“Ground water fluctuations in the Kanola Watershed
Basin of Karmala Tahsil, Solapur District, Maharashtra”.
Pandurang Y. Patil1. Praveen
Saptarshi.
1) Research
Scholar, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Pune. 2) Former
Head, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Pune. Pune: 411 007
and Adjunct Professor In Environmental Science at Ratnagiri Sub-Centre,
University of Mumbai, P-61 M.I.D.C Mirjole, Ratnagiri. Pin: 415 639.
Abstract:
Water level fluctuations and depletion of the
groundwater are the major problem in the drought prone area. Just
deepening of well with heavy capital investment is not a proper solution. The
problem is aggravated especially in the summer season. It has direct bearing on
food security and poverty. The present study has attempted to
understand fluctuations in the ground water levels in a Kanola watershed
basin in the drought affected areas of Maharashtra state. The study
concludes that it is necessary to undertake watershed development
programmes in the basin taking into account specific site factors to
ensure groundwater availability for longer period in a year.
Key Words: Well water
depletion, groundwater fluctuation, watershed management.
1.0 Introduction:
National
water policy states that “water is a precious natural asset; planning,
development and management of water resources need to be governed by national
perspectives”
(NWP 2002). The use of groundwater was insignificant in the State. Maharashtra
is considered as one of the most well favoured states in the country in respect
of rainfall, but it may soon become a state where large parts of it face
perennial water shortage. El-Hames (2005) has pointed out that for the specific
locations with high ground water potential and determining a maximum pumping
rates that can maintain the depth of groundwater table at a sustainable level
are very important factor in groundwater management. H. M. Raghunath (2007) has
opined that increased water requirement for agriculture, municipal and
industrial need is far more than the annual recharge. This may lead to
depletion of ground water.
Freshwater is a vital resource for which there is no
substitute. Compared to surface water bodies, groundwater is relatively
protected from contamination by overlying soils and sediments. The Central
Groundwater Board has identified that increasing population; deficient
monsoons, unregulated wells, and dependency on loans for costly agricultural
inputs have created stress on ground water (CGWB, 2006). As groundwater levels
are depleted the source is converged and rich peasantry slowly dominate and
poor population suffer from deprivation. Postel (1999) has observed this kind
of stress and urged the need of technological intervention. Walden (2004) and
(DTE 2004) has opined that water stress has close association with an epidemic
of farmer suicides in Andhra Pradesh. Yanni
Gunnell and Anupama Krishnamurthy (2003) opined that uneven distribution
of socioeconomic power and water causes threat to tank system in south
India. Ground water is an important
resource in Maharashtra, also the demand of ground water is increasing day by
day among the various users (GSDA and CGWB 2011). Application of GIS may be
useful for the development of rural sector (Saptarshi, P.G. and Kale V.S.
2000). Excess concentration of the sulphates, nitrates and some heavy metals in
the underground water may be harmful to human being. (Donald. L. Sparks 2003).
Furthermore,
it is necessary that institutional, policy and technological initiatives should
be taken to address both the quantity and the quality issues of groundwater.
The present paper attempts to understand these issues by selecting a small watershed
viz. Kanola basin in the drought prone zone of Maharashtra state.
2.0 The Study
Area:
Watershed basins named Kanola in Karmala
tahsil has been selected for proposed study. The absolute location of study
area can be expressed as from 180 23’ 29’’ to 180 31’ 32’’
N Latitude and from 750 00’ 75’’ to 750 15’ 04’’ E Longitude,
falling in the part of Survey of India (S.O.I) Toposheet No: 47 N / 03. The
basin covers an area of 146.84 km2 within the Karmala tahsil. The
study area lies in the rain shadow zone of western ghat in the middle Bhima
basin. The study area receives rainfall during South-West monsoon from June to
September. The distribution of rainfall is variable. The southern part of area
of the basin in village Roshivad receives 590 mm while northern part of the
basin receives 580 mm rainfall. However, the northern part of the basin
receives average rainfall of about 580 mm. Also the rainfall in the middle part
of the basin is about 585 mm.
(Fig
No:01 Location Map: Study Area- Kanola Basin)
3.0 Geological Setting:
The study area, as a part of
Maharashtra plateau, is covered by Deccan Trap i.e. basic lava flow. Uniformity
of lava flows continued by differential weathering and erosional processes
leading to undulating surface. The study area exhibits such kind of undulation
from the source region to the confluence. The climate and structure favours
formation of medium to thick cotton soil along the streams which thin cover of
sandy to pebbly soils along the plateaus and flat toped hills.
The soil consists of layers of
calcareous material. The kankar deposits are visible in the field study. This
may be attributed to basic lava and dry climate. The fertility status is good
in the narrow belts along the streams. Furthermore, the aquifers are limited
and shallow. The ground water is confined to cracks and crevices of compact
basalt. Water table in this area varies from 6 to10 meter below ground level (mbgl).
( Fig
No:2 Drainage Map Of Kanola Basin)
4.0 Methodology For Ground Water Study:
To
study the ground water of the Kanola basin, water levels in different wells
located in the basin have been observed for pre and post- monsoon period for
this 14 wells have been selected. These pre and post- monsoon water levels are
plotted and are compared with the overall fluctuation of average rainfall. The
village Bhose and Vadgaon (North) are situated at the central part of the basin.
However, the village Roshivad is at south and Punwar is at North. The basin
boundary marked on the map (Fig No: 02). The Table which includes the 14 well
locations serially shown in the Table No: 1, similarly graph for the same has
been shown in Fig No: 03.
5.0 Graphical
Analysis:
The out-put of study is summarized
in terms of graph. This graph includes the Water levels measured with respect
to ground at pre and post -monsoon period and average Rainfall.
Fig No: 03: Rainfall And Static Ground water
Level Fluctuations)
6.0 Results and Discussion:
The
pre monsoon water level in the village Roshivad is 9.9 mbgl and post- monsoon
water level is 05 mbgl. The water level in the village Roshivad is quite higher
side as compared to other villages. In contrary to that the village Punwar is
to the North side of the basin and the water level in the pre and post-monsoon
season are 9.8 mbgl to 5.00 mbgl. This is mainly because of the village
Roshivad and Punwar are situated near to the water divide. However, the average
pre-monsoon water level in the Kanola basin is 8.06 mbgl and the average post- monsoon
groundwater level in the basin is 3.6 mbgl. Also the average fluctuation in the
basin is found to be 4.42 mbgl. It is observed that in general the depth of
water levels follows the surface topography and the drainage pattern in the
study area. The wells situated near water divide show high fluctuation while
those near the stream show low fluctuation in well water depth. This means that
groundwater storage in the upper part of the basin easily transgressed to lower
parts. This can be checked by constructing continuous contour trenching (CCT),
gulley plugging and restoration of flora. The site suitability for the
different watershed management programmes may useful in this regard.
Table No :
1 Average Pre And Post Monsoon
Groundwater Levels, Average Rainfall And Average Fluctuation In The Ground
Water Level.
7.0 Conclusions:
The pre- monsoon groundwater level in the Kanola basin is ranging from 5.9 mbgl to 10 mbgl
and the post-monsoon groundwater level ranging from 2.5 mbgl to 5 mbgl.
However, the average pre- monsoon, post-monsoon ground water level and average
fluctuation in the basin is 8.06 mbgl, 3.6 mbgl and 4.42 m respectively. The
average rainfall in the basin is 587.5 mm. Rainfall from the basin directly
converts to overland flow due to lack of tree cover, water harvesting
structures and flows out of the basin.
8.0 References:
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Down To Earth
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Groundwater
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