Govt.

of India
MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES
CENTRAL GROUND WATER BOARD

PURI DISTRICT, ORISSA

South Eastern Region

Bhubaneswar
March, 2013

1
 PURI DISTRICT AT A GLANCE
Sl ITEMS Statistics
No
1. GENERAL INFORMATION
i. Geographical Area (Sq. Km.) 3479
ii. Administrative Divisions as on
31.03.2011
Number of Tehsil / Block 7 Tehsils, 11 Blocks
Number of Panchayat / Villages 230 Panchayats
1715 Villages
iii Population (As on 2011 Census) 16,97,983
iv Average Annual Rainfall (mm) 1449.1
2. GEOMORPHOLOGY
Major physiographic units Very gently sloping plain and saline marshy
tract along the coast, the undulating hard rