Effect of seawater intrusion preventive structures in Meghal Basin of Saurashtra Region

Groundwater is the most important source of water supply for domestic, industrial and agricultural purposes in the coastal belt of Saurashtra region of Gujarat state. Because of excessive withdrawal of groundwater, coastal Saurashtra region is facing a problem of seawater intrusion. Moreover due to erratic nature of rainfall and improper management of the existing water resources in the region, the groundwater withdrawal rate has increased. Since the existing groundwater resources have not been replenished as per demand, the seawater intrusion has taken place. The State Government has constructed various seawater intrusion preventive structures in the coastal belt. Meghal river basin is one of the important basins in the coastal belt. Various seawater intrusion preventive structures have been constructed in this basin. As a cumulative effect of all these structures the extent of seawater intrusion towards inland from seacoast has been controlled and also groundwater quality and agricultural production in the coastal belt has been improved. To achieve better results, check on unlimited withdrawal in the coastal belt, regular desilting of recharge structures and suitable cropping patterns should be adopted. In this paper an attempt is made to study the cumulative effect of the seawater intrusion preventive structures on water quality, extent of salinity and change in crop production after the construction of these structures.