S.A.

S NAGAR DISTRICT PUNJAB

CENTRAL GROUND WATER BOARD

NORTHWESTERN REGION
CHANDIGARH
2013

GROUND WATER INFORMATION BOOKLET

S.A.S NAGAR DISTRICT, PUNJAB
By

S.K.SAIGAL
Scientist C

CONTENTS
S.A.S NAGAR DISTRICT AT A GLANCE
0.0 INTRODUCTION
1.0 CLIMATE & RAINFALL
3.0 GEOMORPHOLOGY AND SOILS
4.0 GROUND WATER EXPLORATION
5.0 HYDROGEOLOGY
6.0 GROUND WATER RESOURCES
7.0 HYDROCHEMISTRY
8.0 STATUS OF GROUND WATER DEVELOPMENT
9.0 GROUND WATER MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
9.1 GROUND WATER DEVELOPMENT
9.2 WATER CONSERVATION AND ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE
10.0

GROUND WATER RELATED PROBLEMS

11.0

RECOMMENDATIONS

S.A.S NAGAR DISTRICT AT A GLANCE

Sr No

Items

1.

GENERAL INFORMATION
i) Geographic Area (Sq.Km)
ii) Administrative Divisions
Number of Teshils
Number of Blocks
Number of Towns
Number of Villages
iii) Population (As on 2011 Census)
iv) Normal Annual Rainfall (mm)
GEOMORPHOLOGY
Major Physiographic Units
Major Drainage
LAND USE ( Sq. Km.)
i) Forest Land
ii) Net Area Shown
iii) Gross Cropped area
iv) Cropping Intensity
MAJOR SOIL TYPES

2.

3.

4.
5.

6.

7.
8.

9.

IRRIGATION BY DIFFERENT SOURCES

Tubewells/Borewells
Shallow Tubewells
Deep Tubewells
Canals
Other sources
Net Irrigated Area
NUMBER
OF
GROUNDWATER
MONITORING WELLS OF CGWB
Dugwells
Piezometers
PREDOMINANT
GEOLOGICAL
FORMATIONS
HYDROGEOLOGY
Major Water Bearing Formation
Pre Monsoon depth to water level (mbgl)
Post Monsoon depth to water level(mbgl)
Long term water level trend in 10 years
GROUND WATER EXPLORATION BY
CGWB
Exploratory wells
Piezometers
SlimHoles
Depth Range (m)

Statistics

1189
3
3
9
384
9,86,147
1061
Alluvial plain & alluvial fan
Ghaggar & Satluj
190
750
1180
157%
Tropical Arid Brown ( Weakly
solonized)

9050
2586
696.88

10
4
Alluvium

Alluvial Sand

11
1
3
295-590

10.

11.

12.

13.

Discharge ( lpm)
Storativity (S)
Transmissivity (m2/day)
GROUND WATER QUALITY
Presence of chemical constituents more
than the permissible limit
EC (micro mhos at 25oC)
F (mg/l)
As mg/l)
Fe mg/l)
Type of water
DYNAMIC
GROUND
WATER
RESOURCES ( ham) as on March 2009
Net annual ground water availability
Annual Ground Water Draft
Projected Demand for Domestic and
Industrial use up to 2025
Stage of Ground Water Development
GROUND WATER CONTROL AND
REGULATION
Number of Over Exploited Blocks
Number
of
Critical/Semi-Critical/Safe
Blocks
Number of Blocks Notified
MAJOR GROUND WATER PROBLEMS

870-2407
7.3*10-4 2.4*10-3
55-862

550-1370
0.12-0.78
NIL
1.21-1.26

27524
28005
5455
102%

3
Nil
Nil
Decline in ground water level

GROUND WATER INFORMATION BOOKLET

S.A.S NAGAR DISTRICT, PUNJAB
1.0 INTRODUCTION
S.A.S Nagar district is located in the eastern part of the Punjab state and lies
between North latitudes of 302100 and 305600 and East longitudes of 763000
and 765500 covering a geographic ambience of 1189 sq.km. The district is
bounded by Patiala and Fatehgrah Sahib district in the south-west, Ropar district in
the northwest, Chandigarh and Panchkula in the east and Ambala district of Haryana
state in the south.

