ASSESSMENT OF GROUNDWATER POTENTIAL ZONE (GWPZ) IN UDAI RIVER BASIN: A CASE STUDY OF NORTHERN SAPURA MOUNTAIN RANGES USING REMOTE SENSING TECHNIQUES

Abstract

Identifying potential groundwater reservoirs is a complex endeavor, especially in arid regions, mountainous terrains, and lateritic areas. In recent years, Satellite Remote sensing has emerged as a promising tool for efficient and cost-effective detection of surface and subsurface water resources. This study focused on identifying potential groundwater zones in the drought-susceptible red and Satpura Mountain Ranges (RSMR) of the Udai River basin. This study employed a multi-criteria approach, leveraging remote sensing and geographic information systems, and considered eight factors: Drainage density, Rainfall, Lineament Density, Slope, Elevation, NDWI, NDVI and LULC. The Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) was utilized to assign weights to these parameters, and different classes within each parameter were ranked based on their significance for groundwater potential. The analysis categorized various zones of groundwater prospects as high (33.81%), moderate (269.89%), low (310.69%), and Very Low (10.49%). Validation efforts revealed that 79% of the 38 surveyed dug wells in "good" potential zones were perennial, while all 10 dug wells examined in the 'poor' potential zone were non-perennial. These results demonstrate that the current methodology, which combines AHP with enhanced parametrization, offers a more accurate approach for identifying and mapping groundwater potential zones. The findings of this study have significant implications for water resource management in drought-prone regions. By accurately identifying potential groundwater zones, policymakers and water resource managers can make informed decisions regarding water extraction and conservation in the study region.