An integrated water resource conservation technique in a semi-arid region using MCDM method with insights from Kalahandi district, Odisha, India

In present scenario, excessive population growth and climate change have led to water scarcity in any region of the globe. Semi-arid regions are characterized by insufficient rainfall and management of water resources is essential to manage water resource rationally by maximizing its benefit and minimizing its waste. The present work has been done in the district of Kalahandi, a semi-arid region of Odisha. Kalahandi has various mining industries, which face water scarcity problems. The objective of the present study is explore the measures for the management of groundwater and surface water resources for the sustainable planning and development of the study area, especially during dry season. Analytical Hierarchy process (AHP) has been utilized to determine the most suitable site for water conservation. In the present study, seven factors have been considered to analyze the scopes and opportunity for conservation of water resources in some selected locations. These factors are geomorphology, rainfall, elevation, slope, lineament density, drainage density and land use-land cover. Using various prepared thematic layers, a final map has been prepared using the Multi Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) process. Four different zones has been identified for the suitability of conservation of water resources using various constructions like check dams, recharge pits, lake/reservoir etc. The proposed measures have been validated using a Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve. The findings of the work may be applicable for any semi-arid region globally having same geological and geomorphological characteristics.