Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
of Ca(Mg)-HCO
3
type. Presence of a number of trace elements, Fe, Cr, Cu,
Mn, Zn, Co, Ni, F etc., although within the drinking water quality standards
prescribed by World Health Organisation (WHO) and Indian Standards
Organisation (ISO) has categorized the groundwater within this aquifer into
the excellent quality.
2. Triassic Limestones
Of the three epochs of the Mesozoic era, only Triassic is well developed and
lies conformably over Paleozoic. Triassic limestone consists of a thick series
of compact blue limestone, argillaceous limestone and dolomitic limestone
and covers a large area of Kashmir, with a thickness of about 850 m
(Middlemiss, 1910; Wadia, 1975). The groundwater effluence takes place as
natural springs through Triassic limestone with fairly high rate of discharge
ranging from a few L/s to 1800 L/s (Jeelani, 2005). The perennial nature and
high and fluctuating discharges of these springs are indicative of the extent
of development of karstification and productivity of the formation. Historical
famous springs beautified by Mughals include Verinag, Kokernag, Achabal,
Andernag, Martandnag, etc. The groundwater of this formation is of
Ca-HCO
3
type.
Groundwater Development
Although groundwater development in Kashmir Valley is at its first stage,
the demand for groundwater is increasing due to unreliable and/or inadequate
surface water or supplied water. The people started groundwater exploitation
to meet their demands but abandoned the wells due to poor quality and/or
association of clay and silt particles and/or drying within a small period in
alluvium and/or Karewas as the wells were drilled on non-scientific basis.
Due to scanty precipitation, mostly in winter, the Valley has witnessed drought
from 1999 to 2004. Some springs and wells totally dried up. There was a
drastic reduction (about one-third) of discharges of all perennial springs.
Most of the areas were without water for drinking and other domestic
purposes. The agriculture was the main to suffer. Because of increased water
demand, the abstraction of the scarce groundwater resources from shallow
aquifers, that are generally lenticular with less aerial and vertical extent, has
led to the drying up of wells in many parts of the area, and the farmers could
not sustain their agricultural activities.
REFERENCES
Atkinson, T.C., Harmon, R.S., Smart, P.L., Waltham, A.C., 1978. Paleoclimatic and
geomorphic implications of
230
Th/
234
U dates on speleothems from Britain.
Nature
272:
24-28.
