SONIPAT DISTRICT HARYANA

CENTRAL GROUND WATER BOARD

Ministry of Water Resources
Government of India
North Western Region
CHANDIGARH
2013
Contributors
Rakesh Rana
Scientist-‘B’

Prepared under supervision of

A.K.Bhatia
Regional Director

Our Vision
“Water Security Through Ground Water
Management”
GROUND WATER INFORMATION BOOKLET
SONIPAT DISTRICT, HARYANA

CONTENTS

DISTRICT AT A GLANCE

1.0 INTRODUCTION
2.0 HYDROMETEOROLOGY
3.0 GEOMORPHOLOGY AND SOILS
4.0 GROUND WATER SCENARIO
4.1 HYDROGEOLOGY
4.2 GROUND WATER RESOURCES
4.3 GROUND WATER QUALITY
4.4 STATUS OF GROUND WATER DEVELOPMENT
4.5 GEOPHYSICAL STUDIES
5.0 GROUND WATER MANAGEMENT
5.1 GROUND WATER DEVELOPMENT.
5.2 WATER CONSERVATION AND ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE
6.0 GROUND WATER PROBLEMS
7.0 RECOMMENDATIONS
SONIPAT DISTRICT AT A GLANCE
Sl.NO. ITEMS Statistics
1. GENERAL INFORMATION

Geographical Area (sq. km.) 2122

Administrative Divisions
Number Of Tehsils (4) 1. Sonipat
2. Ganaur
3. Gohana
4. Kharkhoda
Number Of Blocks (7) 1. Sonipat
2. Ganaur
3. Gohana
4. Kharkhoda
5. Rai
6. Mundlana
7. Kathura
Number Of Panchayats 316
Number Of Villages 323
Population (As per 2011Census) 1480080
Average Annual Rainfall (mm) 567
2. GEOMORPHOLOGY
Major Physiographic Units Alluvial Plains
Major Drainage Yamuna River,
Drain No.8
3. LAND USE (Sq.Km.)
a. Forest Area: 10
b. Net area sown: 1470
c. Cultivable area: 1850
4. MAJOR SOIL TYPES Sandy loams to loamy
sands
5. AREA UNDER PRINCIPAL CROPS (Sq. Km.) 2780

6. IRRIGATION BY DIFFERENT SOURCES

(Areas and Number Of Structures) Sq.Km
Dug wells -

Tubewells/Bore wells 600 sq.km.(37,385)

Tanks/ponds -
Canals 850 sq.km.
Other sources -
Net Irrigated area 1440 sq.km.
Gross irrigated area 2710 sq. km.
7. NUMBERS OF GROUND WATER
MONITORING WELLS OF CGWB
No. of dug wells 25
No of Piezometers 4
8. PREDOMINANT GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS Alluvium
9. HYDROGEOLOGY
*Major Water bearing formation Alluvium
(Sand & Gravel)
*(Pre-monsoon depth to water level) 1.57-24.84
*(Post-monsoon depth to water level) 0.64 m-22.46 m
*Long term water level trend in 10 yrs in m /yr 0.05 to 0.32 (Rise)
0.05 to 0.97 (Fall)
10. GROUND WATER EXPLORATION BY
CGWB
No. of wells drilled
EW 8
OW -
PZ 25
SH 2
Depth range (m) 69-462m
Discharge (liters per minute) 4541 lpm
Storativity (S) 21.5 X10-2
Transmissivity (m2/day) 2340
11. GROUND WATER QUALITY
Presence of Chemical constituents more than
the permissible limit
EC, in micromhos at 250C (>3000) 10
F, in mg/l (>1.5) 13
As, in mg/l(>0.01) 2
Fe, in mg/l(>1.0) 6
Type of water Ca+Mg-HC03 and Na-
mixed anion
12 DYNAMIC GROUND WATER RESOURCES
(2009)
Annual Replenish able Ground water Resources 774.24 MCM
Net Annual Ground water Draft 1164.10 MCM
Projected Demand for Domestic and industrial 41.68 MCM
Uses upto 2025
Stage of Groundwater Development 122 %
13 AWARENESS AND TRAINING ACTIVITY -
Mass Awareness Programmes organized -
Date -
Place -
No of participants -
14. EFFORTS OF ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE & -
RAIN WATER HARVESTING
Projects completed by CGWB (No.& Amount -
spent)
Projects under technical guidance of CGWB -
(Numbers)
15. GROUND WATER CONTROL AND
REGULATION
Number of OE Blocks. 3
No. Critical Blocks 2
No. of blocks notified -
16 MAJOR GROUND WATER PROBLEMS AND Salinity and fluoride
ISSUES. problem in Ground
water
HYDROGEOLOGICAL INFORMATION BOOKLET OF
SONIPAT DISTRICT, HARYANA
1.0 INTRODUCTION

