Silver Jubilee Publication-II

Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques are being increasingly and effectively used in morphometric analysis and groundwater potentiality mapping of drainage basin owing to its capabilities of manipulation, analysis, flexibility of experimentation and ability to extract topological attributes from various thematic maps, and to work as a unique tool for geospatial modelling. An attempt to establish morphometric parameters of Damodar river basin and suitable delineation of groundwater potential zones in Jharia coalfield has been made following a multi-criteria evaluation GIS approach using Geomatica and SPANS software tools. The morphometric analysis of the basin reveals that the basin has low to moderate relief, elongated shape and consists of fractured and permeable resistant rocks. For delineation of groundwater potential zones, various data layers such as, litho-stratigraphy, drainage, lineaments (faults), water table elevation, and slope have been emphasized because of their relative importance in holding capacity of groundwater amongst other parameters. A multi-criteria evaluation following a Bayesian probability weighted approach has been employed for map overlay analysis that allows a linear combination of weights of each thematic map. The resultant map indicates that the buried river channels in the southwestern part of the coalfield and flood plains and river channels near Damodar river are groundwater potential zones.