Aquifer Mapping in Parts of Murshidabad and Adjoining Birbhum Districts, West Bengal, India

Aquifer Mapping has been carried out in an area of 2660 sq km in Ganga Basin lying on the west of River Bhagirathi. The present area comprises a total of 13 C. D. blocks, 4 north-eastern C. D. blocks of Birbhum district, and 9 western C.D. blocks of Murshidabad district, in the state of West Bengal. Present area is entirely covered by Quaternary alluvium. This study revealed the existence of multiple aquifer groups characterised by inherent litho-logical properties and often typical geo-morphological setup, distribution in space and geological time, and ground water potentiality. The geogenic contamination of ground water by arsenic and fluoride poses a serious health problem in the area. The objective of the present study is to delineate the subsurface aquifer groups in successive geological formations up to targeted depth of exploration of 325m, graphically represent them by 3D model & 2D sections, to generate geo-environmental data of aforesaid contaminants in ground water of individual aquifer groups separately and to provide a plausible explanation behind this contamination. This study is helpful for identification of aquifers, which bear potable ground water and those, which are under stress and need immediate intervention for sustainable management.