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www.cafetinnova.org October 2013, P.P.1185-1194
ISSN 0974-5904, Volume 06, No. 05(01)

Delineation of Groundwater Potential Zones in Hard Rock Terrain

of Kollegal Shear Zone (Ksz), South India Using Remote Sensing
and GIS
BASAVARAJAPPA. H. T, DINAKAR. S, SATHISH. M. V, NAGESH. D, BALASUBRAMANIAN . A AND
MANJUNATHA. M. C
Dept. of Studies in Earth Science, University of Mysore, Manasagangothri, Mysore-570006, India.
Email: basavarajappaht@gmail.com

Abstract: Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) are essential tools for mapping &
integration of geology, geomorphology, slope, soil, drainage, lineament, landuse/cover and other related features
that help in assessing the ground water resources of a region. This paper aims to integrate RS and GIS techniques to
delineate groundwater potential zones in the typical hard rock terrain of a region in Karnataka, South India. Efforts
have been made to evaluate the groundwater potential zones using the False Colour Composite (FCC) images of
IRS-1D (PAN+LISS-III). Slope map was prepared by using Survey of India (SoI) toposheets (year-2001) of
1:50,000 scale. Thematic maps have been prepared by adopting visual interpretation techniques and were integrated
by using Arc Info GIS v3.2. The resultant composite coverage was used to classify the area into excellent, good,
moderate and poor groundwater potential zones based on certain weightages. The final results highlight the
favorable conditions of groundwater potential zones in the hard rock terrain around Kollegal Shear Zone (KSZ) of
South India, which is a suitable model for application to similar geological conditions.
Keywords: Groundwater prospects, Hard Rock Terrain, Kollegal Shear Zone (KSZ), RS & GIS.

Introduction: has been attempted by Mohammed Aslam and

Balasubramanian (2003). The paleo-channels of the
Groundwater targeting in hard rock terrain is a very
study are were also mapped using satellite data which
difficult task due to very typical hydrological properties
gives additional information regarding water bearing
of unconfined and fractured aquifers. In india,
zones like old river course, fractures and valley fills.
especially around the shear zones of Karnataka, features
The area selected for the present study is a part of the
formed due to poly phase metamorphism, multi &
Biligirirangan Hills of Karnataka, which belongs to a
repetitive deformational episodes, unique fracture
typical hard rock terrain. The climate of the study area
pattern and their chronologies control the occurrence of
is divided into four seasons viz., pre-monsoon (Jan-
groundwater (Ramasamy, et al., 1985). Factors like
Feb), south-west monsoon (May-Sept), north-east
relief, slope, lithology, soil, geological structures,
monsoon (Oct-Dec) and summer (Mar-April). The study
geomorphology, land use/cover, intensity of weathering,
area receives the major portion of its rainfall from the
types of weathered material, thickness of regolith,
south-west monsoon. The average annual rainfall of this
nature of deposited material and assemblage of different
area is 786.8mm with a major contribution South-west
landforms, controls and defines the groundwater regime
monsoon (44.45%). The annual minimum rainfall is
(Vijith et al., 2007; Suja Rose et al., 2009; Pradeep
found to be 558.07mm (Kavalande rain gauge station)
Kumar., 2010; Obi reddy et al 2000). Observing the
while the maximum is 1455.43mm (Biligirirangan
terrain features like geological structures, geomorphic
temple rain gauge station). During the period from
units and by analysing their hydrologic characteristics
March to April, there is a continuous rise in temperature
through both high resolution satellite images and field
attaining a maximum in the month of April and
studies, it is possible to identify the groundwater
minimum during December. Wind speed is moderate
potential zones (Lokesha, et al., 2005; Samuel Corgne,
with some strengthening during south-west monsoon.
et al., 2010) along with GIS analysis (Rokade et al.
Generally weather in this region is pleasant, relative
2007). Hydrogeomorphic maps are prepared and used as
humidity is high and wind speed is moderate throughout
a tool for groundwater investigation, exploration and
the South-west monsoon period.
exploitation. In this area, identification of paleochannels

#02060535 Copyright ©2013 CAFET-INNOVA TECHNICAL SOCIETY. All rights reserved.