The district was created by carving out 2 blocks (Sialba Majra and Kharar)
from Ropar district and one block (Derabassi) from Patiala district. Administratively,
the district is divided into 3 tehsil viz.,Derabassi, Mohali & Kharar comprising of 3
development blocks. The total population of the district is 9,86,147. The decennial
growth rate (2001-2011) of population in the district is 30.02%. The literacy rate is
84.9 % and the population density is 830 persons/sq.km.
The Ghaggar River and its tributaries form the natural drainage system on
Derabassi block of the district. While north-eastern part is drained by Siswan Nadi,
Jainti Devi Ki Rao and Patiali Rao, which emerge from the Siwalik Hills. The Siswan
Nadi drains the northern part of the district and finally converges with Sutlej River in
the Ropar district. While Jainti Devi Ki Rao and Patiali Rao drains in NE-SW direction
and joins the Ghaggar River.
The landuse pattern of an area depends largely on climatological and
physiographic features. Net area sown in the district is 750 sq.km, which constitute
about 73% of the total area. Irrigation in the district is mainly by means of tube wells.
The area irrigated under tubewells constitutes about 67% of the gross irrigated area.
Paddy constitutes the main Kharif crop whereas wheat is the main Rabi crop.
The CGWB has carried out hydrogeological surveys and groundwater
exploration studies in the district. Index Map of S.A.S District is given in Plate-I

Plate-I

2.0 CLIMATE & RAINFALL

The climate of S.A.S district can be classified as subtropical monsoon. The
normal annual rainfall of the district is 1061 mm which is unevenly distributed over
the area in 49 days. The south west monsoon contributes about 80% of annual
rainfall.

3.0 GEOMORPHOLOGY AND SOIL TYPES

The area can be broadly grouped into two depending upon its geomorphic
features as alluvial fan and alluvial plains. Alluvial fans are deposited by hill torrents
with a wavy plain rather than a steep slope. Adjacent to the alluvial fan are the
alluvial plains which forms a part of large Indo- Gangetic Quaternary basin
comprises of thick sand and silty sand layers interbedded with silt and clay beds.
The alluvial plains are of vital economic value as it supports the dense population of
the district. The soils are mainly developed on alluvium under the dominant influence
of climate followed by topography and time. The major soil type of the district is
weakly solonized tropical arid brown soils.
4.0 GROUND WATER EXPLORATION
The CGWB has drilled 11 exploratory wells, 2 slim holes and 1 piezometer in
the district in the depth range of 295-590 m bgl to determine the various aquifer
systems and its extent. All the exploratory wells drilled in the Derabassi block were
abandoned due to insufficient thickness of aquifer zones and low yield. Exploratory
drilling has revealed 4-13 saturated granular zones comprising of fine to coarse
sand, silt and kankar up to the total drilled depth of 460 m in Kharra and Sialba Majra
blocks. The discharge ranges from 870-2407 lpm for 21.65 and 11.36 m drawdown
respectively. The transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity varies between 55 to 862
m2/day and 7.4 -48m/day respectively. The storativity value ranges between 7.3*104- 2.4*10-3, which clearly indicates a leaky confined condition. Status of ground
water exploration in S.A.S. District (Mohali) is given below & Plate-II.

BLOCKWISE STATUS OF GROUND WATER EXPLORATION

DISTRICT MOHALI (PUNJAB)
(AS ON31-03-2011)
District

Mohali

Block

KHARAR

Location

Ref No. on

Type

map

well

Sohana

EW

Rukhi pakhta

EW

Satmazra

EW

EW

Sultanpur

EW

Jhingra kalan

EW

Sangriwala

EW

Khizrawad

EW

Dulwan Khadri

EW

Dera Bassi

10

SH

Bakarpur SH

11

SH

Jauli Kalan

12

EW

Bhagla

13

EW

Dhappar

14

EW

Bhabat(Daulat

Singh

wala)
SIALBA
MAJRI

DERA BASSI

of

Plate-II

5.

HYDROGEOLOGY
The S.A.S Nagar district is occupied by Quaternary Alluvial deposits

belonging to the vast Indo-Gangetic alluvial plains, which forms the main aquifer
system. Groundwater occurs under phreatic conditions in the shallow aquifers while
leaky confined to confine conditions occur along the deeper aquifers of Quaternary
alluvial deposits.

