Integrated Remote Sensing And Gis-Based Mapping Of Groundwater Recharge Potential In The Velu River Basin, Maharashtra

Abstract Groundwater recharge assessment is a critical component in ensuring water sustainability, particularly in hard rock and semi-arid regions where natural infiltration is limited. This study presents a GIS-based AHP framework specifically applied to semi-arid basaltic terrain integrating the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to delineate groundwater recharge potential zones (GWRPZ) in the Velu River basin, Pune district, Maharashtra, India. The approach uniquely combines thematic layers including land use/land cover, slope, geology, geomorphology, soil, rainfall, drainage, and lineament density, with weights assigned based on expert judgment, literature review, and field validation. The results classify the basin into five recharge zones, where 4.09% of the area has excellent recharge potential, while 45.02%, 43.80%, 5.99%, and 1.11% fall under good, moderate, poor, and very poor zones respectively. Model validation using Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve and Area Under Curve (AUC) yielded an accuracy of 84.4%, confirming the robustness of the methodology. The novelty of this research lies in its integrated, multi-criteria, GIS-based modelling approach, specifically developed and validated for complex semi-arid basaltic regions, which are under immense water stress. This study not only provides a high-resolution map of potential recharge zones but also offers a replicable and scientifically defensible tool for the spatial planning of water conservation structures and artificial recharge interventions. The resultant GWRPZ map and the underlying methodology are directly applicable to water resource managers, planners, and policy designers, serving as an essential input for crafting effective and sustainable groundwater development and management policies in the Velu River basin and similar climatic and geological settings across the Deccan Volcanic Province.