Browsing by Author "Shive Prakash Rai"

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Assessment of groundwater quality beneath agriculturally advanced region of northern Alluvial plain, India
(MDPI, 2021) Anant Gautam; Suresh Chand Rai; Shive Prakash Rai
In the present study, groundwater suitability for domestic and irrigation purposes was analyzed in the alluvial aquifers of the Bist-Doab region of Punjab, India, using various indices such as WQI, WAWQI, MCDA, RSC, SAR, PI, %Na, KR, MH, PS, K, and Ka. Since it is difficult to assess the suitability of groundwater for irrigation based on various indices individually, a composite groundwater quality index for irrigation (CGQII) was used in the study which transforms nine indices to a single value for each sample. Results reveal that the groundwater of a few blocks was found unsuitable for domestic use due to chemical leaching from fertilizers, pesticides, and agricultural and industrial wastes. Whereas, the groundwater of mainly southwestern parts was found unsuitable for irrigation due to long-term water accumulation in aquifers and continuous use of sodium-ion-rich groundwater. The findings conclude that anthropogenic activities have played a significant role in making groundwater unfit for domestic and irrigation purposes in the study area. The present study also emphasizes continuous monitoring and evaluation of groundwater quality, which will help in strategic planning and management for the conservation of groundwater resources in the region. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
Assessment of spring water vulnerability and hydrogeochemical evolution in the Khulgad micro watershed of Kosi basin, Kumaun Lesser Himalaya, India
(Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2025) Puthiyotil Nijesh; Neeraj Pant; Shive Prakash Rai; Noble Jacob; Kossitse Venyo Akpataku; Abhinav Patel; Abhinesh Kumar Singh; Meera Soman; Nachiketa Rai; Dharmappa Hagare
Spring water is the lifeline for the mountain communities for drinking, irrigation, and domestic needs. This study focused on the vulnerability of spring water and its geochemical evolution under varying geological conditions. We collected 98 spring samples during pre-monsoon (PRM) and post-monsoon (POM) periods and analysed for major ion chemistry. Among the 18 parameters analysed, pH, NO3−, F−, and K+ concentrations exceed the permissible drinking water quality limits during PRM period, except F− during POM period. However, the source of Cl− and SO42− water types is linked to anthropogenic inputs. The principal component analysis and hydrochemical proxies reveal that NO3− contamination in spring water is from agriculture via surface runoff, while F− and K+ are of geogenic origin. The research shows that the quality of spring water in the head watershed is at risk, and urgent attention is required to prevent the villagers’ consumption of contaminated spring water. © 2025 IAHS.
Contamination profile and potential human health risks of radon in groundwater of southwest region of Punjab, India
(Springer, 2025) S. K. Singh; Sandeep K. Malyan; Kaptan Singh; Sujata Kashyap; Rajesh Pal B. Singh; Shive Prakash Rai; Sumant R. Kumar; Pradeep Kumar
Radon (Rn) is a naturally occurring radioactive gas produced by the decay of uranium-bearing minerals in rocks and soils. Long-term exposure to elevated radon levels in drinking water is associated with an increased risk of stomach and lung cancers. This study aims to assess the concentration of radon in groundwater and evaluate its potential health risks in six cancer-affected districts, i.e., Bathinda, Mansa, Ferozepur, Faridkot, Fazilka, and Sri Muktsar Sahib, of southwest Punjab, India. A total of 186 samples were collected from deep and shallow borewells using a 10 × 10 km2 grid-based sampling strategy, and Rn concentrations were measured onsite. Detectable levels of Rn were observed in 100% of the samples, ranging from 0.841 to 11.80 Bq/L, with an average of 3.63 ± 1.50 Bq/L. Most values were below the USEPA limit of 11.1 Bq/L (≈300 pCi/L). The annual effective dose from ingestion and inhalation was within the WHO-recommended safe reference dose level of 100 µSv/year across all age groups. However, the estimated excess lifetime cancer risk ranged from 0.29 × 10–4 to 8.37 × 10–4, with an average value of 2.57 × 10–4, indicating that a majority of samples exceeded the USEPA unacceptable risk level of ≤ 1.00 × 10⁻4. While current Rn levels may not pose immediate health threats, the potential for long-term risks, particularly lung/stomach cancer and leukemia, remains. The study highlights the need for regular groundwater quality monitoring and the implementation of mitigation strategies in vulnerable regions. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2025.
