LANDFORM ANALYSIS AND GROUND-WATER POTENTIAL IN THE BIST-DOAB AREA, PUNJAB, INDIA

In the Bist Doab tract of the Punjab, occurrence of ground water is controlled by geological and geomorphological features. In this study an attempt has been made to analyse different landforms and geomorphological features and to evaluate their ground water potential. The geomorphological units identified include linear ridge, structural hills, alluvial fans, piedmont plain, alluvial plain, sand dunes, flood plain, seasonal rivulets and braided river channels. The palaeochannels, ox-bows and meander scars have prominent shallow aquifers of good quality with excellent yield. The low lying alluvial plain is cropped extensively due to more moisture and/or shallow aquifers. Flood plains are potential sites for artificial recharge. Tapping off the flood plain for ground water can be easy and cheap. The run-off and recharge zones have been identified from satellite data.