Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
The purpose of this project was quite ambitious mainly to increase the overall intensity of irrigation in
command area to about 115%, by constructing 7273 km. length of new channels and remodeling of the existing
6126 km. channels.
Though the implementation of this major surface irrigation scheme has adequately enhanced the
irrigation potential, but simultaneously, the seepage along the feeder channel and in the command has brought in
its wake the environmental problems of waterlogging and soil salinity. In fact, these environmental situations
have severely hindered the developmental process due to degradation of vast land in the command; thereby
rendering some culturable land as infertile.
The preliminary studies based on satellite data output of year 1975 and 1985 also indicated that the
poor water management practices and over use of water from the existing canal network of Sharda Sahayak
Canal Command, is chiefly responsible for excessive rise of ground water table within the Sai-Gomti basin,
thereby resulted in waterlogged conditions and subsequent land degradation at various places.
These land degradation processes have further adversely affected the efficient utilization of land
resources in the study area under Sharda Sahayak command. Field inventory & historical observations also
indicate that ground water regimen has undergone changes and a general rise in sub-surface water table has been
clearly noticed within the canal system. In certain areas, it has also risen to the surface catalysing surface
waterlogging during the years of operation of the canals. Precisely, the resultant damage to ecosystem within
Sai- Gomti interstream area is severe.
GENERALITIES ABOUT SAI-GOMTI BASIN
The project area i.e. Jaunpur Branch Sub-basin covering part of Sai-Gomti Basin spreads over an area
of 5.42 lakh ha., comprising 36 blocks of 5 districts namely, Barabanki, Raebareli, Sultanpur, Pratapgarh &
Jaunpur.
-
Physiographically, the area is almost a flat terrain with occasional undulations. The general slope of the
terrain is northwest to southeast.
The study area i.e. Sai-Gomti Interfluvial Tract, forms a part of Central Ganga Plain. It is underlain
by unconsolidated sediments of Indo Gangetic alluvium of Quaternary age. The sediments were
deposited in structural trough, the foredeep on Vindhyan/Granite basement, assuming an enormous
sediment thickness that varies from place to place. Deep drilling data indicates that the sediment pile up
it 487 m thick at Sultanapur Janauli in district Raebareli, 399 m at Kandhai in Pratapgarh, whereas in
Jaunpur area the thickness was reported even up to 745m.
The alluvium comprises alternate layers of sand-silt-clay sequence, quite often the sequence gets
admixed with concretions of calcium carbonate locally called Kankar. At places, occurrence of Kankar
pan i.e.,hard and thick bed (2 to over 5m.) of Kankar has been encountered. They form complex
horizon but have limited aerial extent. Top alluvial layer is generally sandy loam/silty clay or even
clay.
Hydrogeological framework of the area is well established and depicts existence of multi-layered
aquifer system. Phreatic aquifer exists down to a depth of 50 mbgl It has been observed that there is
difference of heads in the phreatic and confined aquifer systems and this can find applicability for
eventual transfer of water from phreatic zone to any of multiple deep confined aquifer groups down
below especially in water logged areas.
The Gomti river forming the northern boundary and the Sai river the southern boundary mainly drain
the command area. These rivers have changed their courses from time to time and left behind old
meanders, oxbow lakes, paleochannels, depressions etc, which are periodically inundated catalysing
waterlogged condition on ground surface.
An area is said to be waterlogged when the water table rises to an extent that the soil pores in the root
zone of a crop become saturated, resulting in restriction of the normal circulation of air, decline in the level of
oxygen and increase in the level of carbon dioxide. The high water table, which is considered harmful, would
depend upon the type of crop, type of soil and the quality of water. The actual depth of water table, when it starts
affecting the yield of the crop adversely, may vary over a wide range from zero for rice to about 1.5 meters for
other crops. Wheat and sugarcane are affected when the depth to water level is within 0.6 meters. maize & bajra
are sensitive to water table within 1.2 meters, and gram and barley within 0.9 meter.
So far, waterlogging has been classified variously and different norms have been laid down. An "Expert
Group" constituted by the Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India in October 1986, for the
classification of waterlogged areas, has laid down following standards for depth of ground water level in Sharda
Sahayak Project area in U.P.:Level of Waterlogging
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Worst Zone
Bad Zone
Alarming Zone
Safe Zone
However, the CBIP Special Committee, 1991, has suggested the following norms for sub-surface water
logging, a phenomena controlled by ground water levels.
1.
2.
3.
Critically waterlogged
Potential area for waterlogging
Safe for crops
0-2 m
2-3 m
> 3 m.
