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Tracking hidden crisis in India's capital from space: implications of unsustainable groundwater use.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Garg, Shagun 
Indu, J 

Abstract

National Capital Region (NCR, Delhi) in India is one of the fastest-growing metropolitan cities which is facing a severe water crisis due to increasing water demand. The over-extraction of groundwater, particularly from its unconsolidated alluvial deposits makes the region prone to subsidence. In this study, we investigated the effects of plummeting groundwater levels on land surface elevations in Delhi NCR using Sentinel-1 datasets acquired during the years 2014-2020. Our analysis reveals two distinct subsidence features in the study area with rates exceeding 11 cm/year in Kapashera-an urban village near IGI airport Delhi, and 3 cm/year in Faridabad throughout the study period. The subsidence in these two areas are accelerating and follows the depleting groundwater trend. The third region, Dwarka shows a shift from subsidence to uplift during the years which can be attributed to the strict government policies to regulate groundwater use and incentivizing rainwater harvesting. Further analysis using a classified risk map based on hazard risk and vulnerability approach highlights an approximate area of 100 square kilometers to be subjected to the highest risk level of ground movement, demanding urgent attention. The findings of this study are highly relevant for government agencies to formulate new policies against the over-exploitation of groundwater and to facilitate a sustainable and resilient groundwater management system in Delhi NCR.

Description

Funder: Helmholtz-Zentrum Potsdam Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum - GFZ

Keywords

3707 Hydrology, 37 Earth Sciences, Prevention, 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities

Journal Title

Sci Rep

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2045-2322
2045-2322

Volume Title

12

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Sponsorship
Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (German Academic Exchange Service) (91755005)
Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (91755005)