GEOIEFORMATICS IN DENTIFICATION OF GROUNDWATER RECHARGE STRUCTURES IN BUNDELKHAND REGION

Abstract

Bundelkhand craton in the central India possesses the immense potential to utilize the natural water resources for the water management in the area but incongruously it has suffered from acute scarcity of water. Bundclkhand massif is traversed by an extensive network of rivers and geological structures Quartz Reefs (QRs) which have been utilised in this study to demarcate the potential ground water recharging sites using Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques. QRs which are spatially distributed over the whole area of craton in large numbers and have NE-SW orientation behave as natural barriers or dams to block the flow of water. Mapping of the GQVs and drainage network using Landsat 8 (ETM+) reveals the sites with quarts reels running across the stream network. At these sites dam simulation was performed in GIS environment leading to the estimation of various dam parameters and feasibility of the establishment of ground water recharging structures through land use pattern studies. This study envisages for augmenting groundwater to unconfined aquifers of the region mainly for drinking and local irrigation purposes.