Geospatial Analysis of Recharge
of Groundwater and Irrigation Draft
from Different Aquifer Systems
of Rajasthan, India
Bidyut Kumar Bhadra, Rakesh Paliwal and S. Srinivasa Rao
Abstract Groundwater over-exploitation for agricultural crops caused adverse
impact on the sustainability of the resources of Rajasthan. Western arid to central
semi-arid regions of the state shows a large spital variation in annual rainfall. The
study of groundwater elevation zones during pre-monsoon, post-monsoon, and post
winter irrigation (January to March) seasons shows a steady declining of ground-
water level of places such as Osian (1.93 m/year) and Piprali (1.50 m/year) which
is attributed to excessive groundwater draft due to irrigation in Rabi season. It has
been predicted that most of the tube wells in Osian and Piprali may get dry com-
pletely by 2048 and 2068, respectively. However, during the same period Khamnor
area shows rise in groundwater level at the rate of 1.19 m/year. This variation in
groundwater level is attributed to the nature of different aquifer systems viz. allu-
vium in Piprali, sandstone in Osian, and gneisses in Khamnor area. Implementation
of water harvesting structures shows significant improvement in recharge of
groundwater in Osian and Khamnor area underlain by hard rock aquifer system.
Geospatial analysis of recharge and draft from groundwater during 2008–2009,
2010–2011, and 2011–2012 shows significant changes due to rise and fall in
groundwater levels. Over-exploitation of groundwater has developed a
non-equilibrium stage between recharge and irrigation draft. In contrary, a positive
impact on groundwater recharge in Khamnor area is evident due to higher rainfall
and hard rock aquifer with secondary porosity (joints/fractures). Unless preventive
measures are taken, the gap between groundwater recharge and draft will increase
many folds in future.
Keywords Groundwater recharge
Á
Irrigation draft
Á
Aquifer system
Geographic information system
Á
Rajasthan
B.K. Bhadra (&) Á R. Paliwal Á S. Srinivasa Rao
Department of Space, Regional Remote Sensing Centre (West), NRSC/ISRO,
Jodhpur 342003, Rajasthan, India
e-mail: bkbhadra63@gmail.com
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2018
D. Saha et al. (eds.), Clean and Sustainable Groundwater in India,
Springer Hydrogeology, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-4552-3_16
235