Mapping and management of aquifers suffering from over-exploitation of groundwater resources in Baswa-Bandikui watershed, Rajasthan, India

Dwindling of groundwater resources in northern India for the past few decades is one of the serious concerns. Groundwater resources in the Baswa-Bandikui watershed located in the state of Rajasthan in northwest India are ‘overexploited,’ and the groundwater level in the area is gradually depleting. In order to find a solution to this serious problem, micro-level aquifer mapping was carried out in the area. The study involved the application of advanced geophysical techniques like airborne electromagnetic, electrical resistivity tomography, vertical electrical sounding and VES coupled with conventional hydrogeological investigations such as water well drilling, aquifer performance tests, etc. The area is characterized by alluvium underlain by hard rock aquifer. Both aquifer types are in hydraulic continuity at places. Numerical modeling studies reveal that, within the next 10 years, a considerable portion of the productive upper alluvium aquifer will go dry if groundwater extraction continues at the present rate. Mathematical simulation studies were further extended to test the efficacy of the hypothetical groundwater management plans proposed for the study area. The studies indicate that the situation is so critical that it would require simultaneous implementation of four management interventions, viz., regulation of groundwater extraction, artificial recharge to groundwater, on-farm irrigation management practices and water conservation practices such as recycle and reuse of water to control further depletion of the water table.