Ground Water Management Through Well Recharge in Kutch

Abstract

Natural resources of soil and water need to be conserved, developed and utilized efficiently for achieving sustainable and successful agriculture. Groundwater resource, generally considered unlimited and dependable, is undergoing depletion and quality deterioration due to its withdrawal far exceeding the natural replenishment in many regions of the country. There is, however, a vast potential to prevent rainfall runoff moving down into the streams and rivers and ultimately into the sea. Recently well recharge technology is emerging as a good water harvesting technology in the Kutch region. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Mundra has taken up the project to transfer the well recharging as a low cost rainwater harvesting technology to the farmers of Mundra taluka of Kutch district since 1994. To measure the impact of this programme a study was conducted on 20 wells in the region. It was found, that desilting basin is an essential component of well recharge unit in Mundra region because of the high silt content of the runoff water. The average water level rise in the treated well ranged from 3 to 5 m.