 Delineation of Groundwater Potential Zones in Hard Rock Terrain of Kollegal Shear
Zone (Ksz), South India Using Remote Sensing and GIS
Location: The study area lies between latitude 11°45’
to 12°15’N and longitudes 76°45’ to 77°15’E with total
areal extent of 3,011 sq km (fig.1). The study area
includes parts of 9 taluks of Karnataka state namely
Yelandur, Kollegal, Chamarajanagar, Malavali, Mysore,
Gundalpet, T. Narasipur, Nanjangud and a small patch
of Tamil Nadu region (Sathyamangalam) in the
southern and southeastern part. Cauvery and Kabani are
the two major rivers flowing in the study area. Kabini is
also a tributary of the rive Cauvery. The major trend of
the Kollegal Shear Zone (KSZ) is towards N10°E to
S10°W, extending about 60-65 km in length and 20-25
km width.
Study area: Kollegal Shear Zone (KSZ) marks the
boundary between low-land amphibolite mixed gneisses
and high-land Biligirirangana granulites of Dharwar
Craton in the Study area (Basavarajappa and
Srikantappa., 1996, 1999; Basavarajappa et al., 2004).
The charnockitic-enderbitic granulites show ductile to
ductile-brittle shear deformation between amphibolite
facies and banded charnockites (Basavarajappa and
Srikantappa, 1999). The eastern portion of the study
area forms a hilly terrain with lofty mountains
(Biligirirangan hill ranges) raising about 1677m above
MSL, run approximately towards North-South direction
with thick vegetation. The western part forms a plain
country with an average elevation of 686.25m with
minor undulations.
Materials and Methods:
International Journal of Earth Sciences and Engineering
ISSN 0974-5904, Vol. 06, No. 05(01), October 2013, pp. 1185-1194
1186
Geology: Geologically, this region belongs to an
ancient Archaean terrain. It contains the main unit of
Biligirirangan hill ranges as both high land
(Charnockites) & low land (gneissic) rocks with
metasediments. In between these two units, a
charnockite-gneiss mixed zone (KSZ) exists. They
possess a well-defined joint system and are dissected by
a number of intrusions. Both the formations are intruded
by basic dykes. Amphibolites occur as small and narrow
lenticular patches in gneissic rocks. The Biligirirangan
hill ranges is considered as the reactivated margins of
the Dharwar Craton, as it is made up of 3400 Ma old
protoliths, and shows imprints of granulite
metamorphism at 2500 Ma (Basavarajappa, 1992;
Peucat et al., 1993; Janardhan et al., 1994,
Basavarajappa & Srikantappa., 1999). The
Biligirirangan hill is bounded at its southern extremity,
by the linear 20 km wide Moyar-Bhavani Shear Zone
which separates the Nilgiri granulite block from the
Biligirirangan hill granulite terrain. At about 77°10'
longitude, there is a mountain barrier forming
Biligirirangan and Malai Mahadeswara hill ranges.
These ranges rise abruptly from a flat ground to a height
of 5000 to 6000 feet (Basavarajappa and Srikantappa.,
2013; Wadia., 1996). There is an abrupt truncation of
the old and the new plateau surfaces at the point where
the high mountain ranges of the Biligirirangan hill
appears. The precipitous drop by nearly 600 ft and the
slicken-sided surface of the Biligirirangan scarp also
probably represents one such fault. Traces of boundary
fault, along with such uplift took place in the case of
 1187 B ASAVARAJAPPA. H. T, D INAKAR . S, S ATHISH. M. V, N AGESH. D,
B ALASUBRAMANIAN . A AND MANJUNATHA. M. C

Table1: Details of various data sets used in the present study are given below:

Type of Data Details of Data Source of Data

Survey of India (SOI)

