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J. Env. Bio-Sci., 2018: Vol. 32 (1): 87-92 ISSN 0973-6913 (Print), ISSN 0976-3384 (On Line)

GEOSPATIAL APPROACH FOR GROUNDWATER RESOURCE STUDY IN PANCHKULA

DISTRICT, HARYANA
Anup Kumar1*, Ashwini Kumar2, Priya Narayanan2 and R.S. Hooda3
1
Haryana Space Applications Centre (HARSAC)
Front Office-HARSAC, Panchkula
3
Haryana Space Applications Centre (HARSAC)
CCS HAU Campus, Hisar
2
Department of Geography, School of Earth Sciences,
Central University of Karnataka, Gulbarga, Karnataka
[Corresponding author*: anup0106@yahoo.com]

Received: 26-03-2018 Revised: 02-04-2018 Accepted: 07-04-2018

Of various groundwater exploration techniques, remote sensing satellite data, geographical information system (GIS) and global
positioning system (GPS) are highly suitable for searching new groundwater potential sites, planning, development and management
of groundwater on need basis in different types of terrain. The Panchkula district, the study area, is situated in the northern part of
Haryana State between the geo-coordinates 30026'N to 300 55' N latitudes and 76046'E to 77010'E longitudes. The total geographical
area of the district is 898 sq. km. In the present study, groundwater resource of the district has been studied with the help of IRS-
P6 LISS-III (2006) satellite data, GIS and ground surveys. Various thematic maps like geology, structure, geomorphology, drainage
have been prepared and integrated for groundwater prospects mapping. Field visists have been done to check the interpreted
features. The post-field corrections have been done in pre-field maps and finalized all the maps. The study shows that in the district
four major groundwater prospects units i.e. older alluvial plain, piedmont/fan surface, flood plain and structural hills are present.
The availability of groundwater is good to very good in older alluvial plain which covers 303.53 sq.km (33.80%) area; moderate to
good in piedmont/fan surface which covers 8.6 sq.km (0.96%) area; very good to excellent in flood plain which covers 43.51 sq.km
(4.85%) area and poor in structural hills which covers 542.36 sq.km (60.39%) area. The groundwater development i.e. exploitation
options are high in older alluvial plain and flood plain, moderate in piedmont/fan surface and low in structural hills. In the district,
347.04 sq.km area is suitable for high groundwater development, 8.60 sq.km area for moderate and 542.36 sq. km area for low
groundwater development. In the district, village ponds and small check dams/earthen dams at suitable sites are highly suitable
options for groundwater management. In the district, by de-silting of 36 village ponds, 324895.99m3 volume of water can be
harvested. The findings of the study are highly useful for the district in terms of planning, development and management of
groundwater to fulfill the increasing demand of water.
Keywords: Groundwater, geospatial, resource, Panchkula, Haryana

