Madurai’s groundwater levels surge; borewell, tanker businesses decline

Madurai: In Madurai district, where summers typically witness a surge in demand for borewell drilling and private water tanker services, an unexpected trend has emerged for the second consecutive year: both businesses are experiencing a slump due to a rise in groundwater levels within the city. This increase in groundwater level is attributed to the above-average monsoon rainfall over the past three years and the rejuvenation and desilting of various tanks across the district.
The Madurai District Borewell Rig and Agents Welfare Association have observed a decrease in new borewell installations and the deepening of existing ones over the last four years. B Suresh, state vice-president of the association, pointed out the impact of soaring fuel prices on drilling costs, compounded by reduced demand from Madurai residents due to improved groundwater levels. A Muthuraman, a borewell drilling contractor from Kalavasal Bypass Road, remarked, “Many agents have sold their borewell rig machines in the last four years as the business has been on a downward trend since 2021.”

Private water tanker operators also report a significant decline in business over the past two years. M Durairaj, president of the Private Water Tanker Lorry Association, said, “During the summer season, we used to deliver water daily to residents of Sadha Shiva Nagar, Gomathipuram, Yagappa Nagar, which are water-scarce areas in the city. Even in these areas, the demand has dwindled.”
While Madurai’s east and west zones were earlier known for groundwater shortages, residents now report better water tables. Some residents’ associations have implemented regulations to prevent over extraction since the 2019 drought, such as limiting drilling depth, which has yielded positive results. D Raghavan, president of the Gomathipuram Residents’ Association, explained, “Earlier, we used to find water at 500 or 600 feet, but now it is available at 300 feet. Many new homeowners are drilling deeper than necessary for future safety, which disrupts water availability in the entire area. Therefore, we have enforced a rule and are raising awareness among residents.”
However, concerns about water quality persist, prompting calls for tank desilting and maintenance by local authorities. Abu Backer, founder of Neer Nilaigal Pathukapu Iyakkam, remarked, “The tanks are brimming with water, but the quality is poor. In many areas, there is excess water in borewells, but the quality has deteriorated.” The recently released Master Plan 2041 for Madurai district highlights ten ‘firkas,’ including Madurai west, Kokkulam, and Madurai east, facing over extraction and declining water quality. Madurai west, in particular, is singled out as being in the ‘exploited’ category.