Hyderabad Water Crisis Deepens with Record 15,200 Tanker Bookings in a Day

The city is grappling with a severe water crisis, recording an all-time high of 15,200 water tanker bookings in a single day on Saturday, May 30, surpassing the previous record of 12,000. 

The surge comes amid an intense summer, delayed pre-monsoon showers, and rapid concretisation, particularly in the IT and western corridors. In May alone, Hyderabad logged a staggering 3.36 lakh tanker bookings, while groundwater levels dropped to critical depths.

Areas such as Kondapur, Madhapur, Gachibowli, Kukatpally, and Serilingampally have emerged as the worst-affected zones. 

In several pockets, groundwater has receded to depths of up to 100



metres, rendering shallow borewells dry. Despite the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) expanding its tanker fleet to 1,250 and increasing filling stations, demand continues to outstrip supply.

A recent groundwater assessment report has flagged Hyderabad as the worst-affected metro in India for groundwater depletion, with 26 mandals classified as ?critical? or ?over-exploited.? 

Experts attribute the crisis to shrinking wetlands, rampant urbanisation, and the unchecked rise of high-rise constructions that hinder natural groundwater recharge. The city?s heavy dependence on borewells?estimated to be around 10 lakh?has further strained water resources.