AQUIFER MAPPING AND MANAGEMENT PLAN OF THRISSUR DISTRICT, KERALA
Category |
Aquifer Mapping |
State |
Kerala
|
District |
Thrissur |
Block |
Anthikkad Chalakkudy Chavakkad Cherpu Chowannur Irinjalakkuda Kodakara Mala Mathilakam Mullassery Ollukkara Pazhayannur Puzhakkal Thalikkulam Vellangallur Wadakkanchery |
Year of Issue |
2022 |
Number of Authors |
1 |
Name of Authors |
ROOPESH G. KRISHNAN |
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, |
File |
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Geomorphologically, the landforms in the study area are carved out by a combination of fluvial and denudational activities which can be grouped into erosional and depositional landforms. The various geomorphic units seen in the area are denudational hills, piedmont zone plateaus, pediplains, flood plain, coastal plains, swales, valley and valley fills.
The narrow coastal plain on the west is flanked by highly dissected pediplain towards east that represent erosional landforms formed as a result of fluvial and denudational activities. These undulating pediplain are dissected with broad valleys and isolated low mounds. Majority of the area are characterized by plateaus with pediplain
The lower dissected piedmont plains are characterised by undulating to rolling topography with low hills and narrow valleys. The hills are generally covered with laterite or lateritic soils and the valleys are alleviated. The easternmost part is a rugged terrain with steep sloped hills and small summits. It forms the foothills of the Western Ghats. Elevation of this terrain is generally more that 80m above mean sea level and the area is covered by thick reserved forest.
The main rivers of the District are Bharathapuzha, Kecheri puzha, Karuvannur puzha and Chalakudy river. The Bharathapuzha (209km) originates from Anaimalai Hills. The 5 tributaries of this river are Gayathripuzha, Kannadipuzha, Kalpathipuzha, Cheerankuzhy (Gayathririver) and Thuthupuzha. It flows as northern boundary of Thrissur for about 40km. The Kechery River otherwise known as Wadakkanchery river originates from the Machad hills flowing westwards and joins the backwaters of Chettuvai. It has a length of 51 km and Vazhani dam is constructed on this river basin. The Manali River and Karumali River combines near Arattupuzha and assumes the name Karuvannur River. This river has a length of 65 km. Peechi Dam constructed across Manali River and Chimmoni Dam across Karumali River help to control floods and to irrigate land. The longest river of this district is the Chalakkudy River. It has 4 main tributaries. It joins the Periyar River about 10 kms east of Kodungallur. The hydroelectric projects at Peringalkuthu and Sholayar are the two main projects of the river. This river has a drainage area of about 1704 sq.km. The geological setup of Thrissur District includes hard rocks of Archean gneissic complex and charnockite formations, semi-consolidated Vaikom beds of Tertiary Period, residual laterite formations of Sub-recent age and unconsolidated alluvium of Recent age comprising sands and clay. A major part of the district extending up to the eastern hill ranges comprises charnockites and peninsular gneissic complex. These are extensively weathered and are overlain by laterites in the upland region. Sedimentary formations of Miocene to Recent age overlie the crystallines in the coastal plains.