Artificial Recharge Practices – Some Experimental Projects

Abstract

Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has taken up Experimental Artificial Recharge Projects in the over-exploited blocks/taluks of the peninsular India, namely Malur, a chronically drought prone taluk of Kolar district, Karnataka and Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh which are heavily dependent on ground water for domestic, agricultural and industrial use. Demonstrative Artificial Recharge Projects were conceived and implemented by CGWB jointly with the State Governments. Under the Projects, a total number of 47 Check Dams, 2 Percolation tanks and 10 Nalla bunds were constructed in the two areas. The impact assessment studies in the project areas showed a significant rise of water levels of the dug wells and bore wells, increase in yield of the bore wells, with enhanced sustainability of pumping (30-40% increase in pumping hours) leading to increase in irrigated area. These recharge structures also helped in considerable dilution of fluoride content in drinking water from 6.15mg/l to 2.9 and 3.74 to 2.5 mg/l. Similarly, a Sub-surface dyke was constructed in a well-defined micro-watershed having an area of 3.24 Km 2 near Mandi Gaurvelli village, Yacharam Mandal, Ranga Reddy District, Andhra Pradesh. With the construction of this sub-surface dyke, an additional 54 ha m ground-water was conserved, resulting in improvement of water levels, sustainability of wells and water quality. The Demonstrative Artificial Recharge Projects serve to develop the methodology and to transfer the same to the stakeholders for implementation in similar hydrogeological environments.