1. 1
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF GROUND WATER
RESOURCES IN SHIRPUR TALUKA OF DHULE
DISTRICT ,MAHARASHTRA,INDIA.
S.B.KHANAPURKAR *
ABSTRACT
1/3 of the total area of Shirpur taluka is covered by Tapi Alluvium and
2/3 portion is covered by Deccan Basalt.In Tapi Alluvium and as well as in Deccan
Basalt multiaquifer system occurs.In Basalt alternate layers of weathered basalt and
hard massive basalt are observed. In the same manner in Tapi alluvium alternate layers
of yellow silt , sand and boulders can be noticed.The effective porosity of sand bed in
Tapi Alluvium is about 30%. The sand beds were fully saturated during the post faultig
period. The excessive development of this aquifer system to cater to the ever increasing
needs of irrigated agriculture mainly the cash crops like ,Banana,Sugar Cane etc,had
affected the availability of ground water. Sustainability of groundwater as main source
of drinking water in rural areas has been affected due to indiscriminate withdrawl of
this source.In absence of any regulatory measures to control groundwater development,
the farmers were resorting to incessant groundwater pumping to meet the water
requirement of cash crops.The groundwater based drinking water schemes were the
first casualty of such a development. Due to overexploitation of groundwater resources
,groundwater levels declined and all the dugwells in the Tapi Alluvium in Shirpur
taluka dried in 1990. Average depth of the dugwells in this area is 40 metres. Even the
tubewells having depth of about 150 to 200 metres have become dry. As the semi
pervious alternate layers of silt transmit very little water situation was becoming more
critical day by day.A well, having depth of about 50 metres and which is about 3 metres
away from the main canal flowing for 2 to 3 months is dry for last 20 years.Even after
heavy rainfall the wells are dry.This clearly shows that there is very little lateral and
vertical percolation through the yellow silt.
In Basalt area due to the change in nature of rainfall (Heavy rainfall
within short duration ,only runoff and very little percolation) aquifers though having
effective porosity to the tune of 2.5 to 3 % hardly fully saturate.That is why dugwells
and borewells in Deccan Basalt hardly yielding water maximum up to December.There
was severe scarcity after December for drinking water as well as for irrigation.Only
Kharip crop was possible,
________________________________________________________________________
• Project Director (Water Conservation) Priyadarshini Sahakari Soot Girni,Ltd Shirpur
and Retired Sr.Geologist from G.S.D.A. Govt. of Maharashtra
• Address_ Plot No 51 B,Bansilal Nagar, Shahada Road,Shirpur ,Tah.Shirpur
,Dist.Dhule
• Mob.No 982236639

2. 2
Drying of wells and tubewells in alluvial area and insufficient availability
of water after December in the Deccan Basalt area were the main problem of the
Shirpur Taluka.To change the whole scenario and make available perennial water to
this rainfed area was the main object of the project.
Due to the vagaries of rainfall and specific geological formations there
was less percolation against heavy withdrawl .To overcome this problem 14 small
streams in the project area were widened up to 20 to 30 metres and deepened up to 10 to
15 metres from its origin in the Basalt and Alluvial area .In this manner the impervious
layer of yellow soil in alluvium and hard massive trap in Basalt were removed and 65
cement plugs of appropriate dimension without gates and wasteweir were
constructed.Hence this project is named as ‘ANGIOPLASTY IN WATER
CONSERVATION’
Also surplus water of dams was injected into 59 dry dug wells having the
depth of 50 metres, directly with proper filtration. Due to this waterlevels both in
Alluvium and Basalt area risen to a great extent .In basalt area even dry borewells of
150 metres in depth attained waterlevel at a depth of 6 metres below ground level,and
in Alluvial area at a depth of 20 metres bgl.
This project of ANGIOPLASTY IN WATER CONSERVATION if
adopted in the whole of Maharashtra 2nd
and even 3rd
crop will be possible in all the
villages in Non-Command and Rainfed area and there will not be drinking water
problem and total eradication of tankers will be possible.
INTRODUCTION
Shirpur taluka has a geographical area of 837.39 sq.km. It has a cultivable
area of 653.77 sq.km,( 78.07% ), forest area of about101.09 sq.km.,land not available for
cultivation is 82.53 sq.km. Out of the cultivable total area under irrigation is about 84.61(
12.94 % )
The occurrence and distribution of rainfall in the Shirpur taluka is highly
erratic.The annual normal rainfall is 617 mm received over 36 days. Surface water resources
in the Taluka are unevenly distributed.This resources is also not assured as it depends on
rainfall.Irrigation projects in the taluka cover only small area in south eastern part of the
taluka . As a result of this ,the use of groundwater for irrigation ,drinking water and industrial
purposes has increased many folds.In entire taluka intensive development of groundwater has
lead to critical situations resulting in manifestations of problems like declining groundwater
levels,shortage of water supply, etc.This situation warrants for taking up programmes to
augment groundwater resources on strong lines in the whole taluka.
In this paper, groundwater resources in different formations of the entire
taluka ,its utilisation ,problems caused due to excessive utilization of groundwater,methods to
be adopted in conserving the scarce resources and recharging the aquifers have been
discussed.
CLIMATE
The climate of this taluka is on the whole dry except during the south-west
monsoon season.The year may be divided in to four seasons.The cold season from December
to February is followed by the hot season from March to May.The south –west monsoon

