53-Major Project Thesis- Numerical Modelling of Groundwater Flow in Medipalli Open Cast Mine Area, Telangana (India).

Abstract

Sustainable groundwater management is a worldwide challenge. Numerical modelling isonesuch tool which addresses this challenge. Regional scale modelling ofgroundwater flow is II CCC.S.S111:1' for planning and management of groundwater resources. The aim of the study is to numerically model the groundwater flow in Medapalli Open cast block area. Medapalli Open Cast Block is a coal mine operating underSingareni Collieries Company Limited SCCL in Telangana. India. It is spread across and lies near river Godavari. The observation well locations and depth to water level data are callectedfromSCCL..4 finite-difference based ,ctroundwatecflow model isdeveloped in Visual MODFLOW using MODFLOW-2005 codewitlyfinty conceptual laveiR and with a total thickness pf240 In. The model is constructed based on the geological and spatial data oldie .vindy area. The model calibration is petformed at steady state conditions through trial and error method In addition to this, a solute transport model is developed using MT3DATS code at steady state conditions. The results indicate that the computed water table yalue.s fairly match the observed water table values and the simulated .flow direction is to wo rd.': the river Godavari. in accordance • with thcfield conditions andfrillowi ng the general topography ofthe region. The salute. i.e. (TDS) migration extends up to a maximum distance of I 68 in along the periphery ofAledapalii open cast block towards the river. The study shows that the impact of/Tv ash deposition in Medapalli Open cast mine on the groundwater quality in the vicinity ofthe open pit will be iely less and no hannfid effects will be observed as the contaminant levels decrease steeply along the periphety ofthe mine and concentration of the plume is reduced sharply.