22-Groundwater Governance in Over-exploited, Dark and Saline Areas of Gujarat State.

Abstract

The Gujarat state comprises 25 districts having geographic area of 1,96,024 sq.km. The population as per 2001 census is 50.67 million. Gujarat state can be divided into five major physiographical zones: (1) alluvial plains extend from Banaskantha in North Gujarat to Valsad in the South. It also extends westward to Kachchh, (2) eastern hilly tract, (3) uplands of Kachchh-Saurashtra, (4) the lowlying coastal tract, and (5) marshy to saline desert of Kachchh and little Rann of Kachchh. Drainage of all the five physiographical regions of Gujarat state is distinct with the prevailing topographical and physical characteristics of the rock formations thereof. The flow direction of some of the major rivers is controlled by major tectonic activity, which occurred during the geological past. Last decade average rainfall varies from 300 mm in Kachchh district to 2750 mm in Dangs district. The total annual precipitation is about 1,02,023 MCM/year.