HYDROGEOLOGICAL EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF GROUNDWATER RESOURCES IN CHURU DISTRICT, RAJASTHAN: EMERGING CHALLENGES IN AN ARID REGION

Groundwater, a critical resource constituting over 97 percent of Earth’s liquid freshwater, is vital for sustainable development, supporting agriculture, drinking water, and industrial needs. Effective management is essential to mitigate over-extraction and contamination, particularly in arid regions. In Churu District, Rajasthan, over-exploitation and poor groundwater quality due to high salinity, fluoride, and nitrate levels threaten water security and agricultural productivity. Located in the arid Rajasthan Plain, Churu spans 16,830 km2 with a population of 2,039,547, relying heavily on groundwater for 90 percent of drinking and 60 percent of irrigation needs. This study aims to assess groundwater quality, evaluate management practices, and propose sustainable conservation strategies tailored to Churu’s hydrogeological and socio-economic context. Data from the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), including hydrogeological surveys, water level records (2017), and quality analyses (2016), alongside agricultural statistics (2013–14), were analyzed using GIS-based mapping and GEC’97 norms. Findings reveal a critical groundwater development stage (92.59 percent), with blocks like Rajgarh (374.96 percent) and Sujangarh (131.73 percent) over- exploited, and quality issues rendering water unsuitable in many areas. Localized recharge efforts show limited success, but declining water levels and contamination persist. The study underscores the need for artificial recharge structures, modern irrigation techniques, and community-driven governance to ensure sustainability. These findings offer a replicable framework for managing groundwater in arid regions, informing policy and stakeholder actions to balance human and environmental needs.