Mapping Aquifers

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Mapping Aquifers

Water Resources Department Proposes to Launch Airborne Surveys to Map Shallow and Deep Aquifers, an Underground Layer of Water-bearing Rocks, in the City

This will mean a big leap forward in data collection for judicious management of ground and surface water resources. The survey that is to be funded by the World Bank will be conducted through a helicopter fitted with electro-magnetic equipment to learn about the aspects of various types of aquifers.

The aquifer mapping of a few districts, including Cuddalore and Tiruvallur, is already underway with the assistance of the Central government and the State government plans to cover over 20 districts under the third phase of Hydrology Project.

Officials of the State Ground and Surface Water Resources Data Centre of WRD said, at present, the department has data on aquifers up to a depth of 300 m beneath the ground level. But, the heliborne survey would help get data about subsurface formations up to a depth of 700 metres.

The mapping will be done as part of the Rs.500-crore Hydrology Project-III expected to be implemented in six months.

The eight-year-long project aims at developing a model for integrated water resources management wherein water allocation to various sectors can be planned according to the availability.

Officials said data on the entire river basin, including rainfall, availability of resources in rivers and groundwater, people and even cattle in the region, would be collected and used for decision making.

For instance, parts of localities can be directed to use groundwater resources and others could be provided water from reservoirs and rivers.

Source: The Hindu

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