ASSESSMENT OF GROUNDWATER RESOURCES IN NAGARJUNA SAGAR RIGHT CANAL COMMAND

R. GANESH BABU¹*, G. RAVI BABU², A. MANI³, P. PRASUNA RANI⁴, V. SRINIVASA RAO^5
1Department of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, Dr NTR College of Agricultural Engineering, Bapatla, 522 101, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Lam, Guntur, 522 034, India
²Professor & Head, Department of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, Dr NTR College of Agricultural Engineering, Bapatla, 522 101, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Lam, Guntur, 522 034, India
³Associate Dean & Professor, Dr NTR College of Agricultural Engineering, Bapatla, 522 101, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Lam, Guntur, 522 034, India
⁴Principal Scientist & Head, Geospatial Technology Centre, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Lam, Guntur, 522 034, India
⁵Professor & University Head, Department of Statistics and Computer Applications, Agricultural College, Bapatla, 522 101, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Lam, Guntur, 522 034, India
* Corresponding Author : ganipatnaik@gmail.com

Received : 01-09-2019     Accepted : 26-09-2019     Published : 30-09-2019
Volume : 11     Issue : 18       Pages : 9032 - 9037
Int J Agr Sci 11.18 (2019):9032-9037

Keywords : Groundwater resources, Nagarjuna Sagar Right Canal Command, Gross groundwater recharge, Net groundwater recharge
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : Authors are thankful to Groundwater Department, Irrigation Department and the Bureau of Economics and Statistics Department for providing the data. Authors are also thankful to Dr NTR College of Agricultural Engineering, Bapatla, 522 101; Agricultural College, Bapatla, 522 101; Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Lam, Guntur, 522 034, India
Author Contribution : All authors equally contributed

The Assessment of the groundwater resources is very important for maintaining the sustainable groundwater resources of the semi-arid and arid regions. The study was undertaken in the Nagarjuna Sagar Right Canal Command to assess the groundwater resources for sustainable groundwater management. The Nagarjuna Sagar Right Canal (NSRC) Command is located between 15°18΄ - 16°49΄ North latitudes and 79°20΄ - 80°25΄ East longitudes. The area irrigated under Nagarjuna Sagar Right Canal (Jawahar canal) is 4.75 lakh ha covering Guntur district with 2.84 lakh ha and Prakasam district with 1.91 lakh ha. Regional groundwater recharge in the Nagarjuna Sagar Right Canal Command was estimated for planning and monitoring for sustainable groundwater development. Regional groundwater balance study was carried out in the study area using water balance equations. Gross groundwater recharge was estimated from the various sources such as recharge from rainfall, recharge from canal seepage, recharge from storage tanks and return flow from irrigation. The gross groundwater recharge was estimated with the range of 141513.18 ha-m during 2015-16 to 524843.45 ha-m during 2010-11 with an average value of 330089.34 ha-m. The net annual groundwater recharge represents the groundwater resources which can be utilized for future needs. The net annual groundwater recharge was obtained by subtracting the groundwater outflow from the gross groundwater recharge. The estimation of groundwater outflow/inflow of the aquifer system was carried out using hydrological water balance. The components of hydrological water balance equation were estimated and found the ground water outflow from the aquifer system of study area. The groundwater outflow was found during the study period with the range 129283.96 ha-mduring 2016-17 to 605105.58 ha-m during 2008-09 with an average value of 332857.67 ha-m. The groundwater outflow moves along the slope of the study area and travel towards the low-lying areas in eastern and southern side which are locating outside of the study area. Later net annual groundwater recharge was calculated and found negative net groundwater recharge in the study area during study period. The net groundwater recharge was estimated with the range of -226139.77 ha-m during 2011-12 to 254800.20 ha-m during 2014-15 with an average of -2768.32 ha-m. Negative values of net groundwater recharge was indicated that the deficit groundwater resources available. Assessment of groundwater resources revealed that there is a deficit groundwater resource existed and need to implement the artificial recharge methods in the study area for sustainable groundwater management.

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