AQUIFER MAPPING AND MANAGEMENT PLAN OF HARD ROCK AREAS OF PATHANAMTHITTA DISTRICT, KERALA
Category |
Aquifer Mapping |
State |
Kerala
|
District |
Pathanamthitta |
Block |
Elanthoor Koipuram Konni Mallappally Pandlam Parakode Pulikeezhu Ranni |
Year of Issue |
2019 |
Number of Authors |
1 |
Name of Authors |
Dr.S. Sakthi Murugan |
Keywords |
NAQUIM Report, Data analysis and generation gap, Climate Rainfall, Irrigation Agriculture, Geology Geomorphology, Hydrogeology Drainage, Ground water Dynamic, Ground Water Quality, Aquifer Disposition. Aquifer Characteristics, Ground Water Resource, Ground water Related Issues, Management Strategies, Block-wise Management Plan |
File |
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Pathanamthitta is an inland district of Kerala State covering an area of 2531 sq.km. It accounts for 7.02% of the total area of the State and is bordered by Quilon in the south and Alleppey on the west, Kottayam and Idukki districts on the north and Tamil Nadu state in the east. The district lies between North latitude 9°4’12’’ and 9°28’55’’ and East longitudes 76°33’53’’ and 77°17’4.52’’, falling in part of the Survey of India degree sheets 58 C and 58 G. The famous hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala is in the district. Pathanamthitta town, the district headquarters, is well connected by major state highways to Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam and Kochi.
The district can be divided into three geomorphic units viz. highland, midland, and lowland. The highland stretches through the Western Ghats, where the hills are having an average altitude of around 800 m and covered with thick forests. The high lands cover parts of Ranni and Konni blocks of the district with undulating topography. The mid-land region of the district is covered by low and broad valleys with some valleys sharpening to the foot hills and is characterized by thick pile of laterite cover. It descends to the smaller hills of midland in the center and finally to the lowland. Three important rivers flow through the district. These rivers originate from the Western Ghats. The Pamba which is the third longest river in Kerala has its origin in Pulachimala. The Achankovil River originates from Pasukida Mettu, and Manimala River originates from the Thattamalai hills. These rivers are harnessed for irrigation projects.
The geology of study area is mainly Archaean metamorphic complex. The eastern part of the district constituting the hilly area and part of midland area comprises rocks of Archaean era forming part of the stable peninsular shield. Along the western parts of the district, small patches of sedimentary formations of Tertiary and Recent age are seen overlying the crystalline rocks. The general stratigraphic succession in the district