Deciphering Groundwater Potential Zones Using Geospatial Technology: A Study in Bankura Block I and Block II, Bankura District, West Bengal

Abstract

Integration of remote sensing data and geographical information system (GIS) for exploration of groundwater resources has become a breakthrough in the field of groundwater research, which assists in assessing, monitoring and conserving groundwater resources. In the present paper, groundwater potential zones for the assessment of groundwater availability in Bankura Block I and Block II, Bankura District, West Bengal, has been delineated using remote sensing and GIS techniques. Survey of India toposheets and IRS-1C—LISS III satellite imagery are used to prepare various thematic layers, e.g., hydrogeomorphology, lithology, slope and lineament density were transformed to raster data using feature to raster converter tool of software like MicroImages TNT mips 2012. The raster maps of these factors are allocated to a fixed score and weight computed from multi-influencing factor technique. Each weighted layer is statistically computed to get the groundwater potential zones. Weighted overlay modelling technique was used to develop a groundwater potential model with three weighted and scored parameters. Although the area is characterized by hard rock, it has groundwater prospective zones due to fracturing, weathering and the presence of valley fills overlying a planation surface. The area has been categorized into four distinct zones—very good, good, fair and poor. Very good groundwater potential zones constitute 19.81% of the total block area, good groundwater potential zones occupy majority of the block, covering approximately 30.83%, and the fair potential zones occupy about 33.08% of the total block, poor potential zones occupy very small portion 16.28%.