Improving our understanding of the aquifer systems in Sunderbans: Report of Pump Priming Project

Abstract

The Indian Sundarbans, a UNESCO World Heritage site is home to 2.79 million people distributed over approximately 1100 villages, with 62 situated on the fringes of the forest. Majority of the population live in acute poverty with marginal living conditions. Majority of the population depends on agriculture for its livelihood which offers limited livelihood potential for communities due to higher sodic salinity levels which is accentuated by sea level rise and sea water intrusion and contamination of unconfined aquifers and agricultural lands. In recent times with increased crop demand, ground water demand has also risen as the limited rainfall fails to meet year round fresh water demand in the region. As a result, ground water abstraction has become a regular practice, over abstraction often leads to severe water crisis during summer in the region. In this context this pump priming project was conceptualized jointly with National Institute of Hydrology (NIH), British Geological Survey (BGS) and Rajarhat PRASARI to understand the aquifer system in the Sundarbans, by identifying the practicality of artificial aquifer recharge, and its potential contribution to aquifer sustainability and possible role in regional water security. The key aims of the pilot project were – i) To generate a conceptualized model of artificial recharge with the community, ii)Understanding communities fresh water demand/need for agriculture and iii)Current problems with ground water abstraction from the fresh water aquifers.