In a worrying sign of Hyderabad’s growing groundwater crisis, borewells in nearly 12,000 apartment complexes across the city went dry during May and June this year, Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) Managing Director K. Ashok Reddy informed on Saturday.

Describing the situation as unprecedented, he said it was the first time in Hyderabad’s history that such a large number of apartment borewells had failed within a short period. The development has raised concerns over the rapid depletion of groundwater and the city’s increasing dependence on external water sources.

He warned that the shortage could become even more acute next summer if immediate steps are not taken to conserve rainwater and recharge groundwater reserves now. He stressed that rainwater harvesting pits should be made mandatory in every house and apartment to improve water sustainability.

The Board chief urged residents to focus on water conservation until the Godavari Phase-II and Phase-III projects are completed. These projects are expected to enhance the city’s water supply capacity in the coming years.

Calling for collective action, he appealed to citizens to actively participate in rainwater harvesting initiatives, saying that conserving rainwater today is essential to securing Hyderabad’s water needs for future generations.