Field Photograph showing severity of Waterlogging & Salt- encrustation on left bank of Sharda Sahayak
main feeder near Km. Stone 169.
SODIC LAND
The most adverse situation of land degradation envisages the formation of Salt-Affected/Sodic Lands,
locally termed as i.e. Usar, which is usually a resultant factor of waterlogging. Due the continuing waterlogged
conditions and aided by capillary action, the evaporation takes place continuously and in the process, upward
flow of water from high water-table to the ground surface generally occurs, which carries salts in solution. These
salts eventually get precipitated on the land, thereby developing the salt-affected land & the fertility of the soil is
affected in two waysi. Excessive concentration of salt in root zone does not allow the plant to thrive.
ii. Continuous concentration of salt on the surface converts into sodic land, which is highly unproductive.
INITIATIVES FOR WATER SECTOR REFORMS IN U.P.
The State of UP has taken adequate steps for introducing water sector reform initiatives by way of
implementing the State Water Policy recommendations through a long term programmatic framework and with
the financial assistance of World Bank. So, the U.P. Water Sector Restructuring Project (UPWSRP) has started
working and is already in progress, focusing a river basin development & management approach to address all
issues related to water resource in an integrated, environmentally & socially sustainable framework. The main
development objectives of UPWSRP are:(i)
To set up an enabling institutional and policy framework for water sector reform in the State for
integrated water resources management
(ii)
To initiate irrigation and drainage sub-sector reforms in the state to increase & sustain water and
agricultural productivity.
Under the project, for an integrated & environmentally sustainable water management plan by way of
effectively utilizing both surface and ground water resources in a conjunctive manner for improving the land
productivity and increasing the cropping intensity, a pilot project has been initiated in Jaunpur Branch Subbasin (JBS) of Sai-Gomti Interfluvial Area, envisaging diversified activities & various studies.
APPROACH ADOPTED FOR WATERLOGGING ASSESSMENT
In any irrigation command, adequate knowledge of ground water levels is the foremost requirement for
effective water resource planning and management. Therefore, to generate extensive ground water database and
to have a detailed picture of ground water levels, 475 closely placed digital peizometers have been installed in
the study area of JBS for automatic recording of water levels. Since August 2005, daily monitoring of ground
water levels have started. As such, a comprehensive data base is being continuously generated and therefore,
seasonal variations in ground water regimen could be easily evaluated. Both pre monsoon & post monsoon
analysis of such data gathered so far through these peizometers have been systematically done.
The Geographical Information System i.e. G.I.S. based technique has been suitably applied to detect the
periodic and seasonal changes in ground water levels. Besides, the relative trend of sub-surface waterlogging has
also been deciphered.
Results:
In the course of study, based on common water level observations made in post- monsoon 2005, 2006 & 2007,
various depth ranges of ground water levels have been delineated using G.I.S. technique.
It has been observed that the head reaches of Jaunpur Branch Sub-basin (JBS) are mostly affected with
shallower water levels, thereby causing the sub-surface waterlogged conditions. Whereas, the lower
reaches have relatively deeper ground water levels.
As per the classification of sub-surface water logging, areas in the depth range of 0-1, 1-2 & 2-3 mbgl
have been categorized and the changes in water level trend have been remarkably detected between
2005 & 2007.
In post-monsoon 2005, ground water levels in 29.09% of total JBS area are found in the depth range of
0-3 mgl. This indicates the prevalence of sub-surface waterlogged conditions, whereas in 2006, the
spread of this water level depth has sharply decreased to 12% only. However, in post monsoon 2007, it
has relatively increased to 14.75%.
The comparative observations depict that the area having ground water levels in the depth range of 01mbgl (which is classified as worst zone or critically waterlogged from sub-surface waterlogging
point of view) has increased from 1444 ha.(0.27% of JBS) in post-monsoon 2005 to 2224.6 ha.
(0.42%) in post-monsoon 2007, while the spread of ground water levels in the depth range of 1-2 and 23 mbgl have significantly reduced. (as shown in the following table).
As revealed by the GIS mapping and as depicted in the respective table, even in the pre-monsoon
period, certain pockets in the upper reaches of JBS are found to have ground water levels in the depth
range of 1-3mbgl, indicating prevalence of permanent waterlogged conditions.
Areas having deeper ground water levels beyond 3 m. depth i.e. in the depth range of 3-5mbgl, 5-8
mbgl and > 8mbgl have also been also delineated systematically.
