Groundwater Potential Mapping of Tripura Using Analytical Hierarchy Process and Gis

Abstract

For both the rural and urban environment, groundwater is a key source of water supply and particularly significant due to its consistent supply at times when the supply of surface water becomes deficit. The present study area also has certain pockets experiencing water scarcity both seasonal and non-seasonal due to its physiographic setting. Therefore, locating possible areas of groundwater is of immense significance in managing the groundwater through recharge for securing the continuous availability of this resource. In the present study, Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) such as Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique was applied along with Geographical Information System (GIS) technique to identify the groundwater prospective zones. The results of the study reveal that the flood plains and intermontane synclinal trough exhibit huge potential for groundwater. However, very low to low potential for groundwater is observed in the anticlinal hill ranges and terraces and tillas. The potential for groundwater decreases as one progress towards the north of the state. The areas which show low and moderate potential for groundwater may be recharged artificially or naturally.