From Dialogue to Policy Learning: Water Policy Labs for Transformative Water Governance
(John Wiley and Sons Inc, 2025) Hemant Raj Ojha; Basant L. Maheshwari; Jeff K. Camkin; Basundhara Bhattarai; Purnima Banjade; Priyanka Gurung; Karen Delfau; Vishal Narain; Will J. Allen; Sarah Ransom; Vishal Kumar Kumar Singh; Roshan Rathod; Ngamindra R. Dahal; Susana Neto; Monika Giri; Shive Prakash Rai; Icyimpaye Adeline
Water governance in Asia and the Pacific faces complex and multifaceted challenges, ranging from climate risks to escalating stakeholder conflicts and exclusionary institutions. In response to these challenges, important participatory and adaptive governance innovations have emerged globally over the past decade. Yet, the systems of governance and water management practices are slow to improve, with limited procedural solutions to facilitate cross-stakeholder collaboration and practice-based learning. This paper proposes a pragmatic approach to enhancing stakeholder participation and collaboration through an experimental work on the Water Policy Lab (WPL). This semi-structured approach facilitates learning, joint reflection, and deliberation among diverse actors, supporting the co-production of policy, practice, and knowledge. The WPL approach contributes to water governance by facilitating deeper spaces for learning among stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, and local communities, to co-create contextually relevant solutions. It integrates principles such as co-creation, deliberation, experimentation, reflexivity, and inclusivity across governance levels. This paper is a retrospective reflection and analysis of a series of WPLs. We highlight how WPL can address power imbalances, often a root cause of exclusionary practices, and integrate diverse knowledge systems, including scientific expertise and local knowledge. We also reflect on WPL's potential to foster cross-sectoral collaboration, especially through breaking down silos between government agencies, NGOs, and local communities. Unlike conventional participatory or multi-stakeholder dialogues, WPL is distinguished by its structured emphasis on iterative policy learning, context-specific experimentation, and critical reflection on entrenched power–knowledge dynamics. We conclude that WPL offers a promising pathway by deepening spaces and praxis for participatory decision-making, knowledge co-creation, and collaborative action. Nevertheless, it remains constrained by persistent power asymmetries, challenges of sustaining long-term engagement, and risks of exclusion, highlighting the need for institutional and political support to realize its full potential. © 2025 Policy Studies Organization.
Heavy Metals Concentrations in Drinking Water and Their Effect on Public Health around Moth Block of Jhansi District
(Scientific Publishers, 2019) Naseem Akhtar; Shive Prakash Rai
The heavy metais contamination is the main environmental problem in the aquatic system since few heavy metals are potentially toxic or harmful for human health. The present study assessed the concentrations of heavy metals in the groundwater and their effects on the human health of the resident around Moth block of Jhansi district, Uttar Pradesh. The total 40 groundwater samples were collected from the handpump for analyses of Al, As, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn and the results compared with international and national standards as World Health Organization and Bureau of Indian Standard 11,2]. The results found that the maximum numbers of heavy metals of the study area were found in the acceptable limit except at few locations. The heavy metals concentration of Cr, Cd, Co, Ni, Pb of all groundwater samples are found within the acceptable limit while As, Cu, Zn and Mn are found below. The Fe and Al concentrations of the majority of the localities sample are in the range of acceptable limit whereas few indicate high concentration, that is carcinogenic, such as Mahluwa, Lohagad 2, Reb, Bamroli, Bangari and Ata. This result is corroborated with the poor health of the resident around Moth block. © 2019 Scientific Publishers. All rights reserved.