3. 3
season which follows thereafter lasts till September.October and November the post monsoon
season.
RAINFALL
The average annual rainfall in the Taluka is 617.00 spread over 35 days
MISBEHAVIOUR OF RAINFALL IN SHIRPUR TALUKA DURING 2005 TO 2009
YEAR
TOTAL
RAINFALL
NO OF
RAINY
DAYS
NO OF DAYS
OF>20 MM
RAINFALL
TOTAL
RAINFALL
DURING
THESE DAYS
% WITH
TOTAL
RAINFALL
2005 533 41 10 338 63
2006 995 41 15 796 80
2007 854 27 13 724 85
2008 621 37 13 402 65
2009 803 32 14 639 80
TOTAL 3806 178 65 2899 373
AVERAGE 761.2 35.6 13 579.8 74.6
It is interesting to note that about 75% of the total rainfall occurred during 13
days.This is the main reason of scarcity.
Evapotranspiration:
Evapotranspiration is an important parameter to decide the quality of water
available for plant growth. Evapotranspiration in this taluka is higher during the plant growth
period, thus reducing the availability of water for plant growth.
DROUGHT PRONE TALUKA
The semi arid tracts of the State which receives rainfall between 750 to 1000
mm are drought prone areas.The Shirpur taluka comes in drought prone area of the State.
HYDROGEOLOGY
The tahsil Shirpur in Dhule district falling in Tapi alluvial basin is mainly
underlain by alluvial formation with basaltic lava flows occupying hilly tract. The basaltic
lava flows in hilly tract are not favourable for groundwater development but give rise to
perennial and seasonal springs. The contact of the basaltic lava flows with alluvial mountain
front deposit is demarcated by a major fault.The alluvial deposits are further subdividedinto
(a)Talus and Scree deposits bordering the Satpura foot hills and (b) Alluvium consisting of
sand clays gravel.
Talus And Scree Deposits(Bazada)
The mountain front deposit consisting of talus and scree locally known as
Bazada are highly porous and have capacity to accept higher quantity of water as
recharge.The maximum thickness of this formation is not ascertained but it has been found to
be 50 m at many places.This deposit mainly consists of poorly sorted unconsolidated
formation having admixture of large to small size boulders,pebbles and gravels and coarse to
fine sand and clay in varying proportions.The groundwater occurs under unconfined
condition and depth to water level at present ranges from 50 to 60 m bgl during pre mansoon

