A Geographical Analysis of Groundwater Level in District (M.S.)

Dr. Shailesh M. Nikam Dept. of Geography Pemraj Sarda College, Ahmednagar. [email protected] Introduction

Groundwater plays a vital role in the development of agriculture and other development in . The uncertainty of monsoon climatic condition is the main problem in India. is one of the most favorable states in India in respect of rainfall. But it May soon become a state in the large part of Maharashtra face perennial water shortage. is known as drought prone district in Maharashtra. So there is a lot of problem related to water. The distribution of rainfall is not equal in the district. The groundwater levels are always deep in all the 14 tehsils in the district. After monsoon the level of ground water decreased of rapidly the people faced the problem of drinking water, agriculture, industries and all types of development.

Objectives

1) To study the groundwater level in the year 2013 in Ahmednagar district. 2) To study the groundwater level in the year 2014 in Ahmednagar district. 3) To study the average rainfall in Ahmednagar district. 4) To compared the depth of water level in 2014 with 2013.

Study area

Ahmadnagar is the largest district of Maharashtra State in respect of area. It is situated in the central part of the State and lies between north latitudes18°19’ and 19°59’ and east longitudes 73°37’ and 75 °32’ and falls in parts of

Survey of India degree sheets 47 E, 47 I, 47 M, 47 J and 47 N. It is bounded by Nashik district in the north, Aurangabad and Beed districts to the east, Osmanabad and Solapur districts to the south and Pune and Thane districts to the west. The district has a geographical area of 17114 sq. km., which is 5.54% of the total State area. It is divided in to 14 talukas namely Ahmadnagar, Rahuri , , Nevasa, Shevgaon, Pathardi, Jamkhed,

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Karjat, Srigonda, , , , and Rahata. The population of the district is 4543169 as per 2011 census with density of 266 persons per sq. km. There are 18 towns and 1591 villages in the district. The district has 14 Panchayat Samitis, 8 Nagar Parishads, 1 Municipal Corporation and 1310 Gram Panchayats.

Geomorphology and Soil Types

Physiographically the district forms part of Deccan Plateau. Part of Sahayadri hill ranges fall in the district. Western Ghat section in Akole taluka is hilly which extends to relatively flat areas in Shevgaon and Jamkhed talukas in the east. From the main Sahayadri range three spurs namely , Baleshwar and Harishchandgad strech eastwards. Physiographically the district can be broadly divided in four major characteristic landforms viz., hill and ghat section (7.6% area); foothill zone (19.4% area); plateau (3.71% area) and plains (occupy 69.30% area). The district lies partly in Godavari basin and partly in Bhima basin. The northern part of the district is drained by and its tributaries viz., Pravara, Mula, Adula and Mahalungi whereas the southern part is drained by Bhima River

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and its tributaries viz., Ghod and Sina. All the rivers have sub parallel to semi-dendritic drainage pattern and the drainage density is quite high. Based on geomorphological setting and drainage pattern, the district is divided into 80 watersheds.

Methodology

The preset study is based on the secondary sources of data and field observation. The secondary data is collected from socio-economic abstract of Ahmednagar district, District census handbook and Gazetteers, ground water information from central ground water board, Ahmednagar district and daily newspaper Lokmat. Groundwater level in 2013-2014 (Table -1)

2013 2014 No. of wells Average Average GWL Average Average No Taluka in GWL in Last in Last 5 Yrs. GWL in GWL in Observation 5 Yrs. (2009 (2008 to 2012) Sept. 2013 Sept. 2014 to 2013) 1 Nagar 20 8.11 6.32 7.13 7.23 2 Parner 15 5.31 5.03 5.5 6.79 3 Pathardi 08 5.28 5.13 5.26 6.14 4 Shevgaon 18 4.88 4.32 4.64 5.98 5 Shrirampur 12 5.10 4.12 5.09 5.37 6 Rahuri 14 5.94 4.98 5.44 6.53 7 Newasa 12 6.30 4.40 5.23 6.36 8 Karjat 15 4.55 4.59 5.18 5.42 9 Jamkhed 11 5.61 4.20 5.02 5.58 10 18 2.62 4.79 4.88 5.41 11 Sangamner 26 6.44 6.13 7.06 6.74 12 Akole 13 1.78 1.84 2.23 2.11 13 Kopargaon 15 6.33 5.07 6.07 7.59 14 Rahata 05 2.50 2.64 2.86 4.10 Average 5.05 4.54 5.11 5.81

In 2013 the average depth of groundwater levels in last five years in the month of September was recorded between 1.78mbgl to 8.11mbgl. But the average depth of groundwater levels is 5.05 mbgl. The shallowest water level was recorded in Akole tehsil whereas the deepest water level was recorded in Nagar tehsil.