Hydrochemical and isotopic characterization of groundwater in the southeastern part of the Plateaux Region, Togo
(Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2019) Kossitse Venyo Akpataku; Shive Prakash Rai; Masamaéya Dadja-Toyou Gnazou; Lallébila Tampo; Limam Moctar Bawa; Gbandi Djaneye-Boundjou; Serigne Faye
Hydrochemical, inverse geochemical modelling and isotopic approaches are used to assess the hydrogeochemical evolution of groundwater from the basement aquifers in the southeastern part of the Plateaux Region, Togo. Groundwater originates from present-day rainwater infiltration and is mostly fresh and slightly acidic to neutral. Hydrochemical facies are predominantly mixed cations-HCO3 associated with Ca/Mg-Cl, Na-HCO3 and Na-Cl water types in equilibrium with kaolinite and Ca/Mg-smectites. They are related to silicates hydrolysis, anthropogenic contamination, nitrification/denitrification, mixing along flowpaths and dissolution/precipitation of secondary minerals. The pattern of flow paths is in accordance with an increasing trend in total dissolved solids (TDS) toward the potentiometric depression located in the central and southern parts of the aquifer system. Inverse geochemical modelling using the NETPATH-WIN model showed the relative importance of biotite, plagioclase and amphibole weathering and dissolution of secondary carbonate minerals along the flowpath, suggesting that an abundance of minerals is not necessarily the main factor controlling the groundwater chemistry evolution. © 2019 IAHS.
Hydrochemical evolution of groundwater in northwestern part of the Indo-Gangetic Basin, India: A geochemical and isotopic approach
(Elsevier B.V., 2023) Shive Prakash Rai; Kossitse Venyo Akpataku; Jacob Noble; Abhinav Patel; Suneel Kumar Joshi
The present study aims to understand the hydrochemical evolution of groundwater in the Ghaggar River Basin, representing a zone of excessive abstraction of groundwater in the northwestern Indo-Gangetic Basin. The study comprises a regional scale and high-resolution sampling of groundwater during pre- and post-monsoon seasons of 2013 and their analyses for major ions, δ18O, δ2H, and 3H. Variation in hydrochemical and isotopic data is found both in spatial and vertical scales. The significant vertical variation of TDS, NO3− and K+ allowed the classification of the aquifer system into two major groups: shallow (depth < 80 m bgl) and deep (depth > 80 m bgl). The depthwise variations of δ18O and δ2H support this categorization of the aquifers. The Ca-HCO3 and Ca-Mg-Na-HCO3 water facies with higher values of 3H in the proximal part of the basin characterize recharge areas under humid conditions. The dominance of Mg-Na-HCO3 and Na-HCO3 facies in shallow and deep aquifers in central part of the basin, illustrate the intermediate to advanced stages of hydrochemical evolution in the system. Dominance of brackish Ca-Mg-Cl-SO4 and Na-Cl-SO4 water types in the discharge areas is due to the prevailing geological conditions and anthropogenic activities. Geochemical modelling supports the reverse cation exchange and mixing during lateral and vertical flows, weathering of silicate minerals, dissolution of crustal salts, and evaporative enrichment are the natural processes governing the evolution of groundwater chemistry along the flowpaths. The developed process-based conceptual model will aid in the formulation of a suitable plan for groundwater resource management in the region. © 2023 China University of Geosciences (Beijing) and Peking University
Hydrogeochemical characterization of groundwater in the shallow aquifer system of Middle Ganga Basin, India
(Elsevier B.V., 2023) Abhinav Patel; Shive Prakash Rai; Kossitse Venyo Akpataku; Nijesh Puthiyottil; Abhinesh Kumar Singh; Neeraj Pant; Rajesh Singh; Prashant Rai; Jacob Noble
Middle Ganga Basin (MGB) is lifeline for millions of inhabitants relying heavily on the groundwater. This has resulted in depletion of water quality and quantity at a very rapid scale. The present study has emphasized on hydrogeochemical evolution of groundwater in the Middle Ganga Basin, covering an area of 99,058 sq. km. Around 400 water samples were evaluated to determine the geochemical evolution of the shallow groundwater in MGB. The weighted average water quality index (WAWQI) shows 20.2% of the groundwater are unsuitable for drinking purposes. The Ca–HCO3 water facies dominates in northern region in the interfluves of Ghaghara and West Rapti rivers whereas more evolved water types such as Mg–HCO3, Na–HCO3 are found in the interfluves area of Ghaghara, Ganga, Yamuna, and Gomati Rivers. The occurrence of more mineralized water with increasing residence time in the flow direction suggests geogenic control and evolution follow the Chebotarev sequence. The saline water type is observed in and around the settlement reflecting the in-situ enrichment due to stagnation and anthropogenic activities. Hierarchical cluster analysis classified the regional groundwater data into three distinct major groups G1, G2, and G3. Factor 1 is attributed to anthropogenic inputs and associated with subgroup G2B and group G3. Factor 2 is attributable to the geogenic factors and is associated with subgroups G1A, G1B, and G2A. The various bivariate plots confirm the dominance of silicate weathering over carbonate weathering in the study area. Geochemical mass balance modeling suggests calcite and dolomite are in saturation to oversaturation conditions, restricting their further dissolution and primary silicate minerals controlling the groundwater chemistry. Our work reveals hydrogeochemical evolution on a regional scale in the shallow groundwater which will help to develop sustainable groundwater management strategies. © 2023 Elsevier B.V.
