Spatiotemporal Variability Analysis of Groundwater Level for Water Resources Development and Management in Northern Punjab, India

Abstract

The present study was conducted for investigating spatiotemporal variations in the groundwater levels recorded on monthly basis during 2006-2013 in northern parts of Punjab, India, comprising of 3 districts viz., Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran. The entire data of 8 years was divided into three seasons: pre-monsoon (February-May), monsoon (June-September) and post monsoon (October-January). It was observed in Gurdaspur district that the groundwater level depths increased in monsoon seasons with an overall variation range of 0.22% to 9.67%. In Amritsar district, in monsoon season, the highest increase of 6.22% in groundwater level depth was found in the Ajanala block and least increase of 0.36% in Tarshika, while in Tarn Taran district, the highest increase of 3.87% in groundwater level depth was found in the Noushera Pannua block and least increase of 0.95% was found in Tarn Taran block. The groundwater level decreased in the range of 0.15 m to 1.80 m with an annual decrease in groundwater level in the range of 0.02 m to 0.23 m. The increase in groundwater level depth in monsoon seasons was found due to extreme usage in irrigation for rice crop and the recharging of aquifers is not speedy. However, it has also been observed that the groundwater level rises again in the post monsoon season due to the groundwater resilience of the aquifers. Besides this, the extensive recharge in the area is observed by Ravi and Beas rivers because of perennial nature. A regular monitoring of groundwater in different seasons of the year and its spatiotemporal analysis is required for adopting the appropriate management practices including conjunctive use of surface and groundwater for maintaining its sustainability.