Hydrological and ground water management studies of the Chitravathi basin Andhrapradesh

Abstract

India is basically an agricultural country. As the rainfall is highly erratic in nature and most of the rivers are ephemeral, one third of the area in the country is drought prone. The stabilisation of agricultural production to meet the growing populace necessitates the speedy development of surface and ground water resources and their sustainment. newlineThe importance of ground water to meet water supply requirement for domestic, rural, urban, industrial and agricultural use is emphasized as it is playing an increasingly vital role in supplementing surface water. Although ground water resources is replenishable, it is not inexhaustible. The increasing demand placed on it has stimulated investigation oriented towards quantification of the resources which forms the basis for formulation of plans for exploitation, management and conservation of ground water resources. newlineThe Chitravathi basin, a tributary of Pernnar river system mainly drains Anantapur district of Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh. As Anantapur district is one of the severely drought affected districts in India, the Chitravathi basin which flows through the district is chosen for the present study. Any investigation on both surface and ground water resources in Anantapur district their development and management will help the planners and the administration to propose measures to effectively mitigate the severity of drought in the district. newlineThe main objective of the study is to provide the necessary technical guidance regarding collection and evaluation of geologic and hydrologic data to permit the reasonable prediction of the surface and ground water conditions in the study area. This helps the farmers and rural community of the study area in proper utilization of water resources. newlineThe study also aims at proposing new development of surface and ground water resources to meet additional domestic and agricultural demands. newlineIt further provides information on the quality of ground water available for different uses including domestic and irrigation purposes.