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Sustainable Irrigation and Economic Development through Community Participated Managed Aquifer Recharge in Water Scarce Regions of Telangana State — A Case Study

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Journal of the Geological Society of India

Abstract

Groundwater is the primary source for agriculture based income in the rural areas of Telangana state, South India, especially in the scanty rainfall regions. Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) can augment rainfall recharge, and it is successful at many locations across India. The present study is one of the case study, where CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute (CSIR-NGRI) successfully implemented MAR through community participation which has led to a paradigm shift in agriculture based income in three villages situated in Chotuppal Mandal, Telangana. A percolation tank has been constructed by local people considering scientific inputs from CSIR-NGRI. Due to the percolation tank recharge, deeper groundwater levels have come close to the ground surface. The improved groundwater conditions have led to the expansion of irrigated areas, rural economic development and reduced energy consumption. This study has demonstrated that MAR such as percolation tanks at suitable locations can improve the groundwater and socio-economic conditions in water scarce regions.

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Acknowledgments

Authors thank Dr. V.M. Tiwari, Director, CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad for his constant encouragement, suggestions and guidance. The work is supported by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research- New Delhi with CSIR-800 project. The authors acknowledge the villagers of Mandollagudem, Toorpugudem and Singaraya Cheruvu for their support and participation while executing the project. Indo French Center for Ground Water Research (IFCGR) located in CSIRNGRI is acknowledged for sharing hydrological data.

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  1. CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, 500 007, India

    M. J. Nandan, L. Surinaidu & S. Dinesh Kumar

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  1. M. J. Nandan
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  2. L. Surinaidu
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  3. S. Dinesh Kumar
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Correspondence to M. J. Nandan.

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Nandan, M.J., Surinaidu, L. & Dinesh Kumar, S. Sustainable Irrigation and Economic Development through Community Participated Managed Aquifer Recharge in Water Scarce Regions of Telangana State — A Case Study. J Geol Soc India 97, 1294–1299 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-021-1859-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-021-1859-z

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