Maps showing different ground water levels in different depth ranges in JBS
Table: Coverage of ground water levels in different depth ranges (Post-monsoon 2005, 2006 & 2007)
Year
Depth Range (mbgl)
0-1
1-2
2-3
3-4
5-8
>8
Sum
2005
Area (ha.)
1444.0
65124.5
91186.9
145824.5
178321.6
60517.4
542418.9
Area (%)
0.27
12.01
16.81
26.88
32.87
11.16
100.00
2006
Area (ha.)
Area (%)
435.0
0.09
10867.6
2.01
53683.0
9.90
179045.0
33.00
209276.6
38.57
89111.8
16.43
542418.9
100.00
2007
Area (ha.)
Area (%)
2224.6
0.42
27087.6
5.00
50579.8
9.33
160426.3
29.57
179235.4
33.04
122865.3
22.65
542418.9
100.00
Table: Coverage of ground water levels in different depth ranges (Pre-monsoon 2006 & 2007)
Year
Depth Range (mbgl)
0-1
1-2
2-3
3-4
5-8
>8
Sum
2006
Area (ha.)
0
141.3
6157.1
113205.1
267104.3
155811.0
542418.8
2007
Area (%)
0
2.00.041
9.901.14
33.0020.87
38.5749.23
16.4328.72
100.00
Area (ha.)
0.0
1352.2
14835.3
93422.0
270280.7
162528.4
542418.8
Area (%)
0.00
0.26
2.74
17.23
49.82
29.96
100.00
The analysis of ground water level data and rising water levels clearly shows the impact of canal water on
ground water regimen. Therefore, the sub-surface waterlogging conditions in JBS may be primarily
attributed as canal induced, excessive water use, wrong agricultural practices and soil conditions.
But post-monsoon as well as pre-monsoon ground water levels show significant periodic variations, as can
be observed from the preceeding Tables. It may be inferred that such periodic variations in ground water
levels may be due to various local factors viz. rainfall pattern, soil conditions, on-going drainage
construction & canal cleaning activities.
As observed, in post-monsoon 2006, ground water level spread in the depth range of 0-3 m. has remarkably
reduced. The reasons may be the canal closure for a longer period for de-silting activity under canal
rehabilitation.
It is also noticed that the abundance of fluvial geomorphic features viz. palaeo-channels, oxbows etc, may
be responsible for catalyzing the surface waterlogged conditions.
Probable impact of rainfall on ground water level has also been assessed in the JBS, by using different
methods for rainfall analysis. The monsoonal rainfall in JBS has been analysed using Isohytel & other
methods and the result have been compared with spread of sub-surface waterlogged area i.e. ground water
levels in the range of 0-3 mbgl The results indicate that the rainfall has affected as well as aggravating the
existing waterlogged conditions in certain areas of JBS.
Comparative Analysis for Average Monsoonal Rainfall in JBS (mm)
Method/Yr.
Arithmetical Mean
Theissein Polygon
Isohytel
Factor Responsible
2005
459.20
482.82
691.48
29.00
Canal + Rainfall
2006
485.72
489.31
677.30
12.00
Canal Rehabilitation
2007
471.97
440.12
597.42
14.77
Canal + Rainfall
The maximum 10% land is reported as sodic land, i.e. Usar in district Raebareli, where sub-surface
waterlogging is relatively also high. Whereas in districts Sultanpur & Pratapgarh, relatively low soil
sodicity i.e. 7% & 8.5% area is found salt-affected respectively.
Direct impact of sub-surface waterlogging on the formation of salt-affected land has been observed in
JBS, where in the head reaches, sodic land area has been delineated upto 19.5% in the areas of
shallower water levels i.e. 0-3 mbgl Whereas, in the tail reaches of the project area, where ground water
level is deeper i.e. beyond 3 mbgl, only 1% of area is found as salt-affected.
This Index denotes how much culturable land has degraded due to waterlogging & soil sodicity/
alkalinity in an area. This index can be calculated as follows:
Waterlogged Area+ Sodic/Alkaline land
Land Damage Index =
In JBS, the analysis for Land Damage Index has been carried-out block-wise. The result shows that the
intensity of land damage/degradation is high in the upper reaches which gradually decreases towards the lower
reaches. Such findings clearly indicate that waterlogging & soil sodicity is high in upper reaches. Whereas in
lower reaches, index of land degradation has significantly reduced.
Land Damage Index in JBS
District
Raebareli
Sultanpur
Pratapgarh
Jaunpur
So, this Index assumes significance for integrated water resource planning in canal command areas
especially JBS.
