Amravati

Brief note on Groundwater Survey and Development Survey’s Amravati Region, Amravati

Importance of Water :-

Water is a natural resource and is the life of every living being. Every living being on earth has the right to get water in sufficient quantity to use as per its needs. The importance of water is known to everyone. Therefore, everyone should respect it. It should be protected. It should be maintained. There is no such living being on the face of the earth which can survive without water. Knowing the importance of all these matters, the Government of Maharashtra established the “Groundwater Survey and Development Agency” department on 16 July 1971 and this department has been entrusted with important tasks like ground water survey, exploration, planning, evaluation and ground water recharge.

This report mainly provides detailed information about various schemes implemented in this department. Detailed information is provided along with the administrative, natural geological structure of the districts included in the Amravati division as well as rivers, streams, dams, lakes, mountains, groundwater status, groundwater assessment, groundwater recharge and groundwater act etc. Similarly, information on various schemes implemented at the district level has been included in this report.

Brief information about Amravati division

1. 1. Location – Latitude 76⁰ 00’ to 79⁰ 00’East–     Longitude 21⁰ 30’ to 19⁰ 30’ North
2. 2. Area – 00 sq. km.
3. 3. Total districts, talukas and population included in the division

4. 4. Normal rainfall in the region :-

5. Major Mountain&Rivers in the Region:-

• Major rivers – Godavari, Wardha, Purna, Tapi, Penganga
• Mountain ranges and sub-ranges – Satpura, Ajanta, Satmala

6. River basin area :-

7. 7. Geological and Hydrological structure of Amravati region

The availability and transport of groundwater in Amravati region depends on the regional rocks.

1. 1. Thickness of decomposed rocks
2. 2. Structure of the area
3. 3. Fractures, lineaments, secondary porosity in the rocks
4. 4. Benefit of groundwater from surface sources

Archean Rocks : –Graniteqnises, an old rock, is found in some parts of Yavatmal district. Since it does not have primary porosity, from a hydrological point of view, groundwater is available and transported in it. This layer is found approximately 21 to 40 m. in the ground. After this, the Vindyan system is found. Dolomite and limestone have primary porosity, but cracks and cavities are found in them.

Gondwana Rocks : –Among the metamorphic rocks, sandstone, shale and coal are mainly found in Yavatmal district. Gondwana Rocks are in the Barakar and Kamthi systems and the sandstone here is highly porous. The following shale rock is suitable for groundwater availability to a small extent.

Basalt Rocks : –The basalt rock in the Amravati region has secondary porosity and there is variation in groundwater availability. Disintegrated layers and cracks are found in massive traps. Vesicular traps have primary porosity and are interconnected, making them suitable for groundwater availability.

Alluvial region :-In Alluvial region, groundwater level is found deep and in an unconfined state. It contains fine and thick sand, siltstone, which has groundwater availability and carrying capacity and is a permanent aquifer and provides perennial groundwater.

8. 8. SalineBelt in Amravati Division

• Alluvial area – 7500 sq km
• Saline belt area – 4692 sq km
• Talukas included in Saline belt – 16 ( Amravati-6, Akola-5, Buldhana-5 )

Information about groundwater in the Saline belt

• The chemical quality of water in the Purna River alluvial region is generally good in the northern part.
• The Nnorthern part of the Purna Alluvial Region is suitable for groundwater availability.
• The water available from the shallow and deep aquifers in the south direction is Saline.
• The shallow and deep aquifers in the Southern part of the Purna alluvial region are covered with

Saline water.

• The southern part of the valley is saline and is unsuitable for agriculture and drinking water.
• The groundwater of Purna alluvial region in the Southern part is not suitable for drinking or

   agricultural use,due to the effects of high TDS and salinity, as found in the Chemical Analysis report.

• The conductivity of groundwater in the Saline belt is in the range of 800 to 5200.
• The TDS of groundwater in this area is 800 to 5200.
• According to the results of chemical analysis, it is seen that along with the high amount of dissolved

   salts, there are high amounts of sodium, chloride, bicarbonate and magnesium.

• The sediment in the Purna river is mainly clay-based, the water carrying capacity is very low.

  Therefore, desalination of salts in the water does not take place. The amount of salts in the water 

  seems to be increasing in this area.