Deepak Ramchandani

GWSSB-Gandhinagar

Case study of Lakdawandh –Salinity control project

In year 2009 a project was conceived named “Rann Sarovar “ for Kachchh,
the project report was presented to the than Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri
Narendra Modi in Year 2010 during his visit at Mandvi-Kachchh for Sadhbhavna
Function. The details of the projects was explained to him in the presence of Shri
Parbat Patel Deputy Minister and Shri Vasan Ahir-MLA.

The report was officially forwarded from CMO-Office to the Water

Resources Department for opinion and as per my knowledge positive opinion was
given by the Superintendent Engineer- Irrigation- Kachchh.

In year 2011 my friend Shri Ravi Gurnani who was working as lecturer in
TFG Polytechnic college-Adipur approached me for guiding and selection of
subject for his Master Degree.

I suggested to work on Lakdawandh-Salinity control project and guided and

helped him for the same. The outcome of the studies is as below:
:METHODOLOGY ADOPTED

The methodology illustrated deals with the collection of field data of soil and
water samples for preparation graph for monitoring the effect of surface run-off
water on the salt affected soils.

The methodology for salinity observation consists of:-

 Appropriate site selection based on the interface of fresh water and saline
lands.
 Site observation refers to photographs collected, soil and water
observation.
 Data collections and the facts gathered by soil and water sample tested,
from which the nearby villagers are benefited..
 Soil and water analysis consist of the type of crops that can be grown on
that particular land after change in soil characteristics due to reduction in
salinity.
 Soil and water tabulation is done since the dam had over flown the crest
and till the water is dried completely i.e the dam is empty.
 The final data is compared with the initial data and the process is repeated
annually.
 Year by year the soil salinity is reduced due to fresh water ponding.
 The water detention time is calculated based on the optimum absorption of
salt in water so that during complete evaporation the absorbed salt does
not again deposited back on the upper soil layers.
 SALT CONTENT (U/S WATER) P. H. Value of U/S WATER
SALT CONTENT (D/S WATER) P. H. Value of D/S WATER
SOLUBLE SALTS (U/S SOIL) P. H. Value of U/S SOIL
8.80
8000.00
8.60
7000.00
8.40
6000.00
8.20
5000.00
8.00
4000.00
7.80
3000.00
7.60
2000.00 7.40
1000.00 7.20
0.00 7.00
03/12/1123/12/1112/01/1201/02/12 03/12/11 23/12/11 12/01/12 01/02/12

Chloride as CL (U/S WATER) Sulphate as SO4 (mg/l) (U/S WATER)

Chloride as CL (D/S WATER) Sulphate as SO4 (mg/l) (D/S WATER)
Chloride as CL (U/S SOIL) Sulphate as NA2SO4 (mg/l) (U/S SOIL)

2500.00 2500.00

2000.00 2000.00

1500.00 1500.00

1000.00 1000.00

500.00 500.00

0.00 0.00
03/12/11 23/12/11 12/01/12 01/02/12 03/12/11 23/12/11 12/01/12 01/02/12
CONCLUSION

1) Due to the effect of the soils submerged in fresh water, the amount of soluble
salts have drastically reduced.

2) The soil has been desalinated to a considerable amount due to the changes in
the water and soil parameters and chemical compositions.

3) The water on the upstream side shall be released to the downstream side and
not allowed to be evaporated completely as this will again deposit the absorbed
contents on the upstream top layer surface.

4) This observations and results will be useful in making other such salinity
controlling structures by using the surface run-off water during the monsoon
season for desalination.

Any salinity control project needs to be monitored for the leaching affect of
salinity, at the point when quantum of water in upstream is very low and salinity
is high, there is a reverse effect and salinity of soil starts increasing, at this point
the balance water shall be released in the downstream.

This study shall be useful for creation of new structures for water storage or
salinity control, care shall be taken that in such projects provision to drain the
water shall be kept so that there is no reverse leaching effect.