Ground Water remains the lifeline of socioeconomic development in the Ganga Alluvial Plain (GAP) since the down of civilization in the Indian subcontinent. Assessment of groundwater resources yields knowledge necessary for their informed management and governance. Keeping the importance of the above points a study was conducted for assessment of ground water resources in Nalanda district of south Bihar. The aim for the assessment of groundwater in Nalanda district was to compute a complete evaluation of groundwater resources and produce information that can be incorporated for future requirement. The study was undertaken based on the recommendation of groundwater estimation committee, 1997 (GEC-97). Methodology used the estimation of annual groundwater recharge from rainfall and other sources, including irrigation, water bodies and artificial recharge, determination of present status of groundwater utilization and categorization of assessment units based on the level of groundwater utilization and long-term water level trend. Water level fluctuation techniques and empirical norms were used for recharge estimation. The data collected for investigation were water table fluctuation data, rainfall data cropping pattern, number of groundwater structures, hydrogeology of area, specific yield, groundwater draft, pond area etc. The study revealed that total annual ground water recharge is 76898 ha-m for Nalanda district. The existing ground water draft for irrigation is 38226 ha-m for Nalanda district. The ground water draft for all uses is 42327 ha-m for Nalanda district. The net annual replenishable ground water resource is worked out to be 73054 ha-m for Nalanda district. The net annual ground water available for future irrigation development is 25100 ha-m for Nalanda district. The stage of ground water development is 58% for Nalanda district. According to definitions used by CGWB Nalanda district falls in safe category. The study recommended that there is a good scope for future groundwater development and keeping in view of rapid increase in groundwater draft, roof top rainwater harvesting needs to be taken up to recharge the aquifer in Patna and Gaya district particularly in urban areas.

Download this article as