4. 4
.Normally this zone forms potential aquifers yielding copious ground water.At present the
dug wells and shallow tubewells are dry.Previously the yield of the dug wells was ranging
from 160-200 cum /day with 3 to 4 m drawdown .The discharge of tubewells was varying
from 2.8.to 43.8 cum /hours.The specific yield of the aquifers varies from 6 to 12 per cent
and Transmissivity ranges upto 950 square m/day.The gradient of water table is between 20
to 30 m/km towards south.The quality of groundwater is excellent with TDS being less than
400 ppm .
45 METRES DRY DUGWELL IN
ALLUVIAL AREA IN SHIRPUR
TALUKA
45 METRES DRY DUGWELLIN ALLUVAL AREA IN SHIRPUR TALUKA
Alluvium
Alluvium consists of alternate layers of clay and sand ,gravels and boulders of
variable thickness.These formations occupy the central and southern parts of the Shirpur
Taluka.The thickness of alluviam at places is found to be more than 350m. Hardpan of
calcareous concretions are also prevalent at many places which affects the vertical
infiltration.The groundwater at shallow depth (upto 40 m bgl) occurs under unconfined
conditions and at deeper levels under semi confined to confined conditions. At present the
dug wells and shallow tubewells are dry.Previously the yield of the dug wells was ranging
from 160-200 cum /day with 3 to 4 m drawdown. The discharge of tubewells was varying
from 2.8.to 30 cum /hour.
Ground Water Level Situation
The groundwater is declining continuously and declines in the range of few
centimeters to 1.8 m /year.All the wells in depth range of even 50 m are dry at places.Depth
to water level as deep as 50 m bgl has been observed.

5. 5
DISCHARGE FROM 100 M DEEP TUBEWELL HAVING 10 HP
SUBMERCIBLE PUMP IN SHIRPUR AREA
DISCHARGE OF WATER FROM 100M DEEP TUBEWELL HAVING
10 HP SUBMERCIBLE IN SHIRPUR AREA
PROBLEMS DUE TO EXISTING GEOLOGICAL FORMATION AND OVER
EXPLOITATION
Failure of dug wells
As the semi pervious alternate layers of silt transmit very little water, situation
was becoming more critical day by day.A well, having depth of about 50 metres and which
is about 3 metres away from the main canal flowing for 2 to 3 months is dry for last 20
years.Even after heavy rainfall the wells are dry.This clearly shows that there is very little
lateral and vertical percolation through the yellow silt.
In Basalt area due to the change in nature of rainfall (Heavy rainfall within
short duration ,only runoff and very little percolation) aquifers though having effective
porosity to the tune of 2.5 to 3 % hardly fully saturate.That is why dugwells and borewells in
Deccan Basalt hardly yielding water maximum up to December.There was severe scarcity
after December for drinking water as well as for irrigation. Only Kharip crop was possible.
In such situation increased utilization of groundwater and tapping deeper
aquifers has resulted in drying up of deep wells.All the dugwells in the Alluvial areas and
most of the wells in the Deccan Basalt area have become dry. Now even the shallow
borewells and tubewellshave gone dry and the yield in the deep borewlls dwindling.As a
result huge amount invested on dug wells, pumpsets and other development works by the
individual farmers has become infructuous.The most affected are the borewells drilled for
drinking water purposes which are situated in the elevated regions.With the increased use of

6. 6
groundwater for irrigation purpose,deep borewells have been drilled in the close proximity of
the drinking water borewells.This has resulted in drying up of drinking water wells in many
parts of the taluka.
Increased unit cost on well
Depletion of shallow aquifers by excessive withdrawl has resulted in drying
up of shallow wells.As a result ,through deep borewells deep aquifers were tapped.This has
increased the unit cost on the borewell construction.
Increased energy consumption
Now a days groundwater is being tapped from deeper aquifers. In view of
deeper groundwater levels ,high HP pumps have been installed to draw water from deeper
levels.Thus consumption of energy has increased.
Drop in efficiency of pumps
Higher capacity pumps installed in low yielding wellshas resulted in cavilation
of pumpsets which has resulted in drop in efficiency of pumps.
Productive land left as fallow
Due to excessive withdrawl ,in many placesshallow wells / borewells have
dried up.Majority of farmers owning these wellsare small and marginal farmers who can not
afford to go in for a deeper borewell. As a result , the land ,which was once productive ,has
become fallow.
NEED FOR TECH.BASED ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE
Groundwater is a dynamic renewable resource .This resources is replenished
annually through precipitation and also through seepage of water applied for irrigation.Its
occurrence and availability are controlled by the structure of the rock
formations,geomorphological and hydrogeological set up and hydrometerological conditions.
Due to increased demand for domestic,industrial and agricultural needs and
limited surface water resource, there was rapid exploitation of groundwater resource.This
intensive development had led to critical situations resultin in manifestation of problems like
declining groundwater levels,shortage of water supply, etc.Therefore, there was an urgent
need to check this trend and to take suitable measures to augment groundwater resources to
make the existing groundwater structures sustainable.
METHODOLOGY FOR CONSTRUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE
STRUCTURES
Study of changing nature of rainfall,aquifer characteristics and existence of
alternate layers of pervious and impervious strata in Deccan Basalt and Alluvium in Shirpur
taluka compelled to admit that the traditional methods of artificial recharge will not be of
much use.
In Basalt area due to the change in nature of rainfall (Heavy rainfall within
short duration ,only runoff and very little percolation) aquifers though having effective
porosity to the tune of 2.5 to 3 % hardly fully saturate.Considering the growing demand of
water that water is sufficient at the most up to January.January onwards there is scarcity of