Hydrogeochemical variability and appraisal of water quality of groundwater in Mahoba district, Uttar Pradesh, India
(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2022) Dev Sen Gupta; Parthapratim Ghosh; Shive Prakash Rai; Shashikant Tripathi
Mahoba district comes under the state of Uttar Pradesh (U.P.), India which is a part of mighty Bundelkhand Granitic Terrain known for its water debt condition. The region is hard rock terrain having recent alluvium cover of variable thickness relating to slope and level of erosion. Secondary porosity i.e. in the fractures and cracks present hosts the groundwater in the study area. The high-water scarcity and poor drinking quality led us to carry out our research work in the study area. The water facies analysed shows Ca–Mg–HCO3 and Na–HCO3 water types which indicated their compositional source from rock and anthropogenic inputs. Majority of the samples showed the dominance of alkaline earths over alkalies and weak acids over stronger counterparts. The correlation coefficients calculated between hydrochemical parameters projects a strong positive correlation of EC and TDS with most of the major ions, including SO42−, NO3−. The hierarchical cluster analysis of all samples was classified into five clusters (C1A, C1B, C2A, C2B1 and C2B2). The sites of cluster C1 water samples were found located closer to drainage streams than C2 cluster water samples. The excessive fertilizers, unplanned municipal wastes and agricultural wastes resulted in high SO42− and NO3−. High F− showed concentration in various samples may have geogenic sources due to flour-apatite in granitic terrain and Fe found in excess gives an unpleasant taste on drinking. The analysed irrigation parameters (%Na, MR, TDS, RSC, SAR, TH, and KI) revealed perfect under permissible quality. Various negative human health issues like indigestion, bone problems, alimentary canal problems have been seen due to excess of SO42−, NO3− and F−). The study reflects the need for immediate preventive measures to improve drinking quality from health alarming ion concentrations and also would help for further management programs. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.
Identifying moisture transport pathways for north-west India
(John Wiley and Sons Ltd, 2023) Suneel Kumar Joshi; Sudhir Kumar; Rajiv Sinha; Shive Prakash Rai; Suhas Khobragade; M. Someshwar Rao
The isotopic composition (δ18O and δ2H) of precipitation is widely used as a moisture source tracer. In north-west India, the δ18O, δ2H and D-excess values of precipitation correlate mainly with air temperature; however, the moisture sources of water vapour are unclear. Therefore, we collected daily precipitation isotope data (n = 425) from 13 rain gauge stations in northwest India in 2013. We established a regional meteoric water line (MWL) for northwest India and local MWLs for all 13 rain gauge stations separately. We observed an altitudinal gradient of about 0.11‰/100 m in slope and about 1.22‰/100 m in intercept from the western to the northeast part of the study area. The isotopic composition of precipitation shows spatial and temporal variability across the study area. We found higher Deuterium excess values during winter (December–February) and lower during the monsoon season (July–September), which may be associated with the different moisture sources, namely, the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea and Westerly disturbances. Our results suggest local moisture recycling may also occur during the study period. The present study can enhance the knowledge of the isotopic evolution of precipitation and moisture sources in northwest India. © 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Impact of anthropogenic activities on the alluvial aquifers of north-east Punjab, India
(Springer, 2020) Anant Gautam; Suresh Chand Rai; Shive Prakash Rai