The principal aquifer system of the district is Alluvium and major aquifer
system is Depth to water level maps of pre monsoon ( May 2011), post monsoon (
Nov. 2011) and seasonal fluctuation ( May 2011 to Nov. 2011) are given in plate
III,IV & V respectively. In major part of the district, the water level ranges between 5
and 10 m while the water level in the north western and eastern part is between 10
to 20 meters, in the extreme western part of the district water levels are around 30
meters. In the southern part of the district water level ranges from 2 to 5 meters.
Seasonal fluctuation shows that, in general, there is an overall decline in the water
level except few isolated patches.

Plate-III

Plate-IV

Plate-V

Depth to water level ranges from 2.14 to 32.24 m bgl during pre-monsoon and
2.61 to 33.37 m bgl during post monsoon period. Seasonal fluctuations ( pre & post
2011) in the district ranges from -1.03 to 3.67 meters. The long-term trend of water
level (2002 to 2011) also shows that there is decline in water level on major part of
the area ranging from 0.16 to 0.35 m/yr except a few isolated patches where there is
rise at the rate 0.02 to 0.06 m/yr which is insignificant.

6.0

GROUND WATER RESOURCES

Groundwater resource potential of the district has been assessed as per

Groundwater Resource Estimation Methodology (GEC-97) as on 31.03.09 by

considering administrative block as the assessment unit. The Net Annual Ground
Water Availability of the district is 27,514 ham, existing ground water draft for all
uses is 28,005 ham. Provision for domestic and industrial requirement supply to
2025 years is 5455 ham. Net ground water availability for future irrigation
development is -1379 ham. The stage of groundwater development for the district is
102%.
The stage of groundwater development in Dera Bassi ,& Kharar blocks is 133 % &
100% respectively and falls under Over Exploited category, whereas stage of ground
water development of Sialba Majri Block is 46 % and falls in safe category. In Kharar
block Agriculture draft decreased but Industrial & Domestic drafts increased
tremendously.
Block-wise Groundwater Resource of S.A.S Nagar district as on
31.03.2009

Block
Name

Net Annual
Ground
Water
Availability
(ham)

Existing
Gross
Ground
Water
Draft for
irrigation
(ham)

Existing
Gross
Ground
Water
Draft for
all uses
(ham)

DERA
BASSI
KHARAR

11907

13867

15612

9346

6901

9256

SIALBA
MAJRI
TOTAL

6361

2670

27514

23438

Provision for
Domestic &
Industrial
Requirement
upto year
2015
(ham)

Net Ground
Water
Availability
for future
irrigation
development
(ham)

Stage
Ground
Water
Developm
e
nt
(%)

Category

-4185

133

2225
2821

-476

100

2936

409

3282

46

OverExploited
OverExploited
Safe

28005

5455

-1379

102

Net ground water development of the district is 27514 ham and exiting ground
water draft for all users is 28005 ham. Net ground water availability for future
irrigation development is -1379 ham. The stage of groundwater development in the
district as a whole is 102%. It falls under Over Exploited category.

7.0

HYDROCHEMISTRY

The development of high productive agricultural practices, industries and changing

life style of people have taken place which has affected the quality of surface and
ground water and which has become more prone to deterioration. Range of various
constituents in ground water is given below:

Constituent
Ec ( micro mohs at
250 C
pH
F (mg/l)
Fe (mg/l)
Cl (mg/l)

Range
550

1370

7.37
0.12
1.21
21

8.08
0.78
1.26
118

Suitability of ground water for drinking purposes

The ground water in the district is slightly alkaline in nature with medium to high
salinity. The pH values ranges from 7.38 to 8.08. Chloride, nitrate & fluoride are the
important parameters that are normally considered for evaluating the suitability of
ground water for drinking uses and it is found that the ground water in the district is
suitable for domestic use as all cations and anions are within the permissible limits
as per BIS 10,500-1991 standard. Iron which is an essential plant and animal
nutrient is found to be within permissible limit except in some parts of the district.
Arsenic is below permissible limits in whole of the district.

Suitability of ground water for irrigation

Salinity (Ec), sodium absorption ration (SAR) and Residual Sodium Carbonate
(RSC) are the basic parameters considered for ascertaining the suitability of ground
water. The chemical data indicates that most of water fall in C2S1 category in USSL
plot and is suitable for irrigation purposes.
8.0

STATUS OF GROUND WATER DEVELOPMENT

Tubewells are the most important groundwater development structures in the

district. The granular zones are composed of sandy clay, sand and kankar. The
discharge of tubewells ranges from 153 to 1784 lpm with moderate drawdown.

