4-Ground Water Evaluation in Jawai Catchment, Western Rajasthan.

Abstract

Analysis of drainage system, meteorological data, hydrogeologica1 conditions, environmental degradation, water balance and fluctuation in water levels in wells of Jawai catchment indicate that there is gradual decrement in the statics reserves of ground water in Jawai catchment of Western Rajasthan and an adverse condition has been noticed at many places where the saline water facies have encroached the fresh water reservoir. The meteor logical aspect is indicative of the fact that in the Jawai catchment there is sufficient water surplus which is being lost as evaporation and run-off. The catchment was hit by severe floods during 1973 and 1979 and by moderate floods during 1961, 1964, 1975, 1977, 1983 and 1990, 1991 etc. The computation of one of the factor that there was huge run-off during these rainfall years. The great amount of run-off during these rain fall years was noticed when the frequency and intensity of showers was high although, the rainfall was less than the normal rainfall. There is no adequate storage capacity to use this huge quantity of surplus water. Inspite of the water being surplus, there is declining trend of water levels in the wells, which conclude that water is lost due to run-off in most parts of the catchnent whereas in main Jawai Canal the decrease in ground water storage is due to with-holding of water in Jawai Dam. However, it is also estimated that a great quantum of water is lost due to evaporation and run-off.