Journal of Global Resources
Volume 4 (02)
July 2018
ISSN: 2395-3160 (Print), 2455-2445 (Online)

Page 30-35

04
GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS OF IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF GROUND WATER:TARANAGAR BLOCK, CHURU DISTRICT, RAJASTHAN
M. M. Sheikh
Associate Professor (Geography), Govt. Lohia PG College, Churu (Rajasthan), India
Email: mmskh@rediffmail.com
Abstract:Our ancestors were very careful about the harvesting of rain-water and conservativeuse of ground water. But with the expansion of population volume and consequently enhanced
use of ground water for drinking, industrial and irrigation purposes, the balance of ground water
recharge and exploitation has lost its existence. The result has been reflected in the shape ofdrying-up of existing resources of ground water. Taranagar block is not an exception of thesecircumstances where ground water-table is depleting day by day and quality of ground water isdeteriorating. The nature has blessed this earth with water, which is an essential requirement forthe survival of human, cattle, and vegetation. Previous generations recognized the necessity ofconserving nature resources. With the expansion of population volume and enhancement ofdevelopment activities, use of ground water for various purposes has increased considerably
affecting the ground water resources of the district profoundly. Consequently, the philosophy ofextraction of ground water in a planned way and its use in a very conservative manner is taking
a prime status in day to day discussions in India.
Key words: Ground Water, Impact Assessment, Water Pricing, Water Demand, Water Uses
Introduction
A scarce natural resource, water is fundamental to life, livelihood, food security and sustainable
development. India has more than 18 percent of the world’s population, but has only 4 percent ofworld’s renewable water resources and 2.4 percent of world’s land area. There are further limits
on utilizable quantities of water owing to uneven distribution over time and space. Water is aprime natural resource, a basic human need and a precious asset of the State. Planning,Development, operation and maintenance of all water resources to support the growth of thestate economy and the well-being of the population, in response to the growing need for drinking
water, agricultural products, industrial production and electricity, a general improvement of living
conditions and employment is of utmost importance. The ground water also plays an importantrole especially in agriculture and drinking water supply. The situation of ground water
exploitation is also not satisfactory as in areas where surface irrigation is provided there is atendency of not using ground water for agriculture which creates problem of water table rise andeven water logging. On the contrary, in large areas of the State, ground water is being over
exploited and the water table in some areas is going down even at the rate of 3 meter per year.
Study Area
Taranagar Tehsil is situated in Churu District of Rajasthan State, India. It is located 48 km.
towards North from District headquarters Churu. Taranagar is situated at 28° 41'N 75° 3'E, about
120 miles north-east of Bikaner. It has an average elevation of 232 meters. According toCensus 2011 the population of tehsil is 2,11,831. There are 123 villages in the tehsil. The
ground water is brackish but still people are using this water in their fields. Due to over
exploitation the ground water gone very deep and the tehsil has been declared as dark zone
block. The minimum and maximum temperature recorded in the district varies from 0.500 C to490C. Relative humidity is generally below 30 percent except during the brief south east
monsoon period when the same rises up to 60 percent in the district the rainy season usually
lasts from July to mid-September and the normal usual rainfall is only 320 mm/year.

30Objectives of Study
The main objectives of the study are two-fold: First it is to analyze the changes in water demandand second, to study the awareness and responsibility for the consumption of water by thesociety.
Methodology
The study has been mainly based on primary data collected from 10 villages of Taranagar blockin India. From each of the selected villages about 50 families have been surveyed andinterviewed. Total 500 persons were interviewed to collect primary data. Some secondary data
were also collected from Public Health & Engineering Department (PHED), Directorate of
Statistical Abstracts Rajasthan and Ground Water Department.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Occurrence of Ground Water
Drilling history of the bore-holes drilled during past years has revealed that ground water in thedistrict generally occurs under semi-confined to confined conditions. Confinement of groundwater is generally observed in the hard-rock area where water-table is comparatively deeper.
Results of pumping tests conducted in these formations have also confirmed the absolute/partialconfinement of water-table. However, occurrence of ground water under water-table conditions
has also been observed in several village of the district. In alluvial formations, occurrence ofperched water bodies above the zone of saturation have also been observed towards northeastern part of the district in certain parts of Churu, Rajgarh and Taranagar blocks. Thesebodies have very limited ground water potential.
Change in Ground Water Level
The world community is facing challenges of water level in certain areas due to over withdrawing
and demands of ground water. Water security is our main moral duty in the present context. Theterm ‘water security’ was used at the World Water forum in The Hague in 2000 to underline thevulnerability of people and ecosystems to ever growing pressure on the world’s limited water
resources (World Water Council, 2000). Groundwater, though part of hydrological cycle and acommunity resource, is still perceived as an individual property and is exploited inequitably andwithout any consideration to its sustainability leading to its over-exploitation in several areas.
Awareness is now increasing regarding water and its importance but in general people
misbehave when it comes to reducing wastage of water. The following table shows that about
65.6 percent people are aware that water level is changing very fast in this area due to overwithdrawing of ground water. Though, water quality is not as per WHO standard. They are using
water in agriculture and other domestic purposes. Whereas 25.6 percent people said that waterlevel is not changing in this area. Because water is brackish and there is no use of water in anymeans. Apart from this 8.8 percent people indicated that they had no information of the change
in ground water level. On an average about 60 percent of potable water is being drained aswaste water, which is injustice for our mother earth. The details are given below.

ResponseYesNoNo Response
Total

Table 01: Change inGround Water Level
No. of Persons
328
128
44500

Percent
65.6
25.6
8.8
100

Source: Field Survey

Water Quality
The quality of water is directly related with human and animal health. If the water quality is not as
per standard the mantle and physical problems will occur. The fluoride contents are very highalmost in villages of the study area. The average nitrate concentration is 185 mg/L. It shows thatnitrate concentration is very high in this block. The hardness of water is also very high. Theground water quality in the study area is very low. The following table shows the response fromthe people regarding water quality. About 82.2 percent respondents believe that water quality in31

this area is not as per standard. About 6.4 percent reported that water quality is not an issue inthis area. Whereas 11.4 percent respondents reported that they don’t have any idea related towater quality issues in this area.
Table 02: Water Quality
No. of Persons
411
32
57
500

Response
YesNoNo Response
TotalPercent
82.2
6.4
11.4
100

Source: Field Survey

Change in Ground Water Level

Water Quality

Percent

Percent
82.2

65.6

25.6
8.8

YesNoNo Response

Yes

6.4

11.4

NoNo Response

Change in Water Demand
Large parts of India have already become water stressed. Rapid growth in demand for water due
to population growth, urbanization and changing lifestyle pose serious challenges to watersecurity. Issues related to water governance have not been addressed adequately. On anaverage based on field observation and survey, about 60 percent of drinking water has drained
every day due to bad practices of uses of water and lack of water importance. This has resulted
in increased water demand. Ultimately it leads water shortage not only in one block but in also inevery parts of the country. The respondents reported that there is no control or penalty imposedby government to misuse the water. Some of the respondents indicated that they were not
motivated to conserve rainwater. The results also showed that most people are dependent on
the government system to handle all matters pertaining to the use of water, despite theirknowledge of the importance of water to their everyday life.
Water Policy
The overwhelming interest of the State is to bring, by physical and managerial measures, asmuch of the potentially available resources into beneficial useas is physically and economicallyfeasible. The State’s policy documents stipulates that water resources development planningshall aim at assuring accelerated growth by contributing to the State’s economic and social
advancement, and improving the general social and economic conditions of the population, while
keeping the environmental and ecological balance. The awareness level regarding water policyin the study area is very low. Only 20.2 percent respondent reported that they know about thewater policy. Whereas 75.4 percent respondents are unaware of the water policy. This exposes
the gaps in knowledge and understanding of the need for a water policy and adherence to suchand related policies. Government should also popularize the policy objectives to raise water
conservation and its importance. The details are given below.

32

Table 03: Water Policy
No. of Persons
10137722500

Response
Yes
NoNo Response
TotalPercent
20.2
75.4
4.4
100

Source: Field Survey

Water Policy

PercentPercent

Water Rates

608050604040302020100Yes

No0No Response

Yes

NoNo Response

Water Rates
It was evidenced in the study that water rates shall be so decided that it conveys the scarcity
value of water to users and foster the motivation for economy in water usage. Rates shall be
gradually increased to cover the annual maintenance and operation charges and part of the
fixed costs to assure undisturbed and timely supply of water. Due to this huge non-revenue
water, operation and maintenance cost recovery through user charges is hardly 50 percent. It
leads heavy losses to government. The revenue from water does not cover the maintenanceexpenses. The following table shows that 53.2 percent respondents are agreed that water rates
are quite good. But 36.6 percent respondents emphasized that rates of water should be revised
as per use of water. It should not be flat rate for all users. Whereas 10.2 percent did not provide
any answer.

Response
Yes
NoNo Response
Total

Table 04: Water Rates
No. of Persons
266
183
51500

Percent
53.2
36.6
10.2100

Source: Field SurveyMismanagement and Misuses
There is mismanagement and misuses through leakage because of lack of maintenance, poor
quality infrastructure, lack of public participation and lack of sufficient and timely budget etc. Dueto flexible policy implementation water mismanagement and misuses are very high. It wasobserved from the study that there was a low consciousness about the overall scarcity andeconomic value of water, which results in its wastage and inefficient use. About 40 percent of
the respondents reported that due to lack of awareness 40 percent water misused in domesticsector, 60 percent in agriculture sector, 10 percent in industrial sector, 25 percent in commercial
sector, 40 percent due to lack of proper and timely maintenance and 25 percent in otheractivities. In short, we can argue that almost mismanagement and misuses are high in every
sector. The results are given in the table below.

33

Table 05: Mismanagement and Misuses
Percent (multiple choice)406010254025

Category
Domestic Uses
Agricultural Purposes
Industrial Purposes
Commercial Purposes
Lack of Maintenance
OtherSource: Field Survey

Mismanagement and Misuses
Percent (multiple choice)60
40402525

10

Domestic Uses

Agricultural
Purposes

Industrial
PurposesCommercial
Purposes

Lack of
Maintenance

Other

Management of Ground Water
The respondents also reported that water level can be changed in long term after adoption ofsome economically-viable and ecologically sustainable measures. For this, sound ground water
recharging techniques will have to be used. The respondents reported that better management
can increase the water level in the study area. About 11 percent respondents reported thatthrough rain water the management of ground water can be improved. Regarding the othercategories, 27 percent suggested ground water recharge while 46 percent were on the halting ofagricultural uses of ground water and 18 percent were on watershed development. The full
results are given in the table below.

Management of Ground Water

Rain water
Other measures harvesting
7%
12%Strong water policy
implementation
9%

Ground water
recharge
17%

Awareness building
15%

Percent (multiple choice)

Watershed
Development
11%

Stop Agriculturaluses of ground water
29%

34

Table 06: Management of Ground Water
Category
Percent (multiple choice)Rain water harvesting
11Ground water recharge
27
Stop Agricultural uses of ground water46
Watershed Development
18
Awareness building
25
Strong water policy implementation
14
Other measures
20Conclusion
Over the past quarter century, global water problems have escalated. This study has shown thatthe water problem situation in Taranagar block will worsen if not addressed as a matter ofurgency. The people who reside in this area should be made acquainted with the worseness ofthe existing situation, especially the adoption of appropriate methods of conservative use, andthe collective future planning of existing resources of ground water. The study also showed thatpoor recharging of aquifers and excessive extraction of ground water are the two main factors,
which cause the water problem in the study area. The first factor is beyond the control of humanefforts, while the second factor can be minimized through collective efforts. In this regard,
aMaster plan of water management and budgeting should be prepared at village level.
To address these challenges governments, International organizations, NGOs, private
sector companies etc. should make contributions to build capacities in multiple water emerging
issues. In addition, political leaders, professionals, academicians, policy makers, students andothers will require an understanding of water resources to save the mankind. The study
recommends that each and every member of the society should be taught about theconservative use and to stop the wastage of water in their routine activities. In the area ofagriculture, along with sprinkler-system of irrigation, irrigation drip-system should also beadopted on large scale to minimize the requirement of irrigation water. Rain-water should bestored in each and every house so that it can be used for domestic purpose reducing
consumption of ground water. Aquifers should be recharged by preventing flowing rainwater byconstructing appropriate recharge structures.
References
1. Census Handbook of Churu District (2011) Department of Census. Govt. of India, New Delhi
2. Ground Water Report of Churu District (2005) Dept. of Ground Water, GoR. Jaipur
3. Molden D., Sakthivadivel, R. (1999) Water accounting to assess uses and productivity ofwater. Water Resources Development 155, No.1 & 2
4. Sahuquillo A. (1985) Groundwater in Water Resource Planning: Conjunctive Use, Water
International.
5. Sheikh M. M. (1992) Human Ecology of India Desert, (Un published Ph.D. Thesis), Universityof Rajasthan, Jaipur
6. Statistical Abstract, District Churu (2015) Directorate of Economic and Statistical, Rajasthan,Jaipur.
7. UNESCO-IHE (2009) Capacity Development for Improved Water Management, The
Netherlands
8. Vision-2025 for Rajasthan (2004) Central Ground Water Board, Western Region. Jaipur,India.
9. Wasi A. Z. (2012) Ground Water. APH Publication, Delhi
10. Water Policy of India 2012
11. Water Policy of Rajasthan 2012
12. World Water Council (2000)
13. www.cgwb.gov.in35