Aim to influence positive change in favour of communities and eventually help empower them to become an agent of change.
Geospatial Investigation of groundwater levels in
Tamil Nadu
Undergraduate Minor Project
The importance of groundwater for the existence of human society cannot be overemphasised. Groundwater is the major source of drinking water in both urban and rural India. Besides, it is an important source of water for the construction and the agricultural sector. This project is inclined towards the study of Groundwater levels in various districts of the state of Tamil Nadu, using Geospatial Investigation techniques.
The following study will help in understanding the trends of Groundwater level in the recent years of 2014 to 2016, also portraying the influence of monsoon over groundwater, based on the thematic maps, prepared using QGIS software.
The study has further scope to discuss the water trends in the future, which can be used by engineers to recommend a suitable site for development projects.
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To develop an understanding of the influence of monsoon over groundwater levels.
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The point data are manipulated for the meaningful conclusive study of following groundwater trends:
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Pre-monsoon ’14 to Post-monsoon ’15 groundwater trend.
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Pre-monsoon ’15 to Post-monsoon ’16 groundwater trend.
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South-west monsoon and North-east monsoon, groundwater trend for the year 2016.
Investigating the influence of groundwater on land use patterns in Mysore.
Postgraduate Minor Project
Based on the context of Mysore, the five weeks engagement was aimed to understand the making and evolution of settlements through maps/representations as a tool; and form an inquiry on groundwater and land-use patterns. The objective of the study is to highlight the importance of cross-sector dialogue within a government department and at the management level, in order to preserve water resource and enhance land productivity.
Throughout the entire study, a conscious effort has been made to interconnect land use with groundwater. “To ignore groundwater considerations in land-use change decision-making, and land management more generally, will have a very high long-run cost, in terms of drinking-water security and aquatic ecosystem sustainability.”(Source: Global Water Partnership). The study highlights:
•The water supply system is designed to meet the immediate wants and to support urban expansion. There is a need for coordinated governance to incubate land and water in sustainable planning, crucial for future human development.
•One of the reason for the rise in groundwater levels may be due to distribution loss the water supply system faces. It accounts for 50 MLD of water i.e. 19% of the total supply system. This may reduce groundwater quality. Also, it highlights that rainfall may not only be directly responsible for groundwater recharge.
•Mr. Ravi Kumar, a private practitioner in the field of water conservation, has adapted the rainwater harvesting system for his house which allows him to meet 80% of his water needs. Even after strict laws by Municipal Corporation why such sustainable practices fail to implement on a larger scale.