Report on the Groundwater Conditions in Garhwa & Giridih, Jharkhand
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REPORT ON THE GROUNDWATER CONDITIONS IN GARHWA & GIRIDIH, JHARKHAND Aparna Bhatnagar Habitat for Humanity TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 2 2. SOURCES OF GROUNDWATER .................................................................................... 2 3. GROUNDWATER QUALITY- ......................................................................................... 5 4. TYPES OF WATER ASSESSMENT UNITS ................................................................. 11 5. SOURCES OF GROUNDWATER RECHARGE ........................................................... 12 6. ANNUAL EXTRACTABLE GROUNDWATER RESOURCES ................................... 14 7. VALIDITY OF STAGE OF GROUNDWATER EXTRACTION .................................. 15 8. YEARLY MUNICIPAL BUDGET AND THEIR DEVELOPMENT............................. 15 9. LEGAL PROVISIONS..................................................................................................... 17 10. PROPOSED CHANGES/ RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................... 22 11. CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................. 24 1. Introduction The present paper looks at the underground resources of the districts of Garhwa and Giridih in Jharkhand. The population of Garhwa, as per the 2001 census, was 1035464. This figure rose to 1322784 in the census exercise of 2011.1 The population of Giridih, on the other hand, was recorded as 1904430 as per the 2001 census, and later got re- estimated to 2445474 as per 2011 census.2 The erstwhile Garhwa Subdivision of Palamau district consisting of 8 Blocks was separated from Palamau district as an independent district “Garhwa” with effect from 1st April 1991. Garhwa district is located in the northwestern part of the state of Jharkhand and covers an area of about 4273.52 square kilometres. It is an under developed and draught prone district having diverse terrain.3 The district of Giridih acquired the status of an independent district on 6th December, 1972, and continues to have a close linkage with the parent district of Hazaribagh. Giridih district almost lies in the central part of the North Chotanagpur Divison in the state of Jharkhand and is the administrative headquarter and the principal town of the district. It has one sub – division which has been further divided into thirteen blocks. The district is underlain by compact and hard rocks belonging to crystalline metamorphics of Archaean age and lower Gondwana sedimentaries, which are devoid of any primary porosity. The ground water in such formation occurs within the secondary porosity such as joints, fractures and bedding plains. The ground water occurrence and movement are basically controlled by the prevailing morphology and intensity of structural discontinuities. Therefore, structure is another controlling factor for occurrence and movement of ground water over the area.4 2. Sources of Groundwater 1 Garhwa District- Population data, Census 2011, https://www.census2011.co.in/census/district/98-garhwa.html. 2 Griidih District- Population data, Census 2011, https://www.census2011.co.in/census/district/99-giridih.html. 3 Ground Water Information Booklet, Garhwa District, http://cgwb.gov.in/District_Profile/Jharkhand/Garhwa.pdf. 4 Ground Water Information Booklet, Giridih District, http://cgwb.gov.in/District_Profile/Jharkhand/Giridih.pdf. In Garhwa district, there exist a myriad of groundwater sources. First, we take a look at the drainage systems. Garhwa’s drainage system runs from south to north, towards the rivers Koyal and Sone. The district’s eastern and northern extremities are bounded by Koyal and Sone, respectively, which together form the primary rivers of the region. Danro, Sarsatiya, Tahale, Annaraj, Urea, Bai Banki, Bellaiti, Pando, Biraha, and Sapahi are some of the district’s other notable rivers. The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) district profile on Garhwa notes that due to its geographical formation, Garhwa district is rich in water resources.5 Additionally, Garhwa is a high rainfall area with the average normal rainfall of the district as a whole being 1193 mm. Most of the rainfall occurs in Monsoon during the months of June, July, August and September. 