The district of Sonipat is bounded by 28048’15” to 29017’10” North latitude and

76 28’40” to 77012’45” East longitude. It falls in the survey of India topo sheets
0

no.53C,53D, 53G & 53H covering an area of 2260.53 sq.km. Sonipat is one of the
smallest district in Haryana State and covers 5.11 % area of the state. The district is
surrounded by Panipat district in the north, Jind district in the west, Rohtak district in the
S.W direction and Delhi in the South. The district headquarter, Sonipat is
connected by metalled roads with important cities of the state and to Delhi. It is also
connected by broad gouge railway line with Delhi and Chandigarh. Gohana, Ganaur, Rai
& Kundli are the other important towns in the district.

Administrative setup

The district comes under Rohtak division administratively. It has the following
administrative subdivisions:
Sub-Division Tehsil Block Area of block (sq.km)
a. Sonipat a. Sonipat a. Ganaur 388.90
b. Gohana b. Gohana b. Kharkhoda 299.44
c. Ganour c. Ganour c. Rai 280.49
d. Kharkhoda d. Sonipat 397.89
e. Mundalana 305.73
f. Kathura 205.77
g. Gohana 290.32

Sonipat district is one of the densely populated districts of the state. The total
population of the district as per 2001 census is 12,79,175. The population density is 471
persons per sq.km against the state average of 372 persons per sq.km.

Drainage

The River Yamuna, which borders the district in the East, is the main river in the
district. The district is drained by drain no.8, which was constructed to take out excess
monsoon runoff from uplands to River Yamuna. The areas east of upland plains are
more prone to flooding because of its low-lying nature.
Irrigation

Irrigation in the district is done by surface and ground water as well .Around
42% of the area is irrigated by tubewells and rest of the area is irrigated by canals.
About 96% area has been irrigated with respect to net sown area in the district. The
district has a high irrigation intensity of 159%. About 91% area of the district is gross
area irrigated with respect to total cropped area. The area, which is irrigated by
surface water lies towards west where ground water is mostly saline while ground
water irrigation is maximum in the eastern parts adjoining the Yamuna river. In this part
of the district, ground water is fresh. The canal irrigation is mainly done by West Yamuna
Canal system.

Studies carried out by CGWB

The district was covered under systematic hydrogeological studies in the field
season 1962-63. The district was covered under re-appraisal hydrogeological
surveys in 1980-81, 1985-86 and 1997-98. The Sonipat district formed a part of
studies undertaken during upper Yamuna project by Central Ground Water Board. As
part of the studies in the basin, the exploratory drilling was taken up in Sonipat district
and 15 wells were constructed during the period 1971-76.

2.0 CLIMATE & RAINFALL

HYDROMETEOROLOGY

The climate of the district is characterized by the dryness of the air with an
intensely hot summer and a cold winter. The cold season starts by late November
and extends to about the middle of March. It is followed by hot season, which
continues to about the end of June when the southwest monsoon arrives over the
district. The period from July to September is the southwest monsoon season.

Rainfall: The normal annual rainfall of the district, based on the record for the period
1901-1980 is 567 mm recorded in 30 rainy days in a year. There is no meteorological
observatory in the district, so the climatological data of the nearby
observatory at Delhi has been taken as representative of the climatological
conditions of the district. About 76% of the annual rainfall is recorded during the
southwest monsoon from June-September. July is the wettest month of the year with 7.5
rainy days and 169 mm rainfall. During the period 1901-80, deficient to scanty rainfall
was recorded in 18 years. The probability of occurrence of rainfall in the range 400-
700 mm is 0.65.

January is the coldest month with mean daily maximum temperature 21.3 o C and
mean daily minimum temp 7.3oC. May is the hottest month with mean daily
maximum temp 26.6oC. In May and June, the maximum temperature sometimes
reaches about 47oC.

