Detecting water stress scenario by land use/land cover changes in an agricultural command area

Abstract

Hirakud command area, situated in the western part of Odisha, comes under Mahanadi river basin. Mahanadi basin has been identified as critical basin from climate change point of view. The study presents an analysis to identify the possible reasons of groundwater depletion and water quality values with the help of land use and land cover (LULC) change detection methods. An analytic hierarchy process based novel water quality index (WQI) model is utilized. Eight water quality parameters are considered in WQI calculation process. Unsupervised classification, Discriminant function (pixel-based) and Image differencing (pixel-based) change detection methods are used for accurate mapping of spatial and temporal changes in LULC. The change detection analysis have been performed based on satellite data, e.g., Landsat MSS (1975), Landsat TM (1989), Landsat ETM+ (2000), LISS III (2009) and Google Earth (2014). Analyses show a significant increase in built-up area compared to increase in the agricultural land over last decade. Overall analyses of groundwater levels reveal the water stress scenario in the command area. The Agricultural activities are the main reason for groundwater table fluctuation during 1995–2014. This analysis is useful for land management strategies framework helpful for decision makers.