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In the month of September 2013 the maximum average depth of groundwater level observed in Nagar tehsil with 6.31mbgl and minimum found in Akole tehsil with 1.84mbgl. The average depth of groundwater levels is 4.54 mbgl in September 2013.

In 2014 the average depth of groundwater levels in last five years in the month of September was recorded between 1.78mbgl to 8.11mbgl. But the average depth of groundwater levels is 5.11 mbgl. The shallowest water level was recorded in Akole tehsil whereas the deepest water level was recorded in Nagar tehsil.

In the month of September 2014 the maximum average depth of groundwater level observed in Kopargaon tehsil with 7.59 mbgl and minimum found in Akole tehsil with 2.11mbgl. The average depth of groundwater levels is 5.81 mbgl in September 2014. Comparison (Table-2)

No Taluka Average Average Difference Average GWL in GWL in in GWL Rainfall Sept. 2013 Sept. 2014 (%) 1 Nagar 6.32 7.23 -0.91 81.82 2 Parner 5.03 6.79 -1.76 37.14 3 Pathardi 5.13 6.14 -1.01 75.16 4 Shevgaon 4.32 5.98 -1.66 67.32 5 Shrirampur 4.12 5.37 -1.25 104.49 6 Rahuri 4.98 6.53 -1.55 67.10 7 Newasa 4.40 6.36 -1.96 63.43 8 Karjat 4.59 5.42 -0.83 68.06 9 Jamkhed 4.20 5.58 -1.38 74.25 10 Shrigonda 4.79 5.41 -0.62 59.74 11 Sangamner 6.13 6.74 -0.61 94.02 12 Akole 1.84 2.11 -0.27 148.50 13 Kopargaon 5.07 7.59 -0.52 62.02 14 Rahata 2.64 4.10 -1.46 74.40 Average 4.54 5.81 -1.13 76.83

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According to table no. 2 when we compared the average water levels of September 2014 with September 2013 fall in average water levels is observed in all 14 tehsils in the district. The districts average depth to water level has decreased by -1.13 meters below ground level when compared to last year. Maximum difference in the decreasing depth noticed in Newasa tehsil with -1.96 mbgl followed by Parner (-1.76 mbgl) and Shevagaon (-1.66 mbgl. And in Parner, Pathardi, Shevgaon, Shrirampur, Rahuri, Jamkhed, Newasa and Rahata tehsil the groundwater level decreased by more than 1mbgl and other tehsil in the district decreased less than 1mbgl.

Recommendation 1) In the hilly range area i.e. entire Akole taluka and part of Sangamner, Rahuri, Ahmednagar, Pathardi and Parner the artificial recharge structure are check dams, gully plugs, percolation tanks; nalla bunds are useful for the development of groundwater level. 2) The sites for borewell and tubewells wherever feasible, need to be selected only after proper scientific investigation. 3) The Alluvial areas in the district observed along the major rivers and their tributaries can be developed through dugwells, Dug-cum-bored wells. 4) The sites for artificial recharge structures need to be located where the hydrogeological conditions are favourable, Such areas are observed in almost entire Parner and parts of Sangamner, Rahuri, Ahmadnagar, Nevasa, Pathardi and Jamkhed. 5) Existing dugwells in the district can also be used for artificial recharge; however, the source water should be properly filtered before being put in the wells. 6) Storage tanks for villages on hill tops, nala bunds, contour bunds, gully plugs, CCT, K.T. wear etc., should be constructed after studying the feasibility. 7) The existing village ponds need to be rejuvenated to act both as water conservation and artificial recharge structures. 8) The water in the borewell is used only for drinking not for irrigation purpose. 9) Fill up the farmer ponds in rainy season.

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10) In future water conservation and artificial recharge structures need to be priorities in the district.

Conclusion The average rainfall is not satisfied in all tahsils in the district except in Akole and Shrirampur tehsil because in these tehsil the average rainfall is more than 100% but in other tehsil the average rainfall is decreased i.e. below average. The minimum rainfall is received in Parner(37.14%), Shrigonda(59.74%), Kopargaon(62.02%) and Newasa(63.43%) Tahsil. During this year the district received 23% deficit rainfall against the normal. The impact of this deficit the groundwater level in the whole district is decreased compared with September 2013. However in Akole and Shrirampur tehsil the rainfall is more than average the GWL in these tehsil is below average because the rainfall is not continuously, it falls in few days very heavily in some part and not all over in the district. Reference 1) Census Handbook of Ahmednagar District 2) Govt. of Maharashtra, Groundwater Information Ahmednagar District 3) Groundwater Resources of India- Central Groundwater Board, New Delhi, 1995 4) Mishra K.K. – Water- National Book Trust India, New Delhi 5) Subhajyoti Das- Groundwater Resources of India, National Book Trust India, New Delhi 6) Environmental Problems and Solution- D. K. Asthana, Meera Asthana 7) Socio-economic Abstract of Ahmednagar District 2012

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