Identification of sustainable groundwater recharge plan using AHP-, RS-, and GIS-based MCDA: a case study of Kawardha District of Chhattisgarh, India

ABSTRACT This study formulates a sustainable groundwater recharge plan for Kawardha District, Chhattisgarh, India, by integrating the analytical hierarchy process (AHP), remote sensing (RS), and Geographic Information System (GIS)-based multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA). Eight thematic layers – geology, geomorphology, land use/land cover (LULC), soil, lineament density, drainage density, rainfall, and slope – were used to evaluate groundwater recharge potential. The district's elevation varies between 273 and 1,016 m, with slopes primarily below 2%, while drainage density peaks at 3.4 km/sq.km. Pre- and post-monsoon groundwater levels range from 1.6–8.1 to 0.6–7.2 m, respectively. Forests dominate the six classified LULC categories, and sandy loam is the primary soil type. AHP weighting prioritized geology (27%) and geomorphology (24%). Groundwater potential zones (GPZs) were categorized into five classes: very low (0.50%), low (17.60%), moderate (60.46%), high (20.91%), and very high (0.53%), with a 79% accuracy validated by well data. To address irregular rainfall and complex terrain, 64 check dams, 35 percolation tanks, and 20 farm ponds are recommended. This approach offers valuable insights for groundwater management in areas with similar hydrogeological issues, aiding water resource and agricultural planning.