SOME ISSUES
There are some important issues related to waterlogging which are to be looked into seriously.
CONCLUSIONS
Due to ineffective & unplanned water management practices, the project area i.e. Jaunpur Branch Subbasin, falling under Sai-Gomti Basin is facing varied geo-environmental problems viz. waterlogging, soil
sodicity, rising ground water levels and in the process, significant culturable land has been lost. As the subsurface waterlogging occurring in the JBS is primarily canal induced i.e. because of overuse of water, poor
drainage & soil conditions etc., the urgent need is to implement the conjunctive use concepts.
Under the conjunctive use plan, as a long term remedial measure, it is suggested to reduce use of canal
water and simultaneously ground water withdrawal should be judiciously enhanced in the project area. By
adopting this strategy, waterlogged area could be reduced & recovered effectively and the land productivity will
also improve gradually.
As a comprehensive mechanism for ground water monitoring has been established in the project area, it
is expected that the information being generated would be of immense use for the resource planning and
management. This may also help in initiating new researches in the Jaunpur Branch Sub-basin.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors are highly grateful to Er. V.K.Bansal, Chief Engineer (Level-I) / Irrigation & Drainage
Expert, SWaRA and Er. P.K.Singh, Chief Engineer (Level-I)/ Director, SWaRDAC for there valuable guidance
and suggestions during the preparation of this paper. Thanks are also due to Dr. Nurul Hasan, Ground Water
Expert, PACT, for providing technical assistance.
ABOUT AUTHORS
R.S. Sinha
Ravindra Swaroop Sinha, post graduated in Geology from the University of Lucknow in 1977. Also Life
Member of Indian Society of Remote Sensing and presently holding the post of vice-president in the societys
Lucknow Chapter. Joined Ground Water Department, U.P. as Hydrologist in 1979 and worked in different fields
of ground water survey. He had more than 15 years working experience in the field of Remote Sensing for
ground water resource investigation in alluvial and hard rock areas of U.P. Also worked in the field of rainwater
harvesting and ground water recharge. Presently working as Ground Water Expert in State Water Resources
Agency, Lucknow since November,2007.
email- r.s.sinha11@gmail.com
N.K. Choudhary
Nagendra Kishore Choudhary, post graduated in geology from the University of Lucknow in 1970. A Fellow of
Indian Association of Hydrological and Society of Geoscientist and also Life Member of Indian Society of
Remote Sensing. In 1972 worked as Junior Geologist in Ground Water Directorate, Govt. of Gujarat. In 1973
joined in Ground Water Investigation Organization of U.P. Irrigation Department as Hydrologist and worked till
1975. Thereafter, GWIO separately established as U.P. Ground Water Department, where worked in different
capacities for hydrological monitoring and evaluation. Presently working as Ground Water Expert in State Water
Resources Agency, Lucknow since November, 2007.
email- nagendra1950@yahoo.com
P.K. Srivastava
Pradeep Kumar Srivastava graduated in Civil Engineering from the University of Roorkee in 1977 and obtained
post graduate diploma in Soil mechanics and Foundation Engineering from I.I.T. Delhi in 1978. From 1978 to
1980 he worked in U.P. State Bridge Corporation Ltd., specializing in design of Bridges. In 1980 he joined U.P.
Irrigation Department and worked in different capacities on civil aspects on construction of canals, running of
canals, flood protection works, Design and investigation of projects etc. Since 2006, he has been working as
Basin Planning Expert in State Water Resources Agency Lucknow & involved in preparation of Basin plans and
running of different Models.
email: pks_57@yahoo.co.in
Naveen Kr. Shukla
Naveen Kr. Shukla Post Graduated in Geology from University of Lucknow in 1999. Obtained M. Tech degree
in Remote Sensing form Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi in 2002 & also pursuing Ph.D.at Deptt. of
Civil Engineering at IIT Rookee. In 2005 worked as Sr. Remote Sensing Analyst for Andhra Pradesh Economic
Restructuring Project-Irrigation Component (APERP-IC, World Bank Assisted) Irrigation Department, Andhra
Pradesh. In 2006, joined World Bank Assisted Uttar Pradesh Water Sector Restructuring Project of Irrigation
Department U. P. as Ground Water Expert in Project Activity Core Team & from August, 2006 working as
GIS Expert at State Water Resources Agency, Uttar Pradesh. Presently engaged in Implementation of Spatial
Tools for Hydrological and Hydro geological Modeling for Integrated Water Resources Management in Irrigated
Agriculture.
email: naveen_shukla@rediffmail.com