1.
Aquifer Mapping of Ground Water Resources, an initiative of MoWR, RD & GR
Sustainable Lifestyle = Positive Climate Action

2. Major Ground Water Issues
Over-exploitation of resource
Contamination- both geogenic and anthropogenic
Limited availability and sustainability in hard rock areas
Less recharge potential and resource availability in arid areas
Under-utilization of resource in Eastern States
Water logging and salinity problems  
Intense extraction in urban and peri-urban areas
Impact of climate change on ground water regime.

3. Groundwater Resource Availability
Groundwater Resource Availability
Annual Replenishable Resources
433 bcm
Net Annual Ground Water Availability
398 bcm
Annual Ground Water Draft for Irrigation, Domestic & Industrial uses
245 bcm
Stage of Ground Water Development
62%
Categorization
Total Assessment Units
6607
Safe
68%
Semi-Critical
11%
Critical 3%
Over-Exploited
16%
Saline 1%

4. Hydrogeological Mapping- previous works
Hydrogeological Mapping- previous works
Since its inception, CGWB is involved in ground water survey, monitoring, exploration and assessment
Systematic Hydrogeological Survey was completed in Followed by Reappraisal Hydrogeological Survey which was renamed as District Ground Water Management Studies in 1998.
Prepared National level Documents on:-
Hydrogeological map of India on 1: 5 million scale (1984)
Hydrogeological map of India on 1: 2 million scale (2002)
Aquifer Systems of India on 1:250,000 scale (2012)
where 14 Principal Aquifer System and 42 Major Aquifer System have been identified

5. National Aquifer Management Programme in India
National Aquifer Management Programme in India
National Aquifer Management Programme (NAQUIM) commenced from year 2012.
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) under Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation has been entrusted with the gigantic task of aquifer mapping across the country.
Four major components
Mapping of aquifers, resource, quality, recharge potential
Ground Water Modeling and Management Plan
Dissemination of Data/information / plan
Participatory management of the resource
Out of ~3.2 million km2, area of India, 2.3 million km2 area has been identified as mappable.
~ 0.9 million km2 area is envisaged to be covered in first phase ( ) and remaining during

6. Aquifer Systems in India 14 Principal and 42 Major Aquifer Systems
Aquifer Systems in India 14 Principal and 42 Major Aquifer Systems
Alluvium -major aquifer system (31% area)
Hard and semiconsolidated rocks, remaining area

7. Delineation and characterization of aquifers in three dimensions
Broad objectives of the programme are
Delineation and characterization of aquifers in three dimensions
Volumetric resource availability and sustainability
Chemical quality of ground water in aquifers, contaminated aquifers.
Delineating and assessing Hydrogeologically suitable areas/aquifers for resource build up through artificial recharge.
Identification and quantification of issues
Development of management plans based on sustainability issue.

8. Target for XII Plan Period
Total Target : 0.9 million km2 for XII Plan out of 2.3 million km2 mappable area of the Country
Major Thrust : 8 states (area reprioritised based on high level of groundwater extraction for addressing over-exploited / critical assessment units )
Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan , Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Bundelkhand areas of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh constituting million km2 .

9. Area for Aquifer Mapping during XII Plan (2012-17)
Total OE/Critical Blocks- 1288
Being covered (1127)
Priority areas in 8 states- 915
Other areas- 212

10. Approach & Process Flow
Activities
Data Integration
Data Compilation & Data Gap Analysis
Data Acquisition
Development of lithological model & Preparation of
Aquifer Map
Development of Aquifer
Management
Plan
Suggesting strategies for sustainable GW management
Analysis & Interpretation of data generated
Exploratory Wells & pumping tests, Geophysical survey,
Water Quality, GW Levels,
Specific yield, Soil infiltration capacity, intake capacity of aquifers etc.

11. PLANNING AND EVALUATION STEPS
PLANNING AND EVALUATION STEPS
Aquifer Maps and Management Plans are reviewed and refined at different levels
Govt. Of India has constituted a National Inter departmental Steering Committee (NISC) drawing members from stakeholders
Central Ministries in related fields such as Rural Development (Land Resources), Urban Development, Water Supply and Sanitation, Agriculture etc.
State Govt. Departments, who are the implementing agencies of aquifer management interventions
Central Ground Water Board under Ministry of Water Resources, RD &GR is the main implementing agency, which prepares the aquifer maps and management plans.
These maps and plans pass through multiple levels of review including review by a National Level Expert Committee
There is a State Level Ground Water Coordination Committee in each State. Maps and Management plans are discussed with the SGWCC
Final maps and management plans are shared with State Govt. Departments, which are the implement ground water management intervention measures.