7. 7
water for drinking and irrigation.To overcome this problem it is necessary to ponder over
three things which are as follows
• Though the nature of rainfall is changed the aquifer should be saturated
100%
• Maintenance of constant supply of water to the aquifer to maintain the
water level
• Artificial removal of impervious layer i.e.hard massive trap in Deccan
Basalt and yellow impervious soil and silt in Alluvium.This is called
The Angioplasty In Water Conservation
TYPE OF ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE STRUCTURES TO BE CONSTRUCTED
Keeping in mind the above objects it was decided
1. To construct check dams on every stream, small or big, without gates
and wasteweir to augment huge storage of water following the
principle of ridge to valley
2. To deepen the stream up to15 to 20 mtres and widen up to 30 metres in
Deccan Basalt .and Alluvium.
3. To recharge the deeper aquifer in the Alluvial area of Tapi Basin
using the surplus water of the dams in the Deccan Basalt area
artificially through the dry dugwells having depth of aout 40 to 50
metres.
4.
WORK CARRIED OUT IN SHIRPUR TALUKA OF DHULE
DISTRICT OF MAHARASHTRA
Since 2004 in Shirpur taluka Tech.Based Water Conservation is under
progress. Project area is about 100 sq.km. in which 65 cement bunds have been constructed
on 14 small streams.This whole area is rainfed and non-command.There are no gates and
wasteweir to these bunds.Minimum storage capacity of the bund is 10 T.C.M. and maximum
is 150 T.C.M. Artficial recharge projects are completed on 59 dry dugwells. To recharge the
deeper aquifers in the Alluvial area of Tapi Basin surplus water of dams at the rate of 70000
l/p/h is artificially poured by gravity in to the dry dugwells .
73Storage in Dahiwad cement bund
STORAGE IN DAHIWAD CEMENT BUND

8. 8
64
CEMENT BUND NO 7
WIDENING AND DEEPENING OF SMALL STREAM OF HAVING DIMENTION 2
METRE WIDE AND 1.5 METRE DEEP
83
ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE THROUGH THE DRY DUG WELL IN ALLUVIAL
AREA OF SHIRPUR TALUKA

9. 9
RESULTS OBTAINED
• Water level in Basalt area which has depleted up to 150 metres has risen by 140
metres.Now water level is about 10 metre b.g.l. Water level in Alluvaial area
which has depleted up to 150 metres has risen by 110 metres.Now water level is
about 40 metre b.g.l.
• Now water remains in the stream up to March .Previously streams used to dry in
November.
• Drinking water problem solved. forever.
• Irrigation area increased.Now farmers are taking double crop in this rainfed and
non-command area.Average per capita income increased at least by one lac Rs./Ha.
• Energy consumption decreased.Due to reduction in suction length low HP pumps
have been installed to draw water.
• Fisheries started in many villages resulting in to rise in annual income of the
farmer.
CASCADE TYPE CEMENT BUNDS

10. 10
CONCLUSIONS
Prior to the project there was severe scarcity of drinking water and water for
irrigation.Day by day the waterlevel was depleting and the farmers used to lower the pipes in
the borewells and tubewells to draw water from the deeper aquifer. 85% of the total area of
Shirpur taluka is rainfed and noncommand.After completion of the 6th
year of the project
sufficient water for irrigation ,drinking and for industries is available even in summer.The
project implemented was proved to be viable and successful.
Such type of project with the Angioplasty In Water Conservation if taken
on all small streams in all the mini and micro watersheds of the entire Maharashtra there will
not be tankerfed village and for all villages in rainfed and noncommand areas water will be
available for second crop.Total eradication of flood and scarcity is possible maximum within
ten years.