Anantapur: The groundwater table has plummeted alarmingly in Anantapur district due to scanty rainfall and excess extraction of water. The government has banned the drilling of new borewells in 271 villages keeping in view the poor groundwater levels.

The groundwater department has found that 50 per cent of existing borewells have dried up. On an average 70 per cent of the new borewells have failed in the district. Exploitation of groundwater is widespread in 19 mandals.