Integration of geomatics in assessment of groundwater potential zones in Chambal River Basin of Madhya Pradesh, India

Abstract

Groundwater is a vital resource for sustaining agriculture and domestic needs in semi-arid regions such as Madhya Pradesh, India, where limited and irregular surface water supplies increase reliance on aquifers. Overexploitation, coupled with inadequate recharge management, has led to declining groundwater levels, particularly in hard rock terrains like the Chambal River Basin. This study delineates groundwater potential zones (GPZ) in the upstream portion of the basin, covering 55,642.51 km2 across 17 districts, by integrating Remote Sensing (RS), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Nine thematic layers—geology, geomorphology, lineament density, drainage density, soil, slope, land use/land cover (LULC), rainfall, and elevation—were used to evaluate groundwater occurrence. Each factor was assigned weights and ranks according to its hydrogeological influence, and a weighted overlay analysis was carried out in ArcGIS 10.5 to produce the GPZ map. The map was categorized into five groundwater potential classes: very poor, poor, moderate, good, and very good. Results indicate that basaltic formations dominate 75.53% of the basin, clay soils occupy nearly 50%, and agricultural land covers about 60%. The “poor” potential zone is most widespread (45.84%; 25,506.23 km2), followed by “moderate” (27.51%), while “good” and “very good” zones together comprise 12.62%. Validation using well-yield data achieved 62% accuracy, confirming moderate reliability. These findings highlight spatial disparities in groundwater availability and stress the need for targeted recharge interventions, improved water-use efficiency, and sustainable resource management. The study demonstrates RS, GIS, and AHP integration as a robust and replicable framework for groundwater assessment and planning in water-stressed basins.