GROUNDWATER CONDITIONS IN A TRIBAL DOMINATED AREA OF MAYURBHANJ DISTRICT, ODISHA

Abstract

The study area is located in the southern part of the Mayurbhanj district in the state of Odisha..
The geomorphic units of the area have been broadly identified as Lateritic upland, Alluvial
plain, Flood plain, Residual Hills and Deeply weathered Pediplain. The predominant formation
is in the form of older alluvium flanked by younger alluvium in the south east and consolidated
formations in the North West top of which is partially lateritised. Ground water occurs under
unconfined condition in the shallow weathered zone and circulates through fractures and joints.
The thickness of the weathered zone varies from 3 to 35m. Depth of open wells in these
formation varies from 5 to 14 meter below ground level. The occurrence of aquifer zones
between 60 and 120 m depth is less frequent and normally one to three aquifer zones with the
individual thickness varying from 4 to 12 m is found to occur. The ground water yield potential
of this block is moderate because of the inherent formation characteristics and associated well
construction difficulties in the absence of well defined pervious zones in many places. The
stage of ground water development is quite high. However in certain instances, moderate to
high yielding wells are encountered mostly in the older & younger alluvium. The area
represents a typical tribal block sizable ST population and hence needs special care for
sustainable ground water development along with equitable availability of water resources for
the entire populace.