57D/16, 57H/4, 58A/13, 58E/1 Survey of India (SOI), Dehradun
toposheets
Present work: Thematic maps Geological Survey of India (GSI),
of Geology, Geomorphology, Kolkatta.
Scale 1:2,50,000 (Reduced to 1:25,000)
Slope, Drainage, Lineament, National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land
and soil cover Use Planning (NBSS & LUP), Bangalore.
LISS-III PAN+LISS-III
Resoluti Resoluti
Date Date
on on
Digital data sets of IRS-1D, Marc National Remote Sensing Agency
Remote Sensing Satellite March (NRSA), Hyderabad
h– 23.5 m 5.8m
–2001
2001
Nov- Nov-
23.5 m 5.8m
2001 2001
Bureau of Economics and Statistics,
Rainfall 31 year rainfall data (1970-2001)
Bangalore.

Groundwater data: Depth to 12 years water table fluctuation Dept of Mines and Geology, Mysore,
water table and yields of wells (1990-2002) & well inventory records GoK.

Spatial analysis, Integration of Thematic Erdas Imagine 9.2, Arc Info 3.2, Arc view
GIS tools:
layers 3.2 and Arc GIS 9.2.

Biligirirangan charnockite massif, that seen to be

remarkably straight course of the river Cauvery towards
east of Malai Mahadeswara hill ranges. Due to geo-
environmental conditions, the geomorphic units also
vary from place to place.
Slope aspects: Slope is an essential aspect for surface
water flow. It has a bearing over the infiltration
possibilities. Gentle slopes encourage more recharge
than a steep slope. The slope aspect information has
been derived from SOI toposheet on 1: 50,000 scale
(20m contour interval) using AIS & LUS (1990)
guidelines on slope categories. Higher degree of slope
results in rapid runoff and increased erosion rate occur
with feeble recharge potential (Magesh et al., 2011).
Major part of the study area is dominated by nearly
level slope (35%) varying from 0° to 1°, contributing
the central, northwest and southwestern part as low
laying area of gneissic terrain. These regions mainly
falls under pediplain landforms, adjacent to the river
Cauvery and its tributaries Kabani and Suvarnavathi.
The second most significant slope category is the very
gentle slope (30.6%) varying from 1° to 3°. It covers
northwest and southwestern part of gneissic terrain and Soil types: Soils are essential units in controlling the
some portions in northeastern part of amphibolites rock. infiltration of rainwater and surface flow patterns.
The third most significant slope category is the very Different types of soil found in the study area are
steep slope (11.89%) varying >35° contributing towards a) clayey soils
southeast part of charnockite terrain. b) Clayey mixed soils
c) Clayey skeletal soils
d) Loamy skeletal soils

International Journal of Earth Sciences and Engineering

ISSN 0974-5904, Vol. 06, No. 05(01), October 2013, pp. 1185-1194
 Delineation of Groundwater Potential Zones in Hard Rock Terrain of Kollegal Shear
1188
Zone (Ksz), South India Using Remote Sensing and GIS

more the drainage density, the higher the runoff. (Prasad

et al, 2008). ‘Drainage pattern’ can be defined as the
design formed by the aggregate of drainage ways in an
area regardless of whether they are occupied by
permanent streams (Howard, 1967). The drainage map
of this area was prepared using SOI topographical maps
and morphometrical analysis has been carried out. The
drainage system of the study area belongs to the
Cauvery river basin and its tributaries Suvarnavathi and
Chikkahole. Numerous factors govern the drainages
such as initial slope, lithology and structures and
meteorological parameters. Precipitation is distinctly
assertive in the generation of a drainage pattern. The
study area has varied drainage patterns viz., Trellies,
rectangular, sub-parallel, radial, dendritic, sub-dendritic,
deranged anastomatic and dichotomic patterns. A
detailed geospatial analysis has been made in this study
to decipher the role of drainage in controlling the
occurrence of groundwater.