3.0 GEOMORPHOLOGY AND SOIL TYPES

3.1 Physiography

The area forms a part of the Indo-Gangetic plains and exhibits flat terrain with
general slope from North to South. The area is devoid of any prominent topographic
features. However, a natural depression exists in North & Northwest of Gohana
(29008’22”N & 76042’55”E). The maximum elevation of the plain is 230m above msl.
Topographically the district can be divided into the following units.
1. Active flood plains along the present day course of the river Yamuna in
eastern part of the district
2. Abandoned flood plains of recent past. These are generally bordering the
active flood plains and are wider, low lying flat tracts.
5. Upland plains representing the relatively older river deposits. The western
Yamuna canal has been roughly aligned along the ridge formed by upland
plains

3.2 Soils Types

Psammaquents and Haplaquepts- These soils are found in Yamuna Plains
Haplaquept- These soils are non saline, alkalinity hazards are classified as
typic ustochrepts but water logged soils with loam to clay loam texture showing
the effect of glazing, are classified as aeric/ typic Haplaquepts. Areas as aeridic
soil moisture have soils classified as camborthics and torropsamments.

4.0 GROUND WATER SCENARIO

4.1 Hydrogeology

Ground water occurs in alluvial sand, silt, kankar and gravel, which form
potential aquifer zones. Depth to water level during pre-monsoon varies from 1.57 -
24.84 mwhile during post-monsoon it varies from 0.64- 22.46 m. The depth to
water level lies within 5 – 20 m below the land surface in most parts of the district. It
rests between 2 to 25m deep in the eastern side and 2 to 10m in the north western parts
of the district. Only in small patches in the Rai block, water table is deeper having
range of 20m to 40m. Water table elevations range from 230 to 220m amsl and the
general ground water flow is from northwest to southeast. In general, the water table
has declined all over the district over the past decade. During past oen decade the
district has recorded a fall of less than 1m to 7m .The decline was 2 to 4m in most parts
of the district. Long term water level fluctuations indicate rise of water level over a
period of last one decade in Mundlana, Kathura, K harkhoda and Rari blocks. The trend
of rise of water level is in the range of 0.05 to 0.32m/year. The trend of decline of water
level is 0.05 to 0.95m/year.

Central Ground Water Board has drilled 15 wells under ground water
exploration programme; 8 are exploratory wells, 5 are piezometers and 2 are slim
holes. Out of 8 boreholes drilled for ground water exploration, 7 were abandoned
due to poor quality of ground water or due to inadequate thickness of permeable
granular zones. Granular zones exist down to 460m depth i.e. to depth explored.
However, the chemical quality of ground water is not fresh in deeper horizons in
most parts of the district and in shallow horizons; in some parts. In general, the
quality of ground water in shallow dugwell zones is fresh in the eastern and north,
northwest parts and gradually gets deteriorated in the western and southwestern
parts. Also the deep zones below 150m depth contain brackish / saline ground
water. A number of shallow tubewells exist in all the blocks - more in number in
Sonipat, Rai and Ganaur block and these tap water bearing zones in the shallow
unconfined aquifer group. These tubewells yielded 300 to 600 lpm for moderate
drawdowns. Detailed test drilling has established occurrence of three distinct aquifer
groups, down to 450m depth in Upper Yamuna Basin which includes Sonipat district.
Aquifer group-I which was in unconfined state extends from water table down to
70m depth. A tubewell located at Khera in the eastern part of the district and tapping
this aquifer group-I, yielded 4540 lpm for about 7.5m of drawdown. Aquifer
characteristics at Khera site were - Transmissivity : 2340m2/day ; Lateral Hydraulic
conductivity - 36m/day and specific yield - 2.15 x 10-1 ( 21.4 -I
contains fresh water in eastern parts of the district. Aquifer group-II which is under semi-
confined / confined state occurs in the depth range of 90 to 200m and has not been
tested for its yield and aquifer characteristics since the formation water is saline.
Aquifer group-III which too is under confined state occurs in the depth range of 250 to
400m and contains brackish saline ground water.
4.2 Ground Water Resources

The block wise ground water resource potential in the district has been
assessed as per GEC-97 as on March 2009. The stage of ground water development
ranges between 78% (block-Kathura) to 196% (block-Rai). The total replenish able
ground water resource in the district is 774.26 mcm, of which the total existing ground
water draft by all means is 945.35 mcm. The net utilizable ground water resources for
future irrigation development are -173.64 MCM.

