</p>