12. Aquifer Mapping – Outcomes
Delineation of aquifers down to a depth of 200 m. in hard rocks and 300 m in unconsolidated formations and their characterization.
Preparation of Regional/local level aquifer and ground water maps
Formulation of Ground water Management plans for addressing issues related to
Water stressed areas having large significant number of Overexploited/ Critical areas
Areas having Quality issues like As , Salinity etc.
The Management plans contain detailed information on the GW resources in individual aquifers and their sustainability, along with information / recommendations on
Quantum of water storage possible, recharge locations, aquifer specific recharge structures (Supply side management strategies)
Demand side management strategies such as water use efficiency improvement, crop diversification, lining of field channels, reorient cropping calendar etc.

13. Significant Achievements of Aquifer mapping
Delineation of productive aquifer zones down to 300 m in unconsolidated formations and 200 m in hard rocks.
Delineation of Contamination – free aquifers in the Arsenic – affected States of UP, Bihar, Jharkhand & West Bengal (Construction of wells for providing arsenic- free water to affected villages in Ghazipur and Ballia Districts of UP already taken up).
Mega Recharge Project in Tapi River basin, developed based on Aquifer Mapping studies evaluated and approved by the Task Force.
In drought effected areas of Latur dist, 25 wells constructed on sites identified based on results of Aquifer mapping on war footing during May & June , 2016 for tackling drinking water crisis.
Max yield – 5.8 lps All wells handed over to the state govt.
GW Management plan developed for reviving Rajgir hot springs

14. Snapshot of National aquifer Mapping in India
Snapshot of National aquifer Mapping in India

15. To initiate the programme Pilot Projects were undertaken
Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme
To initiate the programme Pilot Projects were undertaken
Completed at 6 different hydrogeological terrains in Bihar, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu states
All advance Hydrogeological, geochemical, isotopic and geophysical techniques have been applied.
Modern Geophysical techniques like, TEM, ERT, GRP, Heli-based Electro-magnatic survey
Isotope application like, Stable oxygen, hydrogen, Tritium, C-14
Ground water modeling has been developed

16. Pilot Project Areas
Location map
Total – 3016 sq.km

17. Issues in Different Pilot Areas
Baswa-Bandikui Watershed, Dausa District, Rajasthan (Alluvium underlain by Crystallines)
The entire watershed is over-exploited.
Continuous decline of water levels have been observed in both the aquifers
Sam Panchayat Samiti (block) Jaisalmer District, Rajasthan (Desert Terrain)
Meagre ground water resources
Unit annual ground water recharge is very meagre (~ 3.44 mm /Yr)
2% of the annual rainfall ( ~146 mm)
Even this meagre resource is brackish due to intrinsic property of the rock formations, thus rendering it to be unsuitable for use.
Chandrabagha watershed, Nagpur District, Maharashtra (Basaltic Terrain)
Water scarcity at places (stage of GW resource-80%) & Declining ground water level
Pollution due to industries

18. Issues…. (contd.)
Ankasandra watershed, Tumkur District, Karnataka (Crystalline Terrain)
Overexploitation of ground water resources (187%)
Desaturation of top aquifer resulting in drying up of wells in large part of area, \
Reduction in yield of the borewells due to erratic rainfall and over exploitation of groundwater resources
Lower Vellar Watershed, Tamil Nadu ( Coastal terrain)
Heavy and continuous groundwater withdrawal for irrigation and depressurized for safe mining of lignite.
Stress on the aquifer due to groundwater withdrawal for drinking water supply to Chennai city during lean periods
Threat of seawater intrusion in the event of reversal of hydraulic gradient or by up-coning
Maner-Khagul Area, Patna District, Bihar (Alluvial Terrain)
Greater groundwater dependence for urban water supply.
Arsenic contamination in select places
Need for increasing cropping intensity from 126% to 200%

