Implications of Kali–Hindon inter-stream aquifer water balance for groundwater management in western Uttar Pradesh

The Kali–Hindon inter-stream region extends over an area of 395km2 within the Ganga–Yamuna
interfluve. It is a fertile tract for sugarcane cultivation. Groundwater is a primary resource for irrigation
and industrial purposes. In recent years, over-exploitation has resulted in an adverse impact
on the groundwater regime. In this study, an attempt has been made to calculate a water balance
for the Kali–Hindon inter-stream region. Various inflows and outflows to and from the aquifer
have been calculated. The recharge due to rainfall and other recharge parameters such as horizontal
inflow, irrigation return flow and canal seepage were also evaluated. Groundwater withdrawals,
evaporation from the water table, discharge from the aquifer to rivers and horizontal subsurface
outflows were also estimated. The results show that total recharge into the system is 148.72million
cubic metres (Mcum), whereas the total discharge is 161.06 Mcum, leaving a deficit balance of
−12.34Mcum. Similarly, the groundwater balance was evaluated for the successive four years. The
result shows that the groundwater balance is highly sensitive to variation in rainfall followed by
draft through pumpage. The depths to water level are shallow in the canal-irrigated northern part
of the basin and deeper in the southern part. The pre-monsoon and post-monsoon water levels
range from 4.6 to 17.7m below ground level (bgl) and from 3.5 to 16.5m bgl respectively. It is
concluded that the groundwater may be pumped in the canal-irrigated northern part, while withdrawals
may be restricted to the southern portion of the basin, where intense abstraction has led
to rapidly falling water table levels.