Increasing threat on groundwater reserves due to seawater intrusion in Contai belt of West Bengal

School of Water Resources Engineering, Jadavpur University, Kolkata-700 032, India

Department of Civil Engineering, Dr. Sudhir Chandra Sur Degree Engineering College, Kolkata-700 074, India

E-mail: chakrabortysouvik2017@gmail.com; bernadettejohn1@gmail.com; prabirmaity2016@gmail.com;

subhasishju@gmail.com

Manuscript received online 27 January 2020, revised 24 February 2020, accepted 03 March 2020

India has a long coastline. Compared to the western coastline, the eastern coast line is severely affected by seawater intrusion. The Contai town is located in Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal on the eastern coastline of India. The soil of the region is mainly of fresh alluvials. There are few rivers flowing through the region, but this surface water is not sufficient to meet the domestic, industrial, agricultural demand. With the increasing population, urbanization, industrialization, the demand for water is increasing. To meet up such water demands, over extraction of groundwater is taking place due to which there is an inward movement of sea water into the region. The data obtained from the chemical analysis carried out by SWID at selected locations of the region stand as an evidence for the above statement.