kokan

GROUNDWATER SURVEYS AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY, KONKAN REGION

1. Administrative Structure-

             As per the departmental structure, the office of Deputy Director, Ground Water Surveys and Development Agency, Konkan Region for the administrative division of Konkan started functioning from 01 June 1984 at Konkan Bhawan, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai. Information about the offices of Ground Water Surveys and Development Agency, Konkan Region as Follows.

As Mumbai city and suburbans are completely urban areas, there is no separate office for these districts. According to the instructions from the Government, the Directorate, the district offices are controlled and guided and the administrative control is done by the divisional office.

2. Geographical / Surface Structure –

• Location -72°75′ to 74°45′ East and 15°30′ to 20°20 North.
• Beach length – 720 km.
• East West Length – 65 km.
• Height above sea level – 1425.50 m. (Harishchandra Gad)
• Total Districts (5) and Talukas (47) in the Division – Palghar (8), Thane (7), Raigad (15), Ratnagiri (9), Sindhudurg (8).
• Total villages – 5681
• Population as of 2011 (Mumbai city and suburbs combined) – 2,87,39,397
• Average rainfall – 2961.5 mm.
• Total Number of Watersheds – 82 (All Safe)
• Observation Wells – Regular 245, Jalaswarajya – 4939
• Jalvedhshala – Anjarun, St. Khalapur, District – Raigad.
• Bedrock – Mainly – basalt
• Boundaries – Sahyadri mountain ranges to the east, Arabian Sea to the west, Gujarat state to the north and Goa and Karnataka

  states to the south.

According to topography the division can be broadly classified into three parts.

1 Hilly region  –  Palghar, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri and eastern part of Sindhudurg district

2 Medium-slope plateau region – mainly in Palghar, Thane and Raigad districts between hilly and coastal areas

3 Coastal region – Palghar, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri and the western part of Sindhudurg district consists of 720 km long coast line.

3. Geological structure :- Konkan region is covered with metamorphic rocks of Archaean and Kaladagi types as well as sandy and purple rocks apart from basalt rocks. In Archaean rocks mainly granite gneiss, ferruginous chordates, sandstone and shale. In this purple rocks are encountered on the top of the hill generally to a depth of 3 to 30 meters. The rest of the land as well as parts to the south are covered by metamorphic strata known as the Dharwar and Kaladgi series.
4. Main rivers– The rivers of Konkan region are Western Flowing. These rivers originate in the hills of Sahyadri and flow into the Arabian Sea. Hence the length of these rivers is short.

Palghar – Vaitrana, Daherja, Pinjal, Surya, Tansa.

Thane – Vaitrana, Ulhas.

Raigad – Patalganga, Amba, Kundalika

Ratnagiri – Savitri, Vasisthi, Shastri, Jagbudi, Kajali, Bav, Muchkundi, Jaitapur.

Sindhudurg – Waghotan, Devgad, Gad, Karli, Achara, Terekhol.

5. Availability of ground water – Laterite rocks in hilly areas have very low water holding capacity The amount of groundwater seeping in the plateau area is moderate and the use of groundwater is seasonal. Granite and sandy and metamorphic rocks show groundwater availability mainly through cracks and fissures.

           In general, open hard basalt mainly existing in the surface structure, steep slope of the land and natural flow in the streams (BASE FLOW) in high amount i.e. more than 90% run off zone. Due to these natural factors there is limitation to GSDA in ground water recharge and decrease in ground water level.

            Agriculture  mainly dependent on rainfall.

6. Functioning of the GSDA-

• Geological and Geophysical Survey
• Ground water assessment-

  Watershed wise groundwater assessment is done to know the groundwater status in  Maharashtra State. Ground Water   

   Assessment is done with the cordinate with  Central Ground Water Board and Ground Water Survey and Development    

   Agency. Watershedwise Ground water  Assessment is done every year from year 2023.  

• Occurrence localization
• Water supply schemes are implemented under various schemes of the government under rural water supply programme. Siteing of wells is recommended in the survey site to ensure sustainable water supply for these schemes.
• Similarly, location of wells for irrigation for individual beneficiaries is also recommended on the basis of survey work or ground water availability information.
• It is recommended to carry out local ground water survey under private demand for drinking water at a cost of Rs.2500/- to the applicant for well/bore well location work survey.
• In emergency situations like landslides, hot water flow from the ground, earthquakes etc. Technical advice is given to the District Emergency Department after survey in cases.
• Technical advice is provided in joint surveys for sand mining as well as urban solid waste projects.
• Technical advice is provided for implementing ground water recharge schemes.
• In order to make information available to all, a Hydrology Aadhaar Materials User Group (HDUG) is being registered under the Hydrology Project and information is made available to consumers on a fee basis.
• Jalvedhshala was established at Anjarun, Taluka- Khalapur District- Raigad. Joint study of surface water used for irrigation and its relationship with ground water is being done through this water observatory.
• Water Level Monitoring, Recording And Scarcity Report Based on Guidelines of Government of Maharshtra resolution Dated April 8, 1994 and  dated February 3, 1999 by Department of Water Supply and Sanitation . Based On Rainfall data And  comparative study of ground water level, Scarcity report is Declared In the month of Octomber  ,  by the Collector. Shortage alleviation program is implemented by the concerned Zilla Parishad.
• Participation in resource strengthening schemes.
• Groundwater Recharge Priority Maps – Available on the system’s website.
• Water Quality Testing- Laboratories have been set up at divisional level for ground water quality testing. In this, the water samples collected from the department are tested for chemical and biological quality.

7. Important Features of Konkan Region – Konkan is a major tourist region in Maharashtra. Konkan is naturally very rich with cultural heritage, blue sea coast, greenery, red soil, houses with Terracotta tiles roof, ancient temples, hot springs, sea forts.

• The Konkan region is blessed with a coastline to the west. Mumbai is the international port which is the gateway to India and Jawaharlal Nehru Port is the major port and Nhava Sheva, Srivardhan, Harne Dabhol, Ratnagiri, Jaigarh, Vijaydurg, Devgad, Malvan and Vengurla are the main ports. Hence the fishing business is huge.
• Rice is the major crop in this region as it is a high rainfall region. Also crops such as Nachni, Kulith, Toor, Val are also grown. Also, coconut, betel nut, mango, jackfruit, cashew, kokum are cultivated mainly.
• Major food is fish and rice.
• There are sea forts like Murud Janjira and Sindhudurg forts as well as historical forts like Raigad, Colaba, Revdanda, Kolai, Khanderi, Vasai, Karnala, Bankot, Suvarnadurg, Gopalgad, Jaigad, Ratnadurg, Purnagad, Vijaydurg.
• Inherited the world famous Warli art, traditional Dasavatar plays and many other arts.
• Matheran, Jawhar, Amboli, Malshej Ghat etc. There are places with cold air.
• There are many beaches like Dahanu and Bordi, Tarkarli, Tondvali, Alibaug. Kihim, Harihareshwar, Ganapatipule, Anjarle, Chiwala, Mithbav, Varsoli, Shrivardhan, Diveagar, Vengurla, Sagareshwar, Kunkeshwar.
• There are hot springs in Thane, Raigad and Ratnagiri districts.