Well irrigation, also known as groundwater irrigation, is a common practice in Telangana, particularly in areas where surface water sources are limited or unreliable.
Wells are dug holes in the ground used to access water from the subsoil, typically ranging from 3 to 5 meters in depth, although deeper wells can reach up to 15 meters.
Various methods like the Persian wheel, Reht, Charas, or mot, dhingly are employed to lift groundwater from wells.
Well irrigation constitutes approximately 63% of the country’s net irrigated area and has grown significantly since 1950, expanding sixfold.
Favorable regions with adequate sweet groundwater include the Northern Plains, deltaic plains of major river valleys (Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery, Narmada, Tapi), weathered Deccan trap areas, and crystalline and sedimentary zones of peninsular India.
Large portions of peninsular India are unsuitable for well irrigation due to uneven surfaces, rocky structures, and limited groundwater.
Some areas in Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, and parts of Uttar Pradesh have brackish underground water unsuitable for irrigation or human consumption.
Uttar Pradesh has the highest proportion of well-irrigated land in the country at 28%, followed by Rajasthan (10%), Punjab (8%), Madhya Pradesh (7.9%), Gujarat (7.3%), and Bihar (6.2%).