Drinking water supply in rural and urban areas is mainly based on groundwater.
Punjab Water Resources Management & Development Corporation Ltd. and Public
Health Department has drilled boreholes in the district to cater to the domestic and
irrigation needs of the district. The discharge of these wells ranges from 206 to 2873
lpm. Major part of the district is irrigated by shallow and deep tube wells. Total
number of tubewells in the district are 11636.
9.0 GROUND WATER MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
9.1 Ground Water Development
Dera Bassi and Kharar blocks of the district are over exploited, whereas
Sialba Majri block is safe. In Kharar block agriculture draft decreased but industrial
and domestic draft increased. Whereas in Sialba Majri block there is decrease in
area under tubewells. Further groundwater development can be done in district with
due caution.
Direct as wells as reverse rotary would be suitable for drilling in the alluvial
areas of the district. Good well designs can sustain the aquifers in an efficient
manner in the low operation and maintenance cost. The shallow tube wells up to 90
m can be constructed with a single straight assembly of 102 mm diameter with 15-30
m slotted pipes having 1.6 mm slot size. The annular space should be shrouded with
gravel of 1.5-4.7 mm. Deep tube wells of high to moderate yield are feasible down to
350 m depth. A well design of 305/203 mm diameter with housing 35-70 m
depending upon the water levels and expected drawdown is suitable. About 20-30 m
saturated granular zones can be tapped using 1.2-3.8 mm slot sizeand annular
space to be shrouded with 1.5-9.54 mm size gravels.

9.2 Water Conservation and Artificial Recharge

Four water conservation and artificial recharge schemes have been taken up by
CGWB in Sailba Majri block, S.A.S Nagar district. The artificial structures proposed
in these sites include lateral shaft and injection wells of 75 m deep. Rooftop
Rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge schemes can be taken up in all the
blocks of the district.

10.0 GROUNDWATER RELATED PROBLEMS

The major problem in respect to groundwater development in the district is the
overall decline in the water level. It is apprehended that the declining groundwater
trend will further aggravate with installation of more tube wells.
11.0 RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Groundwater resource Potential shows that Dera Bassi and Kharar blocks falls
under over- Exploited category and there is no further scope of groundwater
development. In Sialba Majri block the stage of ground water development is 46%
and is recommended for further development.
2. It is necessary to regulate the construction of all groundwater abstraction
structures in Over Exploited Blocks.
3. In order to avert the declining trend of water levels in Over Exploited blocks of the
district, groundwater management structures such as roof top rainwater harvesting
system and recharge structures should be constructed which in turn augment the
groundwater reservoir.
3. Wherever feasible, pipe conveyance system fitted with modern pressurized
irrigation practices such as Sprinkler and Drip Irrigation should be introduced to
conserve water and increase the yield of crops. It has been observed that by using
drip irrigation system in sandy areas, about 60% water can be saved. Use of
sprinkler irrigation results in water saving to the extent of 20%. 'More crop per drop'
concept should be popularized.
4. The irrigation policy is required to be modified as per the prevailing ground water

conditions. The canal water allowances can be increased to save ground water.
Thus, rationalization of the irrigation policy will help in controlling ground water
depletion in the over-exploited.
5. It has been estimated that paddy which is sown in the month of May requires 77
cms of evapotranspiration (E.T.) whereas paddy which is sown on or after 16th June
requires only 62 cms of E.T. Thus, substantial water can be saved by postponing
paddy cultivation from early May to late June. State Govt. has made an Act titled
The Punjab Preservation of Sub Soil Water Act, 2009 in year 2009 to preserve the
sub soil water. It provides for the prohibition of sowing nursery of paddy before 10 th

May and transplanting paddy as notified by the state Government i.e before 10th of
June.
6. Local Populace to be educated regarding consequences of mining of ground
water and need for its economic use.
7. Management of ground water resources cannot be successful without public
participation. Therefore, public awareness is of prime necessity. To make the public
aware, it is necessary to organize mass awareness program at grass root level and
impart training on rainwater harvesting techniques for ground water recharge to
various State government agencies at regular intervals so that water policies made
by government can be effectively implemented.