19. Studies carried out in the Pilot Areas
Compilation of existing data & identification of data gap
Generation of additional data to fill the datagap
Geophysical Studies
Construction of wells and pumping tests
Chemical analysis of groundwater from different aquifers
Conventional Hydrogeological survey including micro level survey, soil infiltration test, pumping tests
Preparation of various thematic layers, viz., geomorphology, drainage, soil etc
Aquifer Characterization & Preparation of Aquifer maps
Numerical Simulation studies to define flow pattern in different aquifers
Formulation of Sustainable Aquifer Management plan

20. Outcomes Dausa District, Rajasthan Jaisalmer district , Rajasthan
Delineated two aquifers (alluvium and hardrocks) down to a depth of 200m
Management Intervention suggested:
Various recharge mechanisms
Adopting water saving micro-irrigation techniques will reduce demand for ground water by 35 % and about 25 mcm of ground water can be saved.
Restrict further enhancement in ground water withdrawal through governance
Jaisalmer district , Rajasthan
Three aquifer system, comprising alluvial, sandstone and limestone aquifers down to a depth of 300m.
Management Intervention suggested
Up-scaling traditional water harvesting system and controlled use of limited fresh ground water pockets especially in canal command area.
Along the Indira Gandhi Nahar Pariyojna (IGNP) canal, controlled pumping in fresh water pockets to avoid water logging and restrict ingress of brackish water of the principle aquifer system.

21. Outcomes Nagpur District, Maharashtra Tumkur District, Karnataka
Two aquifer system delineated down to 200m depth, Basalt and Gondwana rocks
Management intervention suggested:
Construction of artificial recharge structures 25 recharge wells, 3 percolation ponds along the tributaries and check dam across Chandrabhaga river
Site identification for supply of regional water supply schemes for water scarcity villages.
The resource augmentation by artificial recharge would also dilute the pollution around the industrial town of Kamaleshwar
Tumkur District, Karnataka
Single aquifer system down to a depth of 200m, 2-3 sets of fractures in hard rocks.
Management intervention suggested
Recommended to transfer the water from Hemavathi (Cauvery basin) to the tune of 12 MCM and fill up all the existing tanks (after de-siltation) to recharge aquifers, water level is expected to rise around 5-10 m. This will improve ground water levels and enhance sustainability of the aquifers.

22. Outcomes Lower Vellar Watershed, Tamil Nadu
Four aquifers delineated down to a depth of 300m.
Present ground water withdrawal from all four aquifers is 1213 mcm/year, and there is no threat of sea water intrusion
Considering current annual increase in demand, the abstraction will rise by 700 mcm for each aquifer. By 2025 all the four aquifer units will become vulnerable to sea water intrusion
Management intervention suggested
Aquifer unit I & II should be kept for mainly domestic purposes.
Aquifer III for agriculture & mining activity
Aquifer-IV for drinking water supply for Chennai City
Patna District, Bihar
Three aquifer system down to a depth of 300m below ground level
Ground water stress areas were demarcated
Management interventions suggested
Decongestion of municipal water supply wells and shifting them to alternate areas.
Alternate aquifer has been identified for supply of arsenic free water
Suggested to increase the cropping intensity from 126% to 200% for optimum utilisation of shallow aquifers in areas having ground water availability

23. Upper Ponnaiyar Basin, Tamil Nadu
Out put of National aquifer Management Programme
Upper Ponnaiyar Basin, Tamil Nadu

24. Total Area of the Basin: 7130 Sq.Km.
Total Districts covered (parts) : 6 nos
Total Firkas in Study Area: 57 nos
Average normal Rain fall 811mm (100 years)
Karnataka
Bay of Bengal
Kerala
Sl. No.
District
Area
Sq.
Km.
No. of Blocks
No. of Firkas
Population 1
Dharmapuri
2273 7 16
759469 2
Krishnagiri
3293 9 25 3
Vellore
877 4
566883
Tiruvannamalai
390
155557 5
Salem
230
152603 6
Villupuram 67
32273
Total
7130 26 57
28,72,914