6 Central Ground Water Board has established network of observation wells for monitoring of ground water level to know the behaviour of ground water regime in the district. There are six of National Hydrograph Network Stations (NHNS) monitoring wells in Garhwa. The water level in general the water level varies between 2 and 5 mbgl as throughout the district, with higher water level (> 5.00 mbgl) being recorded in northern and southern part of the district. Of the five ground water monitoring wells in the district, three of them show a falling trend. While there are several geological and meteorological factors contributing to this decline, the over-exploitation of underground water resources for anthropogenic causes is the main culprit. An analysis of the ten-year period (2002-2012) indicates that Ranka and Majhian (with the least number of data points) are the only exception to falling trend. Location No. of Data Rise (meter/year) Fall (meter/year) Garhwa 22 0.205 Nagaruntari 27 0.125 5 Ground Water Information Booklet, Garhwa District, http://cgwb.gov.in/District_Profile/Jharkhand/Garhwa.pdf. 6 Garhwa- History, https://garhwa.nic.in/history/. Ranka 5 0.241 Bhawanthpur 19 0.160 Manjhian 5 0.208 A report in the Times of India states that ground water table in 2011 depleted by about 3-4 feet compared to the previous year, thereby pushing Garhwa in an acute water crisis.7 In Giridih, the drainage pattern of a large section of the district is dendritic in nature, and is primarily influenced by the topography of the area. The Barakar and Sakri rivers divide the region into two principal watersheds. The district also has a number of small rivers, the most prominent of which is the Usri. All of the rivers in the district are seasonal. The drainage of the 10 buffer zone is mainly controlled by the Barakar river and its tributaries namely Usri Nadi, Dhirabar nadi, Khakho Nadi ,Jaria Nala, Chilkharo Nala etc and the Sikri river. 8 With an average rainfall of 602.4 mm in the month of July in 2020, Giridih has sufficient rainfall.9 While there is plenty of rainfall in the region, ground water exploitation is very little. This is said to be because the geological formation at most places is rocky, water percolates into the ground through fissures and cracks and stored in voids, small in size, that hold limited quantities of water and yield small discharges. Bores are successful if these voids are hit. Otherwise, they fail.10 Central Ground Water Board has established eleven numbers of National Hydrograph Stations (NHS) for the study of water level behaviour in the district. Water level depends upon the storage of ground water development and variation in rainfall over a long period. 7 TNN News, Garhwa facing acute water crisis, Times of India (Feb. 25, 2011, 11.12 p.m.), https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/garhwa-facing-acute-water-crisis/articleshow/7575156.cms. 8 Ground Water Information Booklet, Giridih District, http://cgwb.gov.in/District_Profile/Jharkhand/Giridih.pdf. 9 Giridih Monthly Climate Averages, World Weather Online, https://www.worldweatheronline.com/giridih- weather-averages/jharkhand/in.aspx. 10 Environmental Assessment & Environmental Management Framework for the World Bank Assisted Water Supply Projects in Selected Districts of Jharkhand, https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/369471468041971982/pdf/E41820v60EA0P10MF0JHARKHAN D0Vol-0I.pdf. Of the fifteen blocks, eleven show a falling trend in the ground water levels. An analysis of water levels of existing Hydrograph Network Stations for the time period of 2003- 2012 indicates that only Bagodar, Dhanwar, Dumri and Bengabad fall under the exception. About 72.73% of the wells showing declining trend for pre monsoon period, 81.82% wells showing declining trend for post monsoon period and 73.33% wells showing declining trend for all the period.11 As per a recent newspaper report, the water crisis in Giridih has aggravated, with Bengabad, Birni and Pirtand blocks in the district being the worst affected. The report states that according to district data report, in 2018, Bengabad received only 75 per cent (788.92 mm) of the expected rainfall (1037.2 mm). Social activist Jagarnath Prasad was quoted saying that the government’s group water scheme was a failure, with households still struggling to get more than 20 litres of water per day. 12 3. Groundwater Quality- i. Garhwa Fluoride The World Health Organisation (WHO) prescribed fluoride consumption permissible limit is 0.5-1.5 mg/L. While consumption of fluoride in the permissible limit is necessary to prevent tooth decay, if consumed in excess of 1.5 mg/L over long periods of time, it produces severe effects on human health such as dental and skeletal fluorosis (crippling bond), osteoporosis, hip fracture, arthritis and mental retardation.13 A study conducted jointly by Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra and Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi, reveals some troubling results.14 The study found Kharaundhi, Untari and Ranka blocks in Garhwa to have high percentage 11 Ground Water Information Booklet, Giridih District, http://cgwb.gov.in/District_Profile/Jharkhand/Giridih.pdf. 12 Suresh