a) Clayey soils: occur in pediplains, deposited along

stream and vary in their thickness. They are very
deep to deep, well drained, dark reddish brown to
dark red in colour, occurs on gently sloping land
with moderately eroded and occurs nearly gneissic
terrain. Due to thickness and fineness, the water
holding capacity is generally high with moderate to
poor runoff and low permeability.
b) Clayey mixed soils are shallow, well drained, dark
brown with mixed mineralogy. They occur on
undulating to rolling land of contact between
charnockite and gneissic rock, with moderately
eroded.
c) Clayey skeletal soils are seen in upper slopes of
pediments and hilly regions. They are shallow to
excessively drained, reddish brown to yellowish
brown gravelly sandy loam to gravelly clay loam.
These occur along hills and ridges of Biligirirangan
hill ranges and act as a rapid runoff and high Lineament: Lineaments and fractures play a vital role
permeability. in controlling the movement and storage of
d) Loamy skeletal soils are shallow, well drained, groundwater in hard rock terrain (Ramasamy, et.al.
dark brown consist of more than 35% gravel with 2005, Subash Chandra, et.al., 2010). The lineament
moderately eroded and occurs on undulating to map of this area has been prepared using the satellite
rolling land (Satish., 2002; Dinakar., 2005). images. Lineaments were extracted by image processing
techniques using Erdas Imagine v.9.2 software and IRS-
Drainage: Drainage patterns are the reflections of 1D LISS IV digital data. Length and direction of the
surface and subsurface conditions. Drainage Density is lineament has been calculated using ArcView (v 3.2a)
directly related to surface run-off due to the fact that the analysis. Most of the lineaments are trending towards N

International Journal of Earth Sciences and Engineering

ISSN 0974-5904, Vol. 06, No. 05(01), October 2013, pp. 1185-1194
 1189 B ASAVARAJAPPA. H. T, D INAKAR . S, S ATHISH. M. V, N AGESH. D,
B ALASUBRAMANIAN . A AND MANJUNATHA. M. C
- N10°E direction. These lineaments are straight,
structurally controlled; probably represent foliation
trend which falls within KSZ and acts as a weaker
plains for good groundwater prospects. Most of the
wells, ponds, tanks which falls under these lineaments
provides good yield. The fracture system are those
which represent deep seated faults, master fracture and
joints sets through which magmatic and metalliferous
fluids are brought to the surface, ground water
movement take place along them, act as zones of
erosion, house geothermal springs and also act as
neotectonic windows through which earthquakes and
seismicity take place. In hard rock terrain, occurrence
and movement of ground water depends on the
secondary porosity such as lithological contact,
unconformities, folds, faults, bedding plains, fracture,
joints, shear zones, etc. They provide the pathways for
ground water movement and are hydrogeologically very
important (Sankar et al., 1996). Lineaments are
important in rocks where secondary permeability and
porosity dominate and inter-granular characteristics
combine in secondary opening influencing weathering,
soil, water and ground water movement. Areas with
high lineament density are good for groundwater
prospect zones (Haridas et al., 1998).
International Journal of Earth Sciences and Engineering
ISSN 0974-5904, Vol. 06, No. 05(01), October 2013, pp. 1185-1194
Landuse/cover: The impact of land use and land cover
over the surface and sub-surface hydrologic condition is
remarkably high. Various land use/cover classes
(NRSA., 1999) have been identified and mapped using
satellite imageries of summer, kharif and rabi season
(2002-03). Land use/cover provides an idea of relative
infiltration capacity of different land cover types. About
67.85% of the land was occupied by agriculture land,
38.54% of Kharif crops are occupies in the pediplains
region, which are rainfed crops even double crops are
noticed in alluvial plains. Maximum extent of forest
land (22.47%) comes under Biligirirangan hill ranges,
which are thickly vegetated with evergreen and
deciduous forest. Different classes of vegetation tend to
slow down and intercept the surface flow of run-off
water leading to maximize infiltration.
Geomorphology: Geomorphic conditions play a
significant role in controlling both surface water and
groundwater. The geomorphology includes the study of
topography, drainage pattern, and geomorphic units etc
(Miller, 1953; Sparks, 1983). The typical geomorphic
units developed in this hard rock terrain are
denudational hill, residual hill, inselbergs, pediments,
linear ridges, pediplains, pediplains gullied, alluvium
plains, valley, channel island and point bar. It has been
observed from several workers that each unit has its
own groundwater potentiality.
i. Denudational hills: These are marked by sharp to
blunt crest lines with rugged tops indicating that the
surface run-off at the upper reaches of the hills has
caused by rill erosion representing charnockite
towards eastern part of the study area. They occur
as continuous range of varying heights and
generally act as run off zones. These are highly
disturbed due to the presence of joints, fissures and
shear zones which act as recharge zones. Usually,
this unit is poor in groundwater prospects.
Northeastern parts are covered by scanty vegetation
and show greenish to dark gray tone.
ii. Residual hills: They are isolated low relief and
irregular outlines standing out predominantly and
appear as continuous chains of hillocks due to
differential erosion. These are usually marked with
structures such as joints, fractures with varying
lithology. These are poor for groundwater prospects
due to steep gradient and the rainwater is washed
off immediately without much infiltration (Tiwari
& Rao, 1996). Residual hills composed of meta
ultramafite and gneiss rocks with varying
elevations are concentrated towards the
southwestern part of the study area.
iii. Inselbergs: They occur in the form as residual
isolated barren or rocky smooth and rounded small
hill (conical) standing above ground level
 Delineation of Groundwater Potential Zones in Hard Rock Terrain of Kollegal Shear
1190
Zone (Ksz), South India Using Remote Sensing and GIS