25. Land Use Geomorphology Geology
Major Geomorphic Feature : Pediments (65%)

26. Major Ground Water Issues
Drought prone districts viz. Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri
Decline in groundwater levels
0.40 to 0.70 m/year in Dharmapuri District.
0.20 to 0.40 m in Krishnigiri district.
GW development >recharge. (Overexploited firkkas – 38 nos out of 57 firkas)
Groundwater is the only source of irrigation in 80 % of the area except in the central part where canal irrigation exists.
F Contamination in parts of Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts.
in Harur, Morappur, Pappireddypatti blocks of Dhramapuri & Soolagiri, Barugur, Krishnagiri and Veppanapalli Blocks of Krishnagiri districts .
Max mg/l.
Water logging in the down stream side Krishnagiri Dam Project

27. Hydrogeology Crystaline Rocks : Heterogenous Aquifers
Primary Porosity : Less or Nil
Secondary Porosity : Weathering & Fracture/ Joints
Aquifer- I : Weathering and First Fractures
Aquifer – II : Deep Fractures (Gniessic Rocks form better Aquifer than Charnockite)
Aquifer
Aquifer (m bgl)
Thickness (m)
DTW/
Pz. (m bgl)
Rep. Res.
( MCM)
Yield range
(lpm)
Sustainability
T (m2/day)
Aq. - I
GL to 39
5 to 39
(pre)
553
1-2 hours
Aq. - II
6-40
9-160
(pre) -
36-400
2-4 hours
20 -80

28. Water Level Scenario Aquifer Pre monsoon ( m bgl) Post monsoon( m bgl)
Ground water Flow Direction
Aquifer
Pre monsoon ( m bgl)
Post monsoon( m bgl)
Seas. Fluctuation (m)
Aq.I-Phreatic
Rise
Aq.II –Semi Confined
Rise

29. 2D- Aquifer Disposition Upper Ponnaiyar aquifer system
Thickness – Aquifer –I : 5 to 39 m
Aquifer –II : 9 to 160 m (fractures confined)
Software : Rockworks

30. AQUIFER CHARACTERISTICS
Type of Aquifer
Formation
Top of the aq (mbgl)
Thick ness (m)
FracturesEnco untered (mbgl)
Range of Yield
(lpm)
Sustaina bility
Aquifer parameter (Transmissivi ty – m2/day)
Groundwat er quality EC values (µs/cm)
Suitable for Drinking
Aq - I
Weathered
GL to 5
5-39 -
1-2 hours
Yes (except F. con at places)
Aq - II
Jointed/fractur ed
6 to 40
9-160
09 to 160 (2-5 nos fractures are likely)
30-400
2-4 hours
20 to 80

31. Tamil Nadu, Upper Ponnaiyar Aquifer system, 7130 km2
Tamil Nadu, Upper Ponnaiyar Aquifer system, 7130 km2
Recharge: 553 MCM/yr
Total annual Draft :
Aquifer – I : MCM
Aquifer – II : MCM
Total : MCM
Aquifer Units
Surplus runoff
Available : 855 MCM
Harnessable runoff : 650 MCM
Aquifer – I (Unconfined)
Thickness : 5 to 39 m
Aquifer – II (Fractured)
Thickness : 9 to 160 m
Aquifer I (weathered)
Aquifer II (fractured)
Aquifer I (weathered)
Software : visual modflow ver 4.6 of 2014
Aquifer II (fractured)

32. Water Level Prediction
Normal Pumping & Recharge upto 2020
10 % increase in Pumping & normal Recharge upto 2025
Not much change in groundwater level with normal pumping & normal recharge – Few locations in the south showing decline WL
Major regions become dry with 10% increase in pumping & normal recharge
Software : visual modflow ver 4.6 of 2014

33. Proposed Management Strategies
Proposed Management Strategies
Artificial recharge and water conservation structures should be constructed to augment the existing resources in region with declining trend.
Construction of Percolation ponds, desilting of tanks along with construction of recharge shaft or recharge bore wells.
Recharge shafts and bore wells should be constructed along the highways.
The farmers cultivate crops, vegetables, flowers that require less ground water. They may be encouraged to go for dugwell recharge.
Maintenance of Natural recharge sources( Eri, Oorani)
In villages affected by high Fluoride conc.
Alternate source of water supply
drinking water supply to these villages is being done by assured drinking water scheme from Hokkenekal project (Govt. of TN).
In canal command area where the groundwater is shallow (1 to 2 m bgl),
Conjunctive use to be adopted to avoid water logging in future as ground water levels are increasing year by year.

34.
Thanks