Forecasting groundwater level using hybrid modelling technique

Abstract

In India, groundwater serves about 70 % of rural population, 50 % of urban population and about 60 % of agricultural area. There are more than 20 million groundwater extraction structures in place which are being used to meet requirement for domestic, industrial and agricultural activities. There is intensive development of groundwater in certain pockets of India, which has resulted in over-exploitation of groundwater resources and led to steep declining trend in levels of groundwater. As per the assessment of groundwater resources (CGWB 2007), out of 5,723 assessment units (blocks/mandals/taluks) in the country, 839 units in various states have been categorized as "over-exploited" meaning that annual groundwater extraction exceeds the annual replenishable resource. In addition, 226 units are critical with stage of groundwater development hovering between 90 % and 100 % of annual replenishable resource.