Water is prime requirement for sustaining the life on the earth.
In the modern developmental activities, the demand of water
is increasing very fast in each user sector. The use of modern
techniques like remote sensing, geographical information
system (GIS) and global positioning system (GPS) have made
easy for finding new groundwater potential sites, understanding
developmental and management options. These time, money
and man-power saving techniques have been used by many
workers (Dar et al., 2010; Das et al. 1997; Gopinath and
Seralathan, 2004; Jagadeeswara Rao et al., 2004; Jana and
Dutta,1996; Murthy et al., 2003; Nag, 2005; Obi Reddy et al.,
2000; Ravindran and Jeyaram, 1997; Subba Rao et al., 2001
NAAS Rating (2017)-4.43
and Thomas et al.1995) for finding groundwater potential sites,
groundwater development and management in different terrain
conditions. The present study has been carried out in Panchkula
district of Haryana state with objectives to understand
groundwater potential, development and management using
remote sensing satellite data and geographical information
system.
STUDY AREA
Panchkula district is located in northern part of Haryana State
between geo-coordinates 30026 N-300 55' N latitudes and
76046'E-77010'E longitudes. Total geographical area of the
 KUMAR, KUMAR, NARAYANAN AND HOODA
district is 898 sq. km. (Fig.1). The climate of the district is
subtropical monsoon, mild and dry winter, hot summer and
sub-humid with mainly dry hot summer and cold winter. The
normal annual rainfall in the district is 1057mm. The district
headquarter Panchkula is well connected to various parts of
the state as well as country.
The main objective of the work was to study groundwater
resource using geospatial techniques.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Survey of India (SOI) Toposheets on 1:50,000 scale (Toposheet
No. 53F/1, 53F/2, 53F/3, 53B/13, 53B/14, 53B/15) and IRS-
P6 LISS-III satellite data (2006) have been used for preparation
of various thematic maps like base map (Fig.2), geology (Fig.3),
structure (Fig.4), geomorphology (Fig.5) and drainage (Fig.6).
Integration of these maps has been done in ArcGIS 9.3 software
and groundwater prospects map (Fig.7) has been prepared.
Limited field checks have been done for ground truth verification
with the help of Garmin 72 GPS. Post-field corrections have
been done in the pre-field maps and final groundwater prospects
map has been prepared. Based on groundwater prospects,
groundwater development plan (Fig.8) has been prepared. The
groundwater management plan (Fig.9) has been prepared by
suggesting suitable rainwater harvesting sites such as check
dams at suitable locations and de-silting of ponds available in
villages in the district.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The groundwater prospects of the study area have been
deciphered based on the hydrogeomorphic units. There have
been four major hydrogeomorphic units namely-flood plain,
piedmont, older alluvial plain and structural hills in the district.
A. Groundwater Potential
i. Flood Plain: The flood plain is the geomorphic unit formed
due to fluvial activity i.e. overflow of river water across its banks.
The flood plain covers an area of 43.51 sq.km which is 4.85%
of total area. The groundwater prospect of this hydrogeomorphic
unit is very good to excellent (Table 1 and Fig.7).
ii. Piedmont/Fan Surface: The piedmont is formed due to
merging of pediments while fan is formed due to accumulation
of weathered and eroded materials at the foothill. The piedmont
covers 8.6 sq.km area which is 0.96% of the total area. The
groundwater prospects of this hydrogeomorphic unit is
moderate to good (Table 1 and Fig.7).
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iii. Older Alluvial Plain: The older alluvial plain is formed
due to fluvial activity when the river water flows across its banks
and deposited the materials in large area. The older alluvial
plain covers 303.53 sq.km area which is 33.80% of total area.
The groundwater prospect of this hydrogeomorphic unit is good
to very good (Table 1 and Fig.7).
iv. Structural Hills: The structural hills are formed due to
tectonic activities having structural features like fold, faults
and joints of regional extent. The structural hills cover 542.36
sq.km area which is 60.39% of total area. The groundwater
prospect of this hydrogeomorphic unit is poor except the joints
and fractures (Table 1 and Fig.7).
B. Groundwater Development: Groundwater development
means to exploit the groundwater for different uses. Based on
groundwater prospects in the study area, the groundwater
development plan have been prepared i.e. the hydrogeomorphic
units which can be exploited for groundwater. So, based on
the groundwater prospects, the hydrogeomorphic units have
been categorized as low, moderate and high groundwater
development zones. The structural hills have been suggested
under low groundwater development because of poor
groundwater prospects; piedmont/fan surface have been
suggested under moderate groundwater development because
of moderate to good groundwater prospects and flood plain
and older alluvia plain under high groundwater development
because of good to excellent groundwater prospects. In the
district, 347.04 sq.km (38.65%) area is suitable for high
groundwater development; 8.60 sq.km (0.96%) area for
moderate groundwater development and 542.36 sq.km
(60.39%) area for low groundwater development (Table 2 and
Fig.8).
C. Groundwater Management: In the study area, 41 check
dam sites have been demarcated for rainwater harvesting based
on drainage orders as well as suitability of sites and 36 surface
water bodies have been observed as silted which should be
de-silting. The construction of suggested check dam will
recharge the groundwater and maintain the local ecosystem.
The surface water bodies can be used for rainwater harvesting
at local level. The volume of water in these water bodies have
been calculated by assuming the depth of water body as 1m.
The area of 36 water bodies has been calculated as 324895.99
m 2. Thus, 324895.99 m 2 x 1m (Area x depth = volume)
3,24,895.99 m 3 water can be stored in these 36 surface water
bodies (Fig.9).
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Table 1: Ground water prospects in the Panchkula district

Hydrogeomorphic Groundwater Prospects Area (Sq. Km) Percentage of Total
Units
Area
Flood Plain Very good to excellent 43.51 4.85
Piedmont/Fan Surface Moderate to good 8.60 0.96
Older Alluvial Plain Good to very good 303.53 33.80
Structural Hills Poor 542.36 60.39
Total 898.00 100.00

Table 2: Groundwater development plan

Hydrogeomorphic Units Groundwater Area (Sq. Km.) Percentage of Total
DevelopmentPlan Area
Structural Hills Low 542.36 60.39
Piedmont/Fan Surface Moderate 8.60 0.96
Older Alluvial Plain and High 347.04 38.65
Flood Plain
Total 898.00 100.00

Fig.1: Location map of the study area

 KUMAR, KUMAR, NARAYANAN AND HOODA (90)

Fig. 2: Base map Fig. 3: Geology map

Fig. 4: Structure map Fig. 5: Geomorphology map

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Fig. 6: Drainage map Fig.7: Groundwater prospects map

Fig. 8: Groundwater development map Fig.9: Groundwater management map

 KUMAR, KUMAR, NARAYANAN AND HOODA
The groundwater prospects in the district vary from poor to
excellent. The structural hills have poor groundwater prospects,
flood plain have very good to excellent, older alluvial plain have
good to very good and piedmont/fan surface have moderate to
good groundwater prospects. The older flood plain and older
alluvial plain have high suitability for groundwater development
followed by piedmont/fan surface. In 36 water bodies,
324895.99m3 water can be stored. The rainwater harvesting in
surface water bodies as well as construction of check dams,
groundwater recharge can be increased which further improve
the groundwater prospects in respective hydrogeomorphic units
as well as help in fulfilling the increasing demand of water.
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