GROUND WATER RESOURCES OF SONIPAT DISTRICT, HARYANA STATE

Block Net annual Existing Existing Provision Net annual Stage of catagory
ground gross gross for ground ground
water ground ground domestic & water water
availability water draft water draft industrial availability development
(ham) for for all uses requirement for future (%)
irrigation (ham) supply to irrigation
(ham) 2025 development
(ham) (ham)
OVER
Ganaur 19778 22384 23711 1327 -3933 120 EXPLOITED

Gohana 7609 10183 10282 99 -2673 135 CRITICAL

Kathura 5344 4187 4193 261 896 78 SAFE

Kharkhoda 8067 11420 11541 121 -3474 143 CRITICAL

Mundlana 15751 12566 12575 9 3176 80 SAFE

OVER
Rai 7902 14472 15526 1054 -7624 196 EXPLOITED

OVER
Sonepat 12975 15410 16707 1297 -3732 129 EXPLOITED

Total 77426 90622 94535 4168 -17364 122

Discharge of the tubewells increases from west to east towards river Yamuna. Good
aquifer exist in the flood plain of Yamuna river. The discharge of tubewells

constructed in Mundlana, Gohana, Kathura, Kharkoda blocks is generally upto 10

lps(86.4_m3/day). However, in the eastern parts of Ganaur, Sonipat and Rai blocks high
discharge wells upto 20 lps have been reported.
4.3 Ground water quality

The shallow ground water of the district is generally alkaline in nature and is
moderate to highly mineralized with EC ranging from 597 to 6710µS/cm. at 25 0C .
Ground water occurring in the southern and N-W parts of the district is more saline as
compared to ground water occurring in the rest of the district. Among anions, either
bicarbonate predominates or none of the anion dominates. Similarly, among cations,
sodium predominates in 50% of the samples and in the remaining calcium + magnesium
combined dominates.

On comparing the ionic concentration of major ions with the recommended

limits prescribed by Bureau of Indian standards for drinking waters, it is found that
more than half (68%) the ground waters are not suitable for drinking purposes mainly
due to salinity and fluoride contents that exceed the maximum permissible limits of
these chemical parameters, which are 3000µS/cm. and 1.5mg/l respectively.

Plot of USSL diagram used for the determination of irrigation rating of ground
waters indicates that ground waters at several places fall under C 2S1, C3S1, C3S2,
C4S2 classes of irrigation rating. These waters are, therefore, suitable for customary
irrigation for salt tolerant crops like wheat, rice, maize, gram etc without any fear of
salinity hazards to the crops. Waters falling under C4S3 and C4S4 classes are likely to
cause salinity as well as sodium hazards. It would be better if such waters are used
for irrigating salt tolerant crops along with appropriate amount of gypsum on well
drained soils

Type Of Water

The shallow ground water is of Ca +Mg-HCO3 and Na-mixed Anion type and
mixed facies type of water also occur in the district.

4.4 Status of Ground Water Development

Irrigation from ground water is being done in large parts of the district.
Maximum number of minor irrigation units have been installed in Sonipat and Ganaur
blocks. Density of MI units is also highest in these blocks, while it is lowest in
Kathura block. A large number of pump sets have been installed at shallow depth in
range of 5 -10m in Mundlana, Kathura, Gohana, Kharkhoda blocks. Deep tubewells are
installed in Sonipat, Ganaur and Rai blocks. Ground water is relatively fresh in these
blocks at deeper levels as compared to other areas. Generally the H.P. of Pump
varies from 3 to 7.5 in large parts of the district. However, higher capacity pump
having H.P. upto 20 are being used for lifting ground water from deep tubewells
in Sonipat and Rai blocks. These areas are more or less parallel to the Yamuna River
in the eastern part of the district.
The depth of shallow tubewells is mainly in the range of 20-30m with discharge in the
range of 8-10lps. However in parts of Ganauour and Sonepat block the shallow
tubewells upto 45m having discharge more than 12 lps are prevalent.

