APPLICATION OF GIS AND GROUNDWATER MODELLING TECHNIQUES TO IDENTIFY THE PERCHED AQUIFERS TO DEMARKATE WATER LOGGING CONDITIONS IN PARTS OF MEHSANA

Abstract

Groundwater is very important component of the hydrological cycle. It is an important source of water for drinking, domestic, industrial and agricultural uses. It plays a key role in meeting the water needs of various users sectors in India. Ground water resource is contributed by two major sources – rainfall and the other seepage from irrigation of the crops. A man-made effort through artificial recharge for water conservation structures adds to the ground water. The ground water behaviour in Indian sub-continent is highly complicated due to the occurrence of diversified geological formations with considerable lithological and chronological variations, complex tectonic framework, climatological dissimilarities and various hydro-chemical conditions. Assessment of ground water resources of an area requires proper identification and mapping of geological structures, geomorphic features along with sound information regarding slope, drainage, lithology, soil as well as thickness of the weathered zones. This study is to understand the ground water scenario in the water logged areas of Dharoi command while the surrounding areas showing continuous decline of water levels. The area falls in the command area of Dhorai dam and is in Mehsana District of Gujarat State. A part of northern command of Dharoi Command area falls in hard rock areas while the lower and southern portion fall in alluvial areas in the Dharoi Command (RBC) area in Mahsana Mehsana District of the Gujarat State. The study highlights the application of GIS in establishing the basic parameters of soil, land use and the distribution of water logging over a period of time and the groundwater modelling identifies the groundwater regime of the area and estimates the total recharge to the area due to surface water irrigation and rainfall and suggests suitable method to control water logging in the area.