GROUND WATER RESOURCE EVALUVATION – WIDER AUROVILLE AREA

GROUND WATER RESOURCE EVALUVATION – WIDER AUROVILLE AREA

INTRODUCTION

    Fresh ground water systems are important sources of potable water throughout the world. The wider Auroville is one such region, where all demands of water are being met out only by drawing ground water from the coastal aquifers due to paucity of surface water resources. The aquifers in this region are over stressed beyond its yielding capacity. Mostly, fresh groundwater of coastal aquifers is in contact with saline water, which, if drawn into fresh water aquifer system, can diminish the water portability as well as its usefulness for other purposes. Saltwater intrusion has already aggravated in many places along the coastal line towards south of Pondicherry town.
    Due to the over abstraction of ground water in this region the water level started declining very fast. A drop of 0.2m to 50.8m in the water level has been reported in this region. As the water level has gone down, many of the shallow tube wells have become defunct. The reasons for sharp decline of water level are (i) Increase in demand for water for irrigation (ii) Improper maintenance of surface water resources (iii) Encroachment of irrigation tanks and riverbanks (iv) Siltation of feeder channel (v) Improper agricultural practices and crop pattern.   
    The wider Auroville region is situated right on the coast of Bay of Bengal and most part of the rainfall goes as run off into the sea. As a result of this, the possibility for natural recharge of ground water is remote. If the same trend in the demand for water continues, as predicted by Central Water Commission, the demand of water may reach the level of available water resources in the year 2025 and all the boreholes might become defunct. Also the fresh water resources in the aquifer may be diminished over a period of time due to salt-water intrusion.
   
Hence there is a need to carryout groundwater resources study to evaluate the groundwater resources for effective and efficient management of water resources for sustainable development.