Integrated approach using Remote Sensing and GIS techniques for delineating groundwater potential zones in Dwarakeswar watershed, Bankura distict, West Bengal

Today all water resource development processes in most of the countries are based on micro watershed planning. Micowatershed is the smallest area, which acts as a comprehensive unit in the hydrological environment. For sustainable development of water resources, all planning should be based on the character of the hydrological environment of the watershed. In the study area, the geological formation consisting of quartz, schist, slate show a fine texture of drainage pattern which indicate a high potential for groundwater occurrence. In general the slope is greater than 30° thereby indicating more runoff and less infiltration. Lineaments, hydrogeomorphology and slope are the key parameters in the groundwater occurrence in the Dwarkeswar watershed. The lineaments mapped from satellite images cut across slope categories and litho units, thereby indicating the possibility of acting as major conduits for subsurface movement and linear aquifers for the storage of water. The central and southern part of the watershed areas provide good prospect for groundwater. It has been observed in the field and from the groundwater potential map that the gentler slope has more prospects for groundwater. Lineament density, lithology and drainage texture act as complementary conditions for gentler slopes.