surrounded by pediplains in the study area. These topography, virtually dry environment, moderate
geomorphic units are well exposed near the village recharge capacity and minor lineaments.
Mangala, Kadavinkattehundi, Dudigere and
vii. Pediplains Gullied: These are irregular dissected
Vadagere. From groundwater point of view,
portions with a number of gullies near the villages
inselberg unit is treated as aquifuge in nature
of Bagali, Hosur, Vatalu, Hadya and Kalkunda.
(neither contains nor transmit groundwater) which
They are found adjacent to pediment and linear
mostly acts as run-off zone.
ridge on gneissic rock.
iv. Pediment: The river and streams that have cut
viii. Alluvium plains: They act as storage and
gorges given rise to terrace across the undulating
discharge zones for groundwater which found
and low plateau like drift deposits, thereby forming
adjacent to the major rivers, Cauvery and Kabini.
a typical pediment landscape (Mukhpadhaya,
They form good to excellent shallow aquifer due to
1994). These units generally act as run-off zones
nature of alluvial, its thickness and recharge
and as well as recharge zone with intersections.
conditions.
Groundwater conditions are depends on the type of
underlying folded structures, fracture system and ix. Valley: They are seen in the southwestern portion
degree of weathering (Gopinath and Seralathan, of the study area and are characterized by the
2004). These are observed in contact between the presence of vegetation growth which are controlled
two litho units, gneisses and Charnockite occurring by lineaments and fractures representing the good
in KSZ which have moderate to poor groundwater groundwater prospects. The groundwater prospect
prospects and varies with the underlying lithology in this unit is moderate.
and presence of lineament or fracture.
x. Channel island: It is found close to Cauvery river
v. Linear ridges: These occurs as linear to course in the form of channel bars and sand bars.
curvilinear, narrow, low-lying relief and are Groundwater occurs under unconfined condition at
generally barren occupying northern part of the shallow depth with high yield prospect.
study area near the villages of Mudukuthorai,
xi. Point bar: They are formed at the convex side of
Hulaganamuradi, Kilgere and Bagali. The N-S
meandering river Cauvery by lateral accretion of
trending strike ridges are developed mainly on
sediments near Talakad village. They represent
hornblende biotite schist with poor groundwater
very good groundwater prospect near the meanders.
prospects. Dolerite dykes in the form of linear ridge
acts as sub-surface barrier for groundwater
movement within the weathered mantle with good
groundwater prospects.
vi. Pediplains: They occupy semi-consolidated
sediments from good aquifers which form very
good recharge and storage zones due to thickness of
weathering/accumulated materials, composition and
recharge conditions. Faults/fracture zones which
passing through pediplains, act as conduits for
movement and occurrence of groundwater.
Pediplains are divided into two sub-zones viz.,
Moderately weathered pediplains are observed in
the central and northwestern part of the study area,
occupying topographically low-lying area with
weathered zone thickness ranging from 10 to 20m.
River Suvarnavathi flows in NNE direction. They
shows good groundwater prospects due to moderate
thickness of weathering, tanks, major lineament,
and stream course with thick vegetation cover,
while Shallow weathered pediplains are flat and
smooth surfaced with thickness ranging from 0 to
10m. It occurs as vast tracts of fallow upland areas
with sparse vegetation. Groundwater availability is
generally moderate in view of their elevated

