Groundwater Potential Zonation and Prioritization of Wular Catchment of Kashmir using GIS Based Multi-Criteria Evaluation Approach

The present study is an attempt to prioritize watersheds based on groundwater potential (GWP) zones in Wular catchment by geo-hydrological characterization of lithology, geomorphology, lineaments, drainage, NDVI, slope, soil and rainfall data. The interrelationship between different parameters was established by applying weighted overlay technique of multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) using spatial analyst tool in ArcGIS 10.1. A pair wise comparison method based on Saaty's nine point scale has been employed and the weights were normalized through the Eigen vector method of analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The study area has been divided into five zones (very high to very low) of GWP. The GWP zone map was finally validated using the data obtained from sample wells. A watershed priority map was obtained based on the GWP of each watershed by area weighted score method. The study has precisely identified the watersheds with poor GWP and amply highlighted the need to employ measures for improving their groundwater recharge capability.