Geological and Hydrogeological investigation for Groundwater Recharge in the Drought-Prone of Aurangabad and Gangapur Talukas of Aurangabad District, Maharashtra, India

Abstract In this paper, the dynamic ground water resources of Aurangabad district Maharashtra and particularly the drought prone talukas of Aurangabad, Gangapur, Phulambri, Kannad, Paithan, Sillod, Soyegaon and Vaijapur are evaluated. The first purpose is to assess the availability and recharge of the groundwater and extraction classification of each taluka according to extraction. For this purpose, secondary data was collected from the Report on the Dynamic Groundwater Resources of Maharashtra 2022. This paper examines the following main aspects: total recharge-worthy area, annual extractable groundwater resources, total extraction, and the stage of extraction in order to assess the sustainability of water resources in the studied area. The study reveals that majority of the talukas such as Aurangabad, Phulambri, Gangapur and Paithan fall under Semi-Critical category which means that the extraction rates are high and may lead to over exploitation of water supply. Kannad and Soyegaon are still categorized as Safe with low extraction rates as compared to other villages in the project area. The research study indicates that the groundwater resources in the district are exploited and future replenishment requires a proper approach that includes efficient irrigation practices, water conservation measures, and reactivation measures. Proper water utilisation and cooperation of local administration, private sectors, and policy makers are the keys to achieving sustainable water security in the region.