Vadodara: Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) is considering promoting groundwater refills through refill wells in housing communities throughout the city.
But the whole exercise can change to be in vain in the long run.
But the hydrogeological studies conducted by the city-based Gujarat Ecology Society (GES) show that this city requires more wetlands and a body of water to maintain the water table rather than artificial recharging.
The Civic body has planned to promote ground water refills by building a refill well in the housing community.
While VMC has proposed to bear the majority of costs, the resident’s welfare association must fight almost a quarter of total expenditure.
Studies conducted by GES NIRAV Dhadankar’s internship under the guidance of Dr.
Jayendra Lakhmapurkar showed that groundwater in the city of Vadodara did not have lateral movements because the beds were flat.
There are three layers of aquifers and most of the water through a tube well taken from the second layer which is the biggest aquifer.
Aquifer is a stone body or sediment that holds ground water.
“If we observe the aquifers along the Wiswamitri River from the Pavagadh Hill base, there is a lateral movement to the city of Vadodara and further after Vadodara City until the river joins the Dhadhar River,” said Lakhmapurkar.
“Because there is no lateral movement in the city of Vadodara, water is refilled through the tube well overflow,” he added.
The researchers suggested that more groundwater bodies and more wetlands with connections for slow water processing must be developed instead of refill wells.
The city has lost 40 hectares of wetlands since 2005.
“Another problem with refill wells in the city is that they may need routine care as dirt and other particles may accumulate,” said Lakhmapurkar.
The researchers also raised concerns about the development of industrialization and concrete around the origin of the Vishwamitri River.
“Because industrialization and urbanization in Halol, Jarod and Savli, there is a possibility of groundwater contamination that will affect the city of Vadodara directly in the future,” said Lakhmapurkar.
“The villages near the Mahisagar River complained about contaminated groundwater because of pollution caused by the industry in Nandesari.
A similar situation may arise in Vadodara too,” said Dr.
Deepa Gavali, director of GES.
Contaminated ground water can have some health hazards because the RO and boiling water system can purify it.