PRAYAGRAJ, June 19 -- Groundwater levels have shown improvement across large parts of Prayagraj over the past year, with data from the state groundwater department indicating a rise in the water table at nearly 100 of the 174 monitored locations. A comparison of groundwater data recorded through piezometers in May 2025 and May 2026 by the department revealed an overall improvement in groundwater recharge across both urban and rural parts of the district. Among the most significant improvements was recorded at Sarojini Naidu Mahila Care Center in the city, where the groundwater level rose from 23.32 metres below ground level in May 2025 to 11.89 metres in May 2026, an improvement of more than 11 metres. A similar trend was observed at Primary School Bhogan in Koraon, where the water level improved from 10.16 metres to 3.29 metres over the same period. Significant improvements were also recorded at several other locations, including Shakulta Devi Inter College in Ramnagar, Uruva, where groundwater levels improved from 13.24 metres to 6.60 metres; Primary School Sirokhar in Karchhana, from 10.50 metres to 4.04 metres; and the Mauaima BDO office, from 14.16 metres to 9.55 metres. The survey also recorded notable gains at Forihar Primary School in Saraswatipur, where groundwater levels improved from 5.76 metres to 2.20 metres; Primary School Diha in Karchhana, from 9.16 metres to 6.26 metres; Jagtand Inter College in Soraon-Pratappur, from 8.30 metres to 5.47 metres; and Primary School Arai in Handia, from 7.45 metres to 4.62 metres. Despite the overall improvement, some areas witnessed a decline in groundwater levels. The sharpest drop was recorded in Babura village of Karachhana, where the water table fell by more than eight metres. At least eight locations across the district reported declines ranging between one and eight metres. Nodal officer-Prayagraj and Hydrologist Aviral Singh said the latest survey presents an encouraging picture, particularly because groundwater levels had been declining at most locations in recent years. He attributed the improvement to better rainfall, enhanced groundwater recharge efforts and growing public awareness about water conservation. "The government made licenses mandatory for commercial groundwater extraction in 2019 and also required establishments using groundwater to install rainwater harvesting systems to replenish the water being extracted," Singh said. He emphasized the need to sustain conservation measures in areas where groundwater levels have improved and called for additional efforts in localities, where groundwater conditions continue to require attention....