4.5 Geophysical Studies

The results of the surface geophysical studies in entire Sonepat district

indicates that ground water is saline at all levels in some part of the Sonepat district.
About 28% area is adversely affected with shallow ground water salinity. Such areas
include few localities in Mundlana, Gohana, Kathurah and Kharkhauda blocks.
Ground water is saline within 20m depth over half of the Sonepat district particularly
in the areas lying in west, northwest, and south of the district. However, the impact of
ground water salinity is less in the vicinity of river and canals. Part of the study area
over northern eastern, northeastern, central and southeastern direction has fresh
quality of ground water within a depth of 40 to 80 m b.g.l. Such areas include blocks
of Sonepat, Rai, & Ganaur. Major area has saline quality of ground water in the
depth range of 40 to 80m depth b.g.l. The prominent localities where considerable
thickness of aquifer bearing fresh ground water has been inferred are Kheora,
Ganaur, Chirasmi, Quamaspur, Kheri-gujar, Rajpura, Ghasauli, Murthal, Majri-mawai
and Ahulana. Part of the area over southeast and small pockets in extreme north
and northeast of Sonepat district has been identified bearing fresh ground water
within a depth of 100 to 150m b.g.l. The prominent localities where fresh water
available within 100 to 150m depth are around Simbalgarh and Jagdishpur lying in
extreme northeast and southeast of the district adjacent to Yamuna river. Part of the
district over northwest, west and south is water logged which is also one of the
reason for ground water salinity. Preventive measures are suggested to stop water
logging.

5.0 GROUND WATER MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

5.1 Possibility Of Artificial Recharge

There are few isolated pockets located in the eastern part of the district where
water levels are declining very fast. Fresh ground water at deeper level is being
exploited by deep tubewells. Limited possibilities of artificial recharge exist in these
areas during monsoon season, where excess runoff from upland areas can be
utilized. Some of drains which were constructed to drain out excess water can be
utilized for artificial recharge by constructing suitable recharge structures, such as
injection wells, recharge shafts etc.

5.2 Water Conservation Structures

There is not much work carried out in the district. However, about 402 ponds
exist in all the blocks, which act as fresh rainwater conservation structures. Out of
these 75 ponds exist in Ganaur, 52 in Gohana, 30 in Kathura, 50 in Kharkhoda, 38 in
mundlana, 65 in Rai and 92 in Sonepat block.
5.3 Ground Water Development

The hydrogeological data generated through exploratory drilling has proved a vital
information regarding identification of aquifer systems, demarcation of their vertical
and lateral extent, delineation of potential aquifer characteristics. These studies also
provide information on well design and drilling techniques. A well assembly of
203mm dia, using about 20m to 30m long housing pipe and MS slot pipe with slots of
1.19 mm to 1.59 mm size would be ideal in the district area. “V” wires galvanized
Screen having 0.50- 1.5mm slot can also be used as it can provide more open area
thenconventional slotted pipes. Entrance velocity of water in the well has to be kept in
mind while designing the well assembly.

6.0 GROUND WATER RELATED ISSUES & PROBLEMS

6.1 Declining water levels

There are certain areas in the district, which have recorded water level decline in
recent past. Since ground water is the only source of irrigation in around 42% area of the
district, ground water aquifers are under great stress due to increased demand in
irrigation and industrial sector.

Necessary remedial measures need to taken to arrest further declining of

water levels in the areas and suitable methodology to be adopted to recharge the
aquifers.

6.2 Water logging & Ground Water Salinity

Parts of Kathura, Gohana, Mundlana and Kharkhoda blocks have problems of

shallow water levels or water logged areas and soil and water salinity at shallow
levels. CSSRI, Karnal had taken up pilot projects in the district. One project
comprised of areas in Gohana block covering 5000 ha in 5 villages viz. Bali,
Revlasa, Moj, Kot wali and Lath. Another project was in Mundlana covering 50 ha
area. Horizontal subsurface drainage was installed in Mundlana in years 1985, 87.
Soil in the area was sandy loam having hydraulic conductivity of 0.8m/day.
Horizontal drains were laid at a depth of 1.75m having variable drain spacing of 50,
67 and 84m. It was found that salinity levels at the initial stages of project were of
the range of 25,000 - 30,000 micromhos had reduced to below 5000 micromhos
after a gap of about 5 years. Similar experiments were conducted in Ishapur Kheri
(58 ha) and Mehlana (41 ha) where horizontal subsurface drainage was laid.

7.0 RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Construction of shallow tubewells in areas along active flood plains of river
Yamuna, which have shallow water level can help in augmenting water
supplies in the area
2. Areas witnessing decline of water levels have to be demarcated and rainwater
harvesting to artificial recharge measures be taken up in a big way to reduce
the impact.
3. Areas having shallow water levels and soil water salinity be improvised using
subsurface drainage.
4. Improved agricultural practices like establishing good crop stand,
sowing/planting practices, material management, Irrigation water management
e.g. land leveling should be implemented in the shallow water levels areas.
5. Local farmers, NGOs be educated in water management, conjunctive use of
saline and fresh water, rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge methods.