Bhubaneswar, March 17 -- In a piece of distressing news, the groundwater level of nine blocks in Odisha has reached a semi-critical stage raising serious concern about the unabated usage of groundwater and rapid urbanisation.

As per the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), the semi-critical blocks are Khordha, Bhubaneswar, Bolagarh, Talcher, Baliapal, Korei, Jharsuguda, Nayagarh and Nuapada. In Bhubaneswar block, 86 per cent of the recharged-groundwater is extracted every year.

"I have been here for the last 26 years. Once the groundwater level was good in the area. But it has decreased drastically in the last two to three years. The water level drops below the halfway mark towards the end of February every year," said Mamta Martha, a res...