Groundwater Management in Parts of Saltora Block, Bankura District, West Bengal

Hydrogelogical investigation of the area around Saltora reveals the presence of groundwater under shallow water table condition within the Precambrain anorthositic country rock. VES study indicates that the water is stored within the weathered residuum and the underlying fractured rocks within a depth of 69 m. The groundwater flow is guided by the topography and the fracture system. Chemically the groundwater is suitable for drinking and irrigation purposes. The cardinal aquifer parameters such as permeability, transmissivity and specific yield are oflow order and hence water harvesting structures should be supplemented with groundwater abstraction structures to increase agricultural production and thus the economy of the area. Since the area is drought prone traditional methods of irrigation such as flooding must be ruled out and water should be transported from the source to the field by lined channels or pipes to minimise conveyance and evaporationallosses. Drip irrigation may also be adopted.