Despite predictions of a good rainfall in 2012, the present water crisis in Hyderabad, especially relating to groundwater levels, may deteriorate in the absence of preventive measures. The haphazard and rapid growth of the city has nearly exhausted the groundwater resources. This information was presented to the state authorities by experts at the department of Groundwater. The reason they say is the large-scale urbanisation during the past 20 years, resulting in the concretisation and increased demand for groundwater. Concretisation of roads and pavements makes it impossible for rain water to seep back into the ground completely. So, despite good rainfall, groundwater levels will not be recharged. Speaking to this newspaper the experts said that the department has asked the government to adopt an integrated water management programme, especially with respect to the urban water resources in Hyderabad. “The haphazard and rapid growth of the city has sucked into the water sources, such as the Musi river and various lakes, drastically reducing the sources of water for industrial and individual usage. This is also reflected in satellite images and the drift is likely to continue through the next decade as well. Almost 3.5 million cubic meters of groundwater is pumped out every month to cater to the needs of the city,” said an official adding that it is a huge figure given the fact that the static groundwater reserves in the rocky base of Hyderabad are scattered and not uniformly present. Citing population growth figures since the 1950s in the city, experts disclosed that the heavily populated areas in the city have become even more populated since the 1990s. Even the medium density areas were re-categorised to “heavy density” during this period. The result has been an unprecedented and alarming demand for groundwater, violating the Andhra Pradesh Water, Land and Trees Act, 2002. The state has been urged to keep in mind the fact that the Singur reservoir, Nagarjunasagar reservoir and Musi etc. are not enough to fulfil the needs of the twin cities with a population growth rate of more than five percent. "Hyderabad will soon rise to the top in urban agglomerations, overtaking the current south eastern cities of Bangkok and Hong Kong," said an official adding that authorities must focus on rainwater harvesting to prevent wastage of the rainwater. This will improve groundwater recharge in addition to contributing to the surface water resources for irrigation.