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 1191 B ASAVARAJAPPA. H. T, D INAKAR . S, S ATHISH. M. V, N AGESH. D,
B ALASUBRAMANIAN . A AND MANJUNATHA. M. C

Hydrogeomorphology: The term Groundwater fluctuation: Ferdowsian et al., (2001)

‘Hydrogeomorphology’ is designated for the study of
landforms as caused by the action of water
(Scheidegger, 1973). Hydrogeomorphological units
such as residual hills, pediments, pediplains, valley fills,
etc. of an area exercises a significant control on the
groundwater occurrence and movement (Kumar, 1999).
The obtained results show that pediplain and alluvium
were having good and remaining poor to moderately
good groundwater prospects.
Water Table: The water table refers to the elevation of
water surface in wells which cover only the shallow
depth region of the aquifer zone (Devis N, 1970). The
hard rock terrain is characterized by unconfined (or)
water table aquifers. Groundwater recharge is mainly by
direct infiltration of meteoric water. However, in some
places adjacent to the river and canal irrigated areas,
groundwater is recharged through infiltration of
irrigation water.
presented a new approach called HARTT (Hydrograph
Analysis: Rainfall and Time Trends) for statistically
estimating groundwater levels. Their method
differentiates the effect of rainfall fluctuations and the
underlying trend of groundwater levels over time. The
resultant composite coverage is classified into four
groundwater prospect zones such as Very Good, Good,
Moderate and Poor. This approach was adopted in this
work.
In the study area, 22 representative wells have been
identified as observation wells to study the fluctuation
in water table from season to season. Once in a month
water level in all observation wells are recorded. In a
period of 12 years (1990-2001), the obtained data have
been analyzed for seasonal and annual fluctuations. The
minimum water table level observed is 2.19m while the
maximum is 25.10m.

Integration: Groundwater potential zones are

controlled by various factors. The weightage of each
factor differs from place to place. Preparation of various
thematic maps and integrating them using the data of
various layers with proper weightages will certainly
provide the opportunity for target identification.
Integration of various thematic maps such as geology,
geomorphology, soil, slope, drainage, lineaments, land
use/land cover were prepared from Remote Sensing and
field data along with empirical modeling techniques.
Here, each of the thematic maps is assigned a weightage
grades and ranking from 1 to 4, with the value of 1
representing the poor and 4 representing the very good
groundwater prospects were used.
The very good and good prospect zones are noticed
adjacent to the major rivers and along KSZ, moderate
prospect zones occupies the pediplains, whereas poor
prospect zones occupies the Biligirirangan hills. This is
the end result of the integrated methodology adopted in
this region.

