Hydrogeological Studies for Aquifer Monitoring in Barmer Area, Rajasthan, India

“Hydro Geological Survey for Aquifer Monitoring in Barmer Area, Rajasthan” with contract value of INR Rs 2.28 Crores, from Cairns Oil & Gas Vedanta Limited in order to evaluate that the abstraction of deep saline aquifer is not impacting the available fresh water resource in the area. (Contract No 4600008827, Block RJ-ON -90/1) 1st july,2021 to 24

Hydrogeological surveillance of fresh water and saline water interface at Barmer area of Rajasthan funded by CAIRN – Vedanta Oil & Gas Pvt. Ltd. CAIRN Oil and Gas use saline water for increasing oil production. For which they withdraw huge quantity of saline water from deeper aquifers of Barmer area developed within the cenozoic faulted basin. There exists fresh to blackish water aquifers at shallow depth and is being used by local farmers for to meet domestic and irrigational requirements.

MRCAWTM through more than 1000 observation point covering nearly 5800 km2 area monitor groundwater level and quality and collect various dynamic and static well and aquifer data. Keep vigilant eye on groundwater development so that impact if any due to withdrawal of saline water on shallow blackish water/ fresh water lenses can be observed. Thus, maintaining the sustainability of domestic/ irrigation water in part of Thar Desert. This project is of long-term duration. The 1^st phase of three-year duration completed in May 2021 and the 2^nd phase for further three-year duration is going on since July 2021. The budget provision for the first phase was Rs. 1.678 crore and that of 2^nd phase is Rs. 2.28 crore.

Aquifer monitoring program of Barmer area to study possible impact on freshwater zone due to developing saline aquifer for hydrocarbon extraction by CAIRN Oil and Gas Vedanta Ltd.

• Area of investigation: 5860 km2 of Thar Desert, Including parts of Barmer and Jallor districts, Raj.
• Hydro census Frequency: Twice a year.
• Per census:  40 days activity,
• Data collection points :975.
• Water sampling points: 100. Vehicle movement about    0.17lakh km By VTS tracer.