An increase in the human population, urbanization, industrialization, infrastructural development, and current agricultural practices acts as major factors leading to the decline of the groundwater table in the region. The present study analyzes the noticeable effect of anthropogenic pressure on the groundwater table in the Bist-Doab region in Punjab, India, from 1996 to 2016. Statistical techniques, viz., Mann-Kendall Z statistics and Sen’s slope, were used to estimate the water table decline in the area. The results indicate that there was a slight increase in the groundwater table in the Kandi belt of Siwalik foothills and south-western parts of the region. In the rest of the areas, a significant declining trend was observed in the groundwater table. The decline in the water table ranged from 56 to 149 cm per year in the pre- and post-monsoon seasons due to increasing in rice cultivated area, which is an alarming situation in the aquifer system of the region. Hence, to reduce the further decline of the groundwater table, water management practices need to be encouraged in the region. There is requiring immediate attention to change the present land-use/cover practices and to grow less water-consuming crops instead of high water-consuming crops to reduce the pressure on groundwater. © 2020, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
Impact of geology and anthropogenic activities over the water quality with emphasis on fluoride in water scarce Lalitpur district of Bundelkhand region, India
(Elsevier Ltd, 2021) Neeraj Pant; Shive Prakash Rai; Rajesh Singh; Sudhir Kumar; Ravi K. Saini; P. Purushothaman; P. Nijesh; Yadhvir Singh Rawat; Megha Sharma; Kamaleshwar Pratap
The Bundelkhand region of India is suffering from acute water scarcity, raising concern over the potability in the region. Therefore, to develop a baseline data set of groundwater quality, sampling was carried out from the 110 existing shallow hand pumps and tube wells covering the Lalitpur district. Groundwater samples were investigated for hydro-geochemical and isotopic signatures (δ18O and δ2H) to understand the driving factors leading to water quality and its contamination in the region. The results of Hierarchical cluster analysis revealed four different clusters according to their water quality. Cluster 1 and 2 water samples have a good quality of water and these samples fall in the vicinity of major or minor drainage networks of the area. Whereas, clusters 3 and 4 are of deteriorated water quality and located far-off from the drainage networks in the study area. The findings from chemical analysis and chemometric method suggest that the groundwater composition is mainly influenced by rock weathering and anthropogenic activities. Fluoride exposure dosage for the infant and children is twice that of adults in the study area, indicating a stronger impact of fluoride concentration in infants and children. The stable isotopic analysis shows that origin of groundwater is local precipitation, with evaporative enrichment in groundwater. The groundwater of cluster 3 and 4 shows evaporative nature along with high EC and Cl concentration. The variation of concentration of ions in the study area prevails along the groundwater flow direction and surface drainage reveals the control of hydrogeological attributes in the groundwater. © 2021
Modelling water levels of northwestern India in response to improved irrigation use efficiency
(Nature Research, 2020) Shashank Shekhar; Suman Kumar; A.L. Densmore; W.M. van Dijk; Rajiv Sinha; Manoranjan Kumar; Suneel Kumar Joshi; Shive Prakash Rai; Dewashish Kumar
The groundwater crisis in northwestern India is the result of over-exploitation of groundwater resources for irrigation. The Government of India has targeted a 20 percent improvement in irrigation groundwater use efficiency. In this perspective, and using a regional-scale calibrated and validated three-dimensional groundwater flow model, this article provides the first forecasts of water levels in the study area up to the year 2028, both with and without this improvement in use efficiency. Future water levels without any mitigation efforts are anticipated to decline by up to 2.8 m/year in some areas. A simulation with a 20 percent reduction in groundwater abstraction shows spatially varied aquifer responses. Tangible results are visible in a decade, and the water-level decline rates decrease by 36–67 percent in over-exploited areas. Although increasing irrigation use efficiency provides tangible benefits, an integrated approach to agricultural water management practice that incorporates use efficiency along with other measures like water-efficient cropping patterns and rainwater harvesting may yield better results in a shorter period. © 2020, The Author(s).
Perennial to ephemeral transformation of a Lesser Himalayan watershed
(Indian Academy of Sciences, 2016) Jiwan Singh Rawat; Ajit Govind; Geeta Rawat; Mallickarjun Joshi; Shive Prakash Rai; Navneet Gahlot
Under a changing climate, the Sub-Himalayan ecosys-tems are likely to experience marked transformations in hydrological, biogeochemical and biophysical pro-cesses. To explore this, we have been observing vari-ous hydrometeorological parameters in a completely rain-fed sub-Himalayan watershed (Salla Rauetella Watershed) since 1991. We noted a changing trend for some of the hydrometeorological parameters over the 22-yr period. While the annual air temperature has increased significantly, the annual rainfall also shows an increasing trend with a higher probability of in-creased rainfall intensity. The run-off data show a pe-culiar trend that the watershed has been transforming itself from a perennial to an ephemeral system, despite an increasing trend of rainfall magnitudes. This is primarily attributed to the increasing trends of rain-fall intensities exceeding the infiltration capacities of the soil which trigger large but high-intensity run-off events with dry spells in other periods, which makes the river ephemeral. We infer a likely dynamic change in the run-off-generation mechanism which warrants the need for a more precise and rigorous observation-cum-measurement strategy of ecohydrological pro-cesses in Himalayan ecosystems, supported with mod-elling and remote sensing approaches. This will help identify the optimal headwater treatment measures for augmenting groundwater to sustain the rainfed streams of the Himalaya under a changing climate.
Provenance assessment, transport mechanisms, and human health threats of trace elements in the water resources of Northern Coalfield Limited, Central India
(Elsevier Ltd, 2025) Abhinesh Kumar Singh; Rajesh Pal B. Singh; Shive Prakash Rai; Sury Kant Singh; Raju Rai; Abhinav Patel; Dev Sen Gupta; U. Saravana Kumar; Nijesh Puthiyottil; Noble Jacob
The water resources in Northern Coalfield Limited (NCL), Singrauli, are liable to dynamic changes due to continued mining activities. To understand how mining activities at NCL affect the chemical makeup of ground and surface water, this study analyzed water samples from both sources to determine the movement of ions. The results of chemometric and classical bivariate analysis projects the mechanism behind the groundwater and surface water chemistry. The chemometric and geospatial result confirms silicate weathering as the governing factor, nitrate contamination as anthropogenically sourced, while fluoride is attributed to both natural and anthropogenic sources. Based on the heavy metal pollution index, both groundwater (60 %) and surface water (57 %) in the open-cast coal mining area of Central India are unsuitable for drinking. Groundwater samples showed contamination with nitrate, fluoride, aluminum, chromium, copper, iron, lead, manganese, mercury, cadmium, and nickel. Notably, high Chronic Daily Intake (CDIoral) and Hazard Quotient (HQ) values for aluminum and manganese in both water sources further confirm their unsuitability for any use. This multi-approach study provides new insights into how mining activities influence the chemistry of groundwater and surface water. Assessing the condition of water resources in this region is crucial for creating effective and sustainable management strategies applicable here and in similar areas. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd
Refining aquifer heterogeneity and understanding groundwater recharge sources in an intensively exploited agrarian dominated region of the Ganga Plain
(Elsevier B.V., 2024) Abhinav Patel; Shive Prakash Rai; Nijesh Puthiyottil; Abhinesh Kumar Singh; Jacob Noble; Rajesh Singh; Dharmappa Hagare; U.D. Saravana Kumar; Nachiketa Rai; Kossitse Venyo Akpataku
Densely populated region of Ganga Plain is facing aquifer vulnerability through waterborne pollutants and groundwater stress due to indiscriminate abstraction, causing environmental and socio-economic instabilities. To address long-term groundwater resilience, it is crucial to understand aquifer heterogeneity and connectivity, groundwater recharge sources, effects of groundwater abstraction etc. In this context, present study aims to understand factors responsible for vertical and spatial variability of groundwater chemistry and to identify groundwater recharge sources in an intensively exploited agrarian region of the Ganga Plain. Interpretation of chemometric, statistical, and isotopic analysis categorises the alluvial aquifer into zone 1 (G1; ground surface to 100 m) and zone 2 (G2; >100 m-210 m). The group G1 samples are characterized by a wide variation in hydrochemical species, noted with pockets of F– and NO3– rich groundwater, and fresh to more evolved water types, while group G2 groundwater is characterized by a sharp increase in freshwater types and limited variation in their isotopic and hydrochemical species. The G1 groundwater chemistry is governed by soil mineralogy, local anthropogenic inputs (SO42-, Cl -, and NO3–), and manifested by multiple recharge sources (local precipitation, river, canal water, pond). The G2 group is dominated by geogenic processes and mainly recharged by the local precipitation. Geospatial signatures confirm more evolved water type for group G1 in northwestern region, while freshwater type covers the rest of the study area. Fluoride rich groundwater is attributed to sodic water under alkaline conditions and enriched δ18O values emphasizing role of evaporation in F- mobilization from micas and amphiboles abundant in the soil. The findings provide insight into potential groundwater vulnerability towards inorganic contaminants, and groundwater recharge sources. The outcome of this study will help to develop aquifer resilience towards indiscriminate groundwater extraction for agricultural practices and aim towards sustainable management strategies in a similar hydrogeological setting. © 2024 China University of Geosciences (Beijing) and Peking University
Rejuvenation of the Springs in the Hindu Kush Himalayas Through Transdisciplinary Approaches—A Review
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2024) Neeraj Pant; Dharmappa Hagare; Basant Maheshwari; Shive Prakash Rai; Megha Sharma; Jen Dollin; Vaibhav Bhamoriya; Nijesh Puthiyottil; Jyothi Prasad
The Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region, known as the “water tower of the world,” is experiencing severe water scarcity due to declining discharge of spring water across the HKH region. This decline is driven by climate change, unsustainable human activities, and rising water demand, leading to significant impacts on rural agriculture, urban migration, and socio-economic stability. This expansive review judiciously combines both the researchers’ experiences and a traditional literature review. This review investigates the factors behind reduced spring discharge and advocates for a transdisciplinary approach to address the issue. It stresses integrating scientific knowledge with community-based interventions, recognizing that water management involves not just technical solutions but also human values, behaviors, and political considerations. The paper explores the benefits of public–private partnerships (PPPs) and participatory approaches for large-scale spring rejuvenation. By combining the strengths of both sectors and engaging local communities, sustainable spring water management can be achieved through collaborative and inclusive strategies. It also highlights the need for capacity development and knowledge transfer, including training local hydrogeologists, mapping recharge areas, and implementing sustainable land use practices. In summary, the review offers insights and recommendations for tackling declining spring discharge in the HKH region. By promoting a transdisciplinary, community-centric approach, it aims to support policymakers, researchers, and practitioners in ensuring the sustainable management of water resources and contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). © 2024 by the authors.
Soil erosion and flood hazard zonation using morphometric and morphotectonic parameters in Upper Alaknanda river basin
(Springer, 2020) Neeraj Pant; Rajendra Kumar Dubey; Anand Bhatt; Shive Prakash Rai; Prabhat Semwal; Sumit Mishra
In the present study, detailed morphometric, morphotectonic, statistical and hazard analyses have been carried out in the Upper Alaknanda river basin (UAB) located in Central Himalayas, Garhwal, India. The study area is bounded by the South Tibetan Detachment System in the north and by the Main Central Thrust in the south. The major river flowing in the area is Alaknanda which is a major tributary of river Ganga. The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of active tectonics, flood hazard, and soil erosion on the basis of morphotectonic and morphometric parameters using the Cartosat-1 Digital Elevation Model and ArcGIS software. The study area is divided into 10 sub-basins, where 50 morphometric and 6 morphotectonic parameters were calculated. Bifurcation ratio and stream frequency show that streams up to third order is having steep gradient and rolling through highly dichotomized terrain, due to which high overland flow and less groundwater recharge takes places, whereas drainage density clearly indicates the high flood possibility in the region. Morphotectonic parameters indicate relatively young to an early mature geological stage of sub-basins and tectonically active region. The statistical analysis of morphometric parameters is carried out by using correlation analysis, hierarchal cluster analysis, and principal component analysis. Based on their susceptibility to soil erosion, morphometry and landcover classification is carried out to prioritize the sub-basins of UAB. The combined morphometric, morphotectonic and statistical analysis indicates that the area is tectonically active and highly prone to flood, flood induced landslide and soil erosion. The case study of the 2013 flash flood event at three locations Benakuli, JP HEP and Pulna also confirms that the study area is hydro-geologically active to flood and flood induced hazards. The results obtained in this study are directly related to watershed management and hence soil erosion, tectonic activities and flash flood possibilities should be taken into consideration during future development in the area. © 2020, Springer Nature B.V.
