Spatio-temporal Variation of Depth to Water Level Due to Conventional Agricultural Practices and Its Consequences on Hydrogeological Condition in an Alluvial Terrain: A Case Study from Dakshin Dinajpur District, West Bengal, India
摘要
The rational utilization of groundwater is one of the pivotal factors, especially in all agricultural regions, to strengthen agricultural sustainability and support the regions’ sustainable socio-economic development. In general, groundwater resources are globally used for purposes such as supplying drinking water, facilitating irrigation, and supporting industrial activities. Increasing population, higher food demands, and rapid growth of unplanned urbanization have frequently led to the overexploitation of groundwater resources in various parts of the world. Alluvial terrains are favorable for intense agricultural activities. Consequently, these aquifers are especially vulnerable to changes in water levels and groundwater contaminations. Globally, several regions like the North China Plain, Sahelian Sudanian areas of West Africa, Sistan and Balouchestan provinces of Iran, regions of Punjab in India, and the Indo-Gangetic plains are experiencing fluctuations in alluvial aquifers due to extensive agricultural practices and over-extraction due to irrigation. This has raised concerns about the sustainability of groundwater resources. The use of remote sensing data, coupled with the integration of various hydrogeological models, has emerged as an essential tool for monitoring and analyzing the fluctuations of groundwater and associated issues within alluvial aquifers. In a specific study conducted in Dakshin Dinajpur district, West Bengal, India, Arc GIS and remote sensing data were utilized to analyze the spatiotemporal variation of depth to water level over three years for different seasons in alluvial aquifers. The findings indicated that the spatio-temporal pattern remained relatively consistent over the three years; the depth to water level was highest during the lean season compared to pre and post-monsoons. The study identified higher fluctuations in the depth to water level in the southwestern and southern parts of the district. The likely cause for the declining groundwater pattern in the district was the over-exploitation of groundwater for year-round irrigation of rice cultivation and improper utilization of groundwater resources. Implementing scientific cropping techniques and irrigation systems to conserve water resources is necessary. Managing and monitoring these fluctuations is essential for sustainable groundwater use, as excessive exploitation or depletion of alluvial aquifers can harm water availability, ecosystem health, and the overall sustainability of water resources in a region.