Spatiotemporal Analysis of Groundwater Resource Dynamics and Extraction Trends in Gadchiroli District, Maharashtra, India
Keywords:
Groundwater Recharge, Hard-Rock Aquifer, Groundwater Extraction, Gadchiroli District, Groundwater Resource Dynamics
Abstract
The official dataset of Dynamic Groundwater Resources of Maharashtra (2022–23) from GSDA-CGWB has been used to study the groundwater resource dynamics in Gadchiroli district. The article evaluated taluka wise recharge, annual extractable groundwater resource, groundwater extraction and future availability and stage of extraction in hard rock terrain of the district. The method adopted was descriptive in nature using secondary data and the analysis was restricted to manual tabulation and interpretation of the official values at taluka level. The total annual groundwater recharge for the 12 assessment units was 109,025.62 ham and the total annual extractable groundwater resource was 102,863.42 ham. Overall extraction pressure of groundwater was 24.37% with total extraction of 25,064.3 ham. The lowest extraction stage recorded was at Bhamragad (7.8%) and the highest at Sironcha (35.0%) with all the other units being safe. The highest future groundwater availability was found in Etapalli, Chamorshi and Aheri. The results show that there is good groundwater balance in the present condition in Gadchiroli, while talukas with relatively high extraction levels should be monitored. To ensure long-term groundwater security in the hard-rock aquifer system of the district, recharge protection, controlled groundwater use and district-specific planning are recommended.
References
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3.Chandra, S., Auken, E., Maurya, P. K., Ahmed, S., & Verma, S. K. (2019). Large Scale Mapping of Fractures and Groundwater Pathways in Crystalline Hardrock By AEM. Scientific Reports, 9(1), 398. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-36153-1
4.Fauzia, Surinaidu, L., Rahman, A., & Ahmed, S. (2021). Distributed groundwater recharge potentials assessment based on GIS model and its dynamics in the crystalline rocks of South India. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 11772. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-90898-w
5.Gebreslassie, H., Berhane, G., Gebreyohannes, T., Hagos, M., Hussien, A., & Walraevens, K. (2025). Water Harvesting and Groundwater Recharge: A Comprehensive Review and Synthesis of Current Practices. Water, 17(7), 976. https://doi.org/10.3390/w17070976
6.Goswami, S., & Sekhar, M. (2022). Investigation and evidence of high-episodic groundwater recharge events in tropical hard-rock aquifers of southern India. Frontiers in Water, 4, 960669. https://doi.org/10.3389/frwa.2022.960669
7.Groundwater Surveys and Development Agency, Pune & Central Ground Water Board. (2024, March). REPORT ON THE DYNAMIC GROUNDWATER RESOURCES OF MAHARASHTRA 2023. https://gsda.maharashtra.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/GWRE-State-Report-2022-23_compressed.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com
8.Kulkarni, T., Gassmann, M., Kulkarni, C. M., Khed, V., & Buerkert, A. (2021). Deep Drilling for Groundwater in Bengaluru, India: A Case Study on the City’s Over-Exploited Hard-Rock Aquifer System. Sustainability, 13(21), 12149. https://doi.org/10.3390/su132112149
9.Mondal, B. K., Sahoo, S., Das, R., Mishra, P. K., Abdelrahman, K., Acharya, A., Lee, M.-A., Tiwari, A., & Fnais, M. S. (2022). Assessing Groundwater Dynamics and Potentiality in the Lower Ganga Plain, India. Water, 14(14), 2180. https://doi.org/10.3390/w14142180
10.Murugesan, B., Balasumbramaniyan, G., Swaminathan, B., & Karuppannan, S. (2025). Deciphering of groundwater potential zones in hard rock terrain using GIS technology with AHP statistical methods: A case study of Nilgiri, Tamil Nadu, India. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 26463. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10948-5
11.Pande, C. B., Moharir, K. N., Singh, S. K., Elbeltagi, A., Pham, Q. B., Panneerselvam, B., Varade, A. M., & Kouadri, S. (2022). Groundwater flow modeling in the basaltic hard rock area of Maharashtra, India. Applied Water Science, 12(1), 12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-021-01525-y
12.Pradhan, R. M., Behera, A. K., Kumar, S., Kumar, P., & Biswal, T. K. (2022). Recharge and Geochemical Evolution of Groundwater in Fractured Basement Aquifers (NW India): Insights from Environmental Isotopes (δ18O, δ2H, and 3H) and Hydrogeochemical Studies. Water, 14(3), 315. https://doi.org/10.3390/w14030315
13.Pragadeeshwaran, K., Gurugnanam, B., Bagyaraj, M., Bairavi, S., Karunanidhi, D., & Berhe, B. A. (2026). Groundwater potential zones demarcation in the hard rock province of South India: Insights from remote sensing, GIS and AHP techniques. Scientific Reports, 16(1), 6186. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-35734-9
14.Sajil Kumar, P. J., Elango, L., & Schneider, M. (2022). GIS and AHP Based Groundwater Potential Zones Delineation in Chennai River Basin (CRB), India. Sustainability, 14(3), 1830. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031830
15.Sajil Kumar, P. J., Schneider, M., & Elango, L. (2021). The State-of-the-Art Estimation of Groundwater Recharge and Water Balance with a Special Emphasis on India: A Critical Review. Sustainability, 14(1), 340. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010340
16.Subramani, D., & Kamaraj, P. (2024). Groundwater Exploration for Sustainable Development and Management in a Hard Rock Basin. Applied and Environmental Soil Science, 2024(1), 7769047. https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/7769047
17.Subramani, D., Kamaraj, P., Saravana Kumar, U., & Sabarathinam, C. (2024). Mapping of Groundwater Recharge Zones in Hard Rock Aquifer through Analytic Hierarchy Process in Geospatial Platform. Water, 16(11), 1484. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16111484
18.Sud, A., Kanga, R., Singh, S. K., Meraj, G., Kanga, S., Kumar, P., Ramanathan, Al., Sudhanshu, S., & Bhardwaj, V. (2023). Simulating Groundwater Potential Zones in Mountainous Indian Himalayas—A Case Study of Himachal Pradesh. Hydrology, 10(3), 65. https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology10030065
19.Sufyan, M., Martelli, G., Teatini, P., Cherubini, C., & Goi, D. (2024). Managed Aquifer Recharge for Sustainable Groundwater Management: New Developments, Challenges, and Future Prospects. Water, 16(22), 3216. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16223216
20.Wescoat Jr., J. L., & Murty, J. V. R. (2021). District Drinking Water Planning for Sustainability in Maharashtra: Between Local and Global Scales. Sustainability, 13(15), 8288. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13158288
Published
2026-07-29
How to Cite
Shutika R. Kamble, & Gunwant G. Wadpalliwar. (2026). Spatiotemporal Analysis of Groundwater Resource Dynamics and Extraction Trends in Gadchiroli District, Maharashtra, India. IJRDO Journal of Forestry, Wild Life and Environment , 11(1), 01-06. Retrieved from https://ijfwle.com/article/view/6744
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Articles