Spatial variability of hydrochemical characteristics and appraisal of water quality in stressed phreatic aquifer of Upper Ganga Plain, Uttar Pradesh, India
(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2021) Puthiyotil Nijesh; Kossitse Venyo Akpataku; Abhinav Patel; Prashant Rai; Shive Prakash Rai
The present study deals with the characterization of hydrochemical parameters and their spatial variability, and suitability for drinking and irrigation purposes of groundwater from unconfined aquifer of Western Uttar Pradesh, India, encompassing an area of 57,342 km2. The results confirm that groundwater is predominantly hard and exhibits neutral to alkaline nature. Groundwater were dominated by Na+ (6–5060 mg/L) followed by Ca2+, Mg2+, and K+ for cations, while Cl−, HCO3−, and SO42− were the dominating anions. The water facies belong to fresh (Ca–Mg–HCO3 Na–HCO3) to very saline (Na–Cl, Ca–Mg–Cl) water types, representing both geogenic and anthropogenic controls on groundwater chemistry. The spatial distribution pattern of the ions (Cl−, SO42−, F−, Ca2+, HCO3−, Na+, and Mg2+) showed an increasing trend from the source to downstream. The correlation coefficients between hydrochemical parameters show a strong positive correlation of EC and TDS with all major ions, including NO3− and K+. This finding corroborated that chemicals originating from geogenic and anthropogenic causes contribute substantially to groundwater mineralization. Except for the unsuitability due to excessive salinity (9.2%) and hardness (19.2%), the main human-health-related concern is the high concentrations exceeding the permissible limits for NO3− (15.6%) and F− (7.8%). The irrigation water quality parameters such as % Na, MH, TDS, RSC, SAR, PI, and KR revealed excellent to permissible quality. The unsuitable samples were derived mostly from the South and South-Western parts of the Yamuna and Ganga Rivers banks, requiring immediate salinity and NO3− contamination control measures. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH, DE part of Springer Nature.
Spatiotemporal variability in stable isotopes of the Ganga River and factors affecting their distributions
(Elsevier B.V., 2021) Shive Prakash Rai; Jacob Noble; Dharmaveer Singh; Yadhvir Singh Rawat; Bhishm Kumar
Although the Ganga is an important fluvial system of India, the isotopic investigations of its water are limited and not reported for the whole length of the river. This limits the understanding of the hydrological processes of the river whose flow characteristics have been changed considerably over the years due to changes in the climate and land use/land cover patterns of the region. This study intends to fill this gap of data and knowledge. Hence, a robust isotope datasets were generated for a period of 2–3 years from 11 locations covering the entire length of the river (2250 km). These data were further analysed to study the controls on spatiotemporal patterns of river water isotopes and understand dominance of different hydrological processes affecting flow characteristics of the river in different reaches. The stable isotopes of oxygen and hydrogen in river water exhibited large spatial and temporal variation throughout the study periods. The most negative isotopic values (mean δ18O: −15‰ to −9.7‰) between 0 and 318 km in the mountainous region during pre-monsoon period attributes to the dominant glaciers melt contribution while the altitude effect in rainfall is mainly responsible during monsoon season. However, less negative isotopic values (mean δ18O: −9.7‰ to −4.3‰) between 318 and 1000 km correspond to the mixing of water from major tributaries. Other hydrological factors responsible for the increased isotopic values include evaporative enrichment and contribution of isotopically less negative groundwater. The observed relatively low isotopic values (δ18O: −4.3‰ to −6.9‰) in the downstream of 1000 km of the river are due to joining of tributaries originating from the Nepal Himalayas. Results substantiate that distinct isotopic values found in different reaches of the river are because of the variations in basin characteristics, hydro-meteorological processes, and water mixing. These findings would contribute in developing a better knowledge on hydrological behaviour of the Ganga River and help in taking appropriate measures for maintaining its sustainable flows. © 2021 Elsevier B.V.