Recent Hydrogeological Research in India

  • SHAKIR ALI Department of Geology, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 007

Abstract

The hydrogeological setup of India represents a wide variation, from rugged Himalayan mountainous region in the north,
extensive Indo-Ganga-Brahmaputra floodplain and deltaic region in the central and eastern part, aeolian- alluvial deposits
in the west, vast basalt flows in the west central part, gently undulating central and southern region underlain by Precambrian
crystalline, sedimentary and metamorphic, coastal deposits along the east coast etc.
The research on hydrogeology has got special socioeconomic significance because India is now the largest extractor of
groundwater in the world. The impact of overexploitation of the resource is surfacing in large parts of the country, in the
form of lowering of water level, dwindling yield of well and deterioration in water quality.
In recent years, extensive studies have been carried out in this field of geoscience. We have discussed these in different
segments, after enumerating the broad hydrological framework of India. The segments are 1. Hydrogeological investigations
in Indo-Ganga-Brahmaputra Plains holding one of the potential aquifer systems 2. Groundwater chemistry and contamination
issues in Peninsular India 3. Urban hydrogeology 4. Groundwater modeling 5. Ground water exploration 6. Groundwater
recharge and associated quality issues 7. Remote sensing and GIS applications 8. Coastal aquifers and 9. Groundwater
management.
It is observed that the potential groundwater reserve in the Indo-Gangetic basin and the Peninsular part of India has two
serious issues: 1. Overexploitation of groundwater mainly in the western and north western parts and also in southern
peninsular India in pockets and 2. Groundwater quality deterioration by anomalous concentration of arsenic, fluoride and
salinity. The findings of the research will help in understanding the hydrogeological complexities in its entire gamut and also
offers insight into the ways for sustainable management of groundwater resource of the country.

Published
2017-02-09