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ISSN 0974-5904, Vol. 06, No. 05(01), October 2013, pp. 1185-1194
 Delineation of Groundwater Potential Zones in Hard Rock Terrain of Kollegal Shear
Zone (Ksz), South India Using Remote Sensing and GIS
Conclusions: Kollegal Shear Zone (KSZ) trends toward
N100E to S100W, demarking the boundary between
low-land gneisses and high-land Biligirirangan
granulites of Dharwar craton. The Charnockite-
enderbitic granulites show ductile to ductile-brittle shear
deformation extending up to 60-65 km in length and 20-
25 km width. The study area includes part of 9 taluks
namely Yelandur, Kollegal, Chamarajanagar, Malavali,
Mysore, Gundalpet, T.Narsipur, Nanjangud and Small
patch of Tamil Nadu region, Talavadi, Dimbum of
Sathyamangala towards southern and southeastern part
are exactly in the highly disturbed and sheared rocks
were identified in Kollegal Shear Zone (KSZ). The
typical geomorphic landforms developed in the hard
rock terrains are denudational hill (poor), residual hill
(poor), inselbergs (moderate), pediments (poor),
pediplains (very good) and alluvial plain (very good
groundwater prospects). Paleo-channels are very fertile.
Moderate to good groundwater prospects were
identified in valleys controlled by lineaments and
fractures. Channel bars and sand bars were observed
near the course of Cauvery. Point bar formed at the
convex side of meandering river by lateral accretion of
sediments which found in meandering of river Cauvery.
The soil types are Clayey, Clayey mixed, Clayey
Skeletal and Loamy Skeletal which are well drained and
acts as poor to very good groundwater prospects. Major
parts are dominated by nearly level slope (35%) varying
from 0° - 1°, very gentle slope (30.6%) varying from 1°
- 3° and very steep slope (11.89%) varying >35°. The
study area has varied drainage patterns viz., Trellies,
rectangular, sub-parallel, radial, dendritic, sub-dendritic,
deranged anastomatic and dichotomic patterns. Most of
the lineaments are trending towards N-N10°E direction.
About 67.85% of the land was occupied by agriculture
land, 38.54% of Kharif crops are occupies in the
pediplains region, which are rainfed crops even double
crops are noticed in alluvial plains. The obtained results
show that pediplain and alluvium were having good and
remaining poor to moderately good groundwater
prospects. The minimum water table level observed is
2.19m while the maximum is 25.10m. The resultant
composite coverage is classified into four groundwater
prospect zones such as Very Good, Good, Moderate and
Poor based on weightage grades and ranking from 1 to
4, with one representing the poor and 4 representing the
very good groundwater prospects and were delineated.
It is found that the application of GIS and RS techniques
using criterion based weightages, as adopted in this
work, will certainly help in deciphering the groundwater
potentials in general, especially in typical hard rock
terrains.
Acknowledgement: The Authors are indepthly
acknowledged Prof. B. Basavalingu, Chairman, Prof. S.
Sathyanarayana, Department of Studies in Earth
International Journal of Earth Sciences and Engineering
ISSN 0974-5904, Vol. 06, No. 05(01), October 2013, pp. 1185-1194
1192
Science, Manasagangothri, University of Mysore,
Mysore, Dr. R. Nagendra, Anna University, Chennai
and UGC, New Delhi for financial support.
Reference:
[1] AIS & LUS. Watershed atlas of India, department
of Agriculture and co-operation. All India soil and
land use survey, IARI campus, New Delhi, 1990.
[2] Basavarajappa H.T., Petrology, geochemistry and
fluid inclusions studies of charnockites and
associated rocks around Biligirirangan hills,
Karnataka, India. unpub. Ph.D thesis., Univ. of
Mysore., PP: 1-96., 1992.
[3] Basavarajappa H.T and Srikantappa.C.,
Geotectonic Signatures in the Biligirirangan Hills,
Karnataka, South India. Neotectonic Movements
and the Geo-environmental Impacts (NETMOGEI),
Vol.1, PP: 3-4., 1996.
[4] Basavarajappa H.T., and Srikantappa, c.,
Retrograde charnockite-gneiss relations in the
Kollegal shear zone, Karnataka, India. The Indian
Mineralogist, vol.33, No.2, PP: 70-80., 1999.
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