PANCHKULA 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
PANCHKULA 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

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
 PANCHKULADISTRICT AT A GLANCE
Sl.NO. ITEMS Statistics
1. GENERAL INFORMATION
Geographical Area (sq. km.) 898
Administrative Divisions
Number Of Tehsils (2) 1. Panchkula
2. Kalka
Number Of Blocks (4) 1. Barwala
2. Kalka
3. Pinjore
4. Morni
Number Of Panchayats -
Number Of Villages 224 inhabited
12 uninhabited
Population (As per 2011Census) 558890
Average Annual Rainfall (mm) 911
2. GEOMORPHOLOGY
Major Physiographic Units Siwalik hills, Kandi,
Alluvial Plains
Major Drainage Ghaggar R.
3. LAND USE (Sq.Km.)
a. Forest Area: 382
b. Net area sown: 240
c. Cultivable area: 340
4. MAJOR SOIL TYPES Sandy loams to
loamy sands
5. AREA UNDER PRINCIPAL CROPS (Sq. Km.) 140
6. IRRIGATION BY DIFFERENT SOURCES
(Areas and Number Of Structures) Sq.Km
Dug wells -
Tubewells/Bore wells 70 sq.km.
4502/-
Tanks/ponds -
Canals 10 sq.km.
Other sources -
Net Irrigated area 80 sq.km.
Gross irrigated area 180 sq. km.
7. NUMBERS OF GROUND WATER MONITORING
WELLS OF CGWB
No. of dug wells 11
No of Piezometers -
8. PREDOMINANT GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS Alluvium
9. HYDROGEOLOGY
 *Major Water bearing formation Alluvium (Sand &
Gravel)
*(Pre-monsoon depth to water level) 8.11m- 29.44

*(Post-monsoon depth to water level) 6.78m-29.00m

*Long term water level trend in 10 yrs in m /yr 0.00013 to 0.0389
( Fall)
10. GROUND WATER EXPLORATION BY CGWB
No. of wells drilled
EW 14
OW -
PZ 1
SH -
Depth range (m) 132.0-355m
Discharge (liters per minute) 205-3000 lpm
Storativity (S) 1.3 X10-2
Transmissivity (m2/day) 2493-4928
11. GROUND WATER QUALITY
Presence of Chemical constituents more than the
permissible limit
EC, in micromhos at 250C -
F, in mg/l -
As, in mg/l -
Fe, in mg/l 1, 10.84mg/l
Type of water Alkaline
12 DYNAMIC GROUND WATER RESOURCES
(2011) MCM
Annual Replenish able Ground water Resources 138.76
Existing gross ground water draft for all uses 118.62
Projected Demand for Domestic and industrial 43.79
Uses upto 2025
Stage of Groundwater Development 85%
13 a. MASS AWARENESS AND -
Mass Awareness Program organized
Date -
Place -
No of participants -
b. TRAINING ACTIVITY
Training program 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. - 1
No. Semi-Critical Blocks - 1
No. of blocks notified -
16 MAJOR GROUND WATER PROBLEMS AND Declining of water
ISSUES. levels
Frequent Failure of
tubewells
 HYDROGEOLOGICAL INFORMATION BOOKLET OF
PANCHKULA DISTRICT, HARYANA
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Panchkula district of Haryana is located in Northern part of Haryana State and lies
between 30o 26’: 30o 55’ North latitudes and 76 o 46’: 77o 10’ East longitudes. Himachal
Pradesh bound the district, in North in the east by Uttar Pradesh, in west by Ambala district,
in south by Karnal and Kurukshetra districts. Total geographical area of the district is 898 sq.
km.

Administrative setup

Panchkula district is divided into two tehsils and four development blocks viz. Pinjore,
Barwala, Raipur Rani and Morni. Panchkula is thickly populated district and density of
population is 522 persons per Km 2, which is higher than State average of 478 persons per Km2.
As per 2001 census the population of the district is 468411.

Drainage

The district is mainly drained by the river Ghaggar and its tributaries. A small patch of
northwest part of the district is drained by northwesterly flowing Sirsa nadi, as its tributaries east -
west direction before joining Sirsa nadi, which is tributary of Sutlej river.

Irrigation

Panchkula district is bestowed with rich water resources, both surface as well as
ground water resources. The ground water is major sources of irrigation in the district. Net
irrigated area is 80Km2 whereas, gross irrigated area 180 Km 2. Percentage of gross area
irrigated to total cropped area is 91.6%.

Studies carried out by CGWB

Systematic hydro geological surveys in the district was carried out by Geological
Survey Of India during 1956-61.Re-Appraisal Hydro Geological Surveys in the district were
carried out by Central Ground Water Board, during 1975-77,1981-82 and 1988-89. Detailed
hydro geological and water balance studies were carried out in the under Ghaggar Project.
Ground water exploration has been carried out in various phases and so far 14 exploratory wells,
(out of which 2 have yielded no water due to non-occurrence of promising zones) have been
constructed in the district.

2.0 CLIMATE & RAINFALL

The climate of Panchkula can be classified as subtropical monsoon, mild &dry

winter,hot summer and sub-humid which is mainly dry with hot summer and cold winter
except during monsoon season when moist air of oceanic origin penetrate into the district.
There are four seasons in a year. The hot weather season starts from mid March to last
week of the June followed by the southwest monsoon, which lasts up to September. The
 transition period from September to November forms the post monsoon season. The
winter season starts late in November and remains up to first week of March.
Rainfall

The normal annual rainfall of the district is 1057 mm, which is unevenly distributed over
the area in 49 days. The southwest monsoon sets in from last week of June and
withdraws in end of September, contributed about 86% of annual rainfall. July and August are the
wettest months. Rest 14% rainfall is received during non-monsoon period in the wake of western
disturbances and thunderstorms.

Normal Annual Rainfall 1057 mm

Normal monsoon Rainfall 911 mm
Temperature
Mean Maximum (May &June) 39.1C
Mean Minimum (January) 6.1 C
Normal Rain days 49

3.0 GEOMORPHOLOGY AND SOILTYPES

3.1 Physiography

The district is divided into four Physiographic units

 Siwaliks
 Dissected Rolling Plains (Kandi)
 Alluvial Plains

Siwaliks hills

Siwalik hill ranges occupy the Northern and North-Eastern fringe of Panchkula district
and attain the height up to 950m AMSL. The hills are about 500m high with respect to the
adjacent alluvial plains. These are characterized by the broad tableland topography that has
been carved into quite sharp slopes by numerous ephemeral streams come down to the
outer slopes of the Siwaliks and spread much of gravels boulders, pebbles in the beds of
these streams.

Kandi Belt

A dissected rolling plain in the Northern parts of district is a transitional tract between
Siwaliks hills and alluvial plains. It is about 3-8 km wide and elevation varies between 250 and
375m AMSL.

Alluvial plains

This tract is part of higher ground between Ghaggar and Chautang and includes high
mounds and valleys. In general, the slope is from northeast to southwest.

3.2 Soils Types

 Eurtrochrepts/ Udorthents- These are shallow and loamy sands to fine sandy loams,
except in depressions, well-drained, non-saline, non-alkali, non-calcareous, mostly base
saturated and are classified as loamy skeletal typic, lithyhic, eurtrochrepts/ udorthents. These soils
are found in the Siwalik range.

 Udipsamments/ udorthents - These are loamy sand to sandy loam deep, excessively or
well-drained, non-saline, non-alkali. These are placed under the associations of
transitional tract between Siwaiks hills and alluvial plains.
 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,
moisture have soils classified as camborthics and torropsamments.

4.0 GROUND WATER SCENARIO

4.1 Hydrogeology

Water bearing formations

The ground water exploration in the district reveals that clay group of formations
dominates over the sand group in the district area. Ground water in the district occurs in the
alluvium under water table and semi-confined to confined conditions. These aquifers consist of
sand, silt, gravels and kankar associated with clay and form highly potential aquifers. In
alluvium, the permeable granular zones comprising fine to medium grained sand and
occasionally coarse sand and gravel. Their lateral and as well as vertical extent is extensive. In
Kandi belt, which has not been explored fully boulders cobbles and pebbles, constitutes the
major aquifer horizon. Siwalik Hills occupy marginal areas in the northeastern parts of the
district constitute a low potential zone.

Occurrence of ground water

The ground water occurs in pore-spaces of alluvial formation including Kandi belt
stretching range Siwalik foothills. In alluvium, sands, silts, kankar and gravels form potential
aquifer zones in the district. The Kandi belt yet to be explored constitute of boulders,
pebbles and cobbles forming major aquifer horizon.

Nature and depth of ground water aquifers

In Kandi areas, the shallow aquifers are isolated lenses embedded in clay beds
whereas aquifers in alluvial areas occur in regional scale and have pinching and swelling
disposition and are quite extensive in nature. These aquifers generally consists sands (fine to
coarse grained) and gravels and are often intercepted by clay and kankar horizons. These
aquifers are under unconfined to semi-confined conditions and support a large no. of shallow
tubewells within the depth of 50m only. The discharge of these tubewells varies between
100lpm and 500 lpm for moderate drawdown values. Under ground water exploration
programme fourteen exploratory wells were drilled in the district. On average 4-6 No Of
granular zones have been deciphered in the depth range down to 355m bgl. Exploratory
wells were drilled in depth range of 132 and 355 mbgl, yield range between 205 to 3000 lpm
 for Drawdown upto of 3.2 and 21.9m and Transmissivity of aquifers range between 2493 and
4928 m2/day. Storativity of formation is 1.3*10-2

Depth to water level

The depth to water level during pre-monsoon period in the district ranges between
8.11mbgl and 29.44mbgl. The Depth to water level during post-monsoon period in
the district ranges between 6.78mbgl and 29.00mbgl. However, in
major part of district water level ranges between 10.0m bgl and 20.0m bgl. During last ten
years, majority of observation points in the district have shown declining trends ranging from
0.00013 m/yr to 0.389m/yr, however, area as not recorded any significant rise during last ten
years.

4.2 Ground Water Resources

The block wise ground water resource potential in the district has been assessed as per GEC-97.
The stage of ground water development ranges between 85% (block-Raipur Rani) to 103% (block-
Barwala). The total replenishable ground water resource in the district is 138.76 mcm. The net ground
water draft is 118.62 mcm. The stage of ground water development in the district is 85%.

GROUND WATER RESOURCE AND DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL OF PANCHKULA DISTRICT, HARYANA AS ON 31ST MARCH, 2011 in ha m

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 irrigation for all uses requirement for future (%)
(ham) (ham) supply to irrigation
2025 development
(ham) (ham)
5823 5430 OVER
Barwala 6015 585 -192 103 EXPLOITED

Pinjore 3950 905 2345 2442 603 59 SAFE

4103 2737 SEMI-

Raipur Rani 3502 1352 14 85 CRITICAL

TOTAL 13876 9072 11862 4379 425 85

4.3 Ground Water Quality

The ground water in the district is alkaline in nature with low to medium salinity. The
chemical quality data from the shallow and deep aquifers indicate that all major cations (Ca,
Mg, Na, K) and anions (CO3, HCO3, Cl, SO4) are within the permissible limits set by BIS,
1991. Electrical conductivity is below 650 µs/cm in almost the entire district. Ground water

around village Kakar Majra, in the southern part of the district, has slightly higher EC of 1030
µs/cm. ground water in the district has no particular cation as dominant, while HCO 3 is the
dominant anion in 56% of the samples, hence, ground water can be described as of mixed
character.

Constituents Concentration
Minimum Maximum
pH 7.9 8.47
EC Micromhos /cm at 25 0C 220 1030
CO3 (mg/l) 0 25
HCO3 (mg/l) 88 288
Cl (mg/l) 7 175
SO4 (mg/l) 0 130
NO3 (mg/l) 0 98
F (mg/l) 0.12 0.31
Ca (mg/l) 12 61
Mg (mg/l) 2 62
Na (mg/l) 24 102
K (mg/l) 1 4
TH (Total Hardness as CaCO3) 81 345

Type Of Water

The shallow groundwater is of mixed type in the district.

Suitability Of Water

Domestic

All the physical and chemical parameters are within the permissible limit prescribed by BIS.
Hence, the ground water in the area is suitable for drinking purposes.

Irrigation

Suitability of groundwater for irrigation purpose is calculated by SAR and RSC values
which are below 10 and 2.0 respectively in the entire district. As per USSL diagram, most of well
waters fall in C2S1 class. Only two well waters fall in C1S1 and C3S1 class. These waters
will cause neither salinity nor sodium hazards when used for customary irrigation.
The minor constituents such as iron, nitrate and fluoride, which are essential for plant and
animal growth, are found below the permissible limit in almost the entire district. The ground
water around the village Barwala has exceptionally high concentration of Iron (10.84mg/L).
Similarly, the trace element arsenic is found below the permissible limit in the entire district. Thus
the ground water in these areas is unfit for human consumption.
4.4 Status Of Ground Water Development

The Ghaggar is the Perennial River and descending from Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh
and carries a small quantity of water in Panchkula district, only 10 Km2 area is irrigated by the
canal system, gross area irrigated in the district is 180 Km2, whereas net area irrigated is 80 Km2.
Percentage of gross area irrigated to total cropped area is 38.3%. Nearly about 70 Km2 of area is
irrigated through 4502 shallow tube wells and pump sets, besides this there are many deep
public tube wells. The discharge of shallow tube wells varies between 200 lpm and 480 lpm,
whereas the discharge of deep tube wells varies between 2000 lpm and 3500 lpm. The depth of
shallow tube wells ranges between 40-80m, whereas deep tube wells range up to 270m
depth. Of the shallow tube wells 2070 are diesel engine operated and remaining 2432 are run
by electric motors.

The drinking water supply is mainly ground water based in the district, besides piped
water supply, the public health department as well as public hand pump as the
most convenient water source to meet water shortage in villages and towns. Panchkula
district has registered of 50.90% increased in population during last one decade mainly
because urbanization around Panchkula town which has put a lot of stress on water
resources.

5.0 GROUND WATER MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

5.1 Possibility Of Artificial Recharge

The Kandi belt underlain by the colluviums of boulders, pebbles, and cobbles mixed
with clay are the areas having very high permeability and porosity value and exhibit very high
scope for ground water recharge. In Siwaliks, gully plugging and check dams are feasible
methods of artificial recharge. In Kandi belt of district, ground water recharge is feasible by
various methods such as flooding, percolation tanks, contour bunding and tanks and ponds.
In alluvial (plain) areas, various surface methods for artificial recharge are the flooding, ditch
and furrow, stream augmentation and over irrigation. Ground water recharge through
injection wells, recharge pit and recharge shaft are various sub-surface methods.
5.2 Ground Water Development

The hydro geological 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. The ground water potentials around area
Kalka town have been found to be very poor, as the exploratory wells at Kalka and
Badgodam have yielded little or no water. 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 conventional slotted pipes. Entrance velocity of water in the well has
to be kept in mind while designing the well assembly.

Reverse/ Direct circulation rig is suitable for carrying out the drilling in alluvial parts of
district whereas percussion or Down The Hole Hammer (DTH) technique with Odex
attachment are suitable for drilling in bouldery formation.

6.0 GROUND WATER RELATED ISSUES & PROBLEMS

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 major part 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.

Tube well Failure

There are frequent cases of well failure of tube well reported from all over the district.
The tube wells render max 4-5 years of service and become defunct. Their discharge either
has decreased or reported to have become Silty. The shortening of life of the tube wells is
due to chemical action known as incrustation. Water tends to deposit mineral on the screen
surface and in the pores of the formation, thus plugging the screen opening and the pores of
the formation just out side the screen thereby decreasing discharge of the tube well. The pH
of water in the area is more than 7.5 and is the reason of frequent failure of tube wells.

7.0 RECOMMENDATIONS

1. There are numerous streams through Kandi belt, which carry a lot of water during
monsoon season. The rainwater can be collected in existing tanks/ponds and natural
depressions and artificial surface reservoir to enhance the ground water recharge.
2. The areas having heavy water level decline need to be mapped, people should be made
aware of adopting conjunctive use of surface and ground water, rainwater harvesting
and artificial recharge measures.
3. Parts of Raipur Rani and Barwala blocks needs special attention with regard to ground
water management and development as these blocks are facing water level decline and as
well as level of development is comparatively higher.