STUDIES ON SUBSURFACE WATER POTENTIAL AND QUALITY FOR IRRIGATION.

Abstract

The region of Western Ghats comprising the Sahyadri Mountain chain in southern India has remained underdeveloped notwithstanding its rich natural resources and flora and fauna. The Aladangadi Hole (river) basin is one such area. Although the basin receives very heavy rainfall, it faces water scarcity problems and thus has remained undeveloped. Intense development in the coastal region has created increasing demands for fresh water. As a pilot study, hydrological investigations for the yield, quality of water and soil, aquifer parameters, soil-water-crop compatibility, groundwater potential and Landsat imagery studies have been undertaken. This paper highlights several aspects of irrigation for an all-round development of the basin.