National Ground water Congress, 2011, New Delhi, CGWB, p. T4-1-5 Rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge in urban areas of Raipur city: A case study from karstic terrain of central India Subrata Kunar # , Anita Gupta $ and Arunangshu Mukherjee* Member (SAM) & Dir (RGI) # ,Regional Director $ , Asstt Hydrogeologist* Central Ground Water Board, Faridabad, Haryana. arunmuk102@gmail.com* Abstract The impact of rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge on groundwater resource has been assessed. The results of rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge works in an urban area are discussed in this paper. The positive impact of scientific management of rainwater on groundwater regime of Raipur urban area is highlighted. The success of this plan now can be replicated in other urban centres of Peninsular India in general and karstic terrains in particular as a tool for supply side management. Introduction The hard rock areas in India face acute scarcity of water during prolong summer apart from sporadic quality problems. The urban centres being the hotspots of developmental activities face the worst hazards. The Peninsular India is predominantly occupied by hard rocks. The Peninsular Indian Rivers depends on groundwater base flow in lean periods. Even the lean period flow of these rivers is gradually decreasing with increasing groundwater draft. Rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge to groundwater is a momentous tool for supply side management. The State capital city Raipur, Chhattisgarh is an upcoming urban centre like many others in central India. Raipur is situated ( Fig-1) on hard rocks of Proterozoic karstic terrain and is largely depended on groundwater resources for its drinking water, domestic, industrial and irrigational needs. Sustainable development of groundwater resources for this capital city in the context of urbanization, industrialization and population growth is the most significant aspect Fig 1- Location map of Raipur urban area CHHATTISGARH RAIPUR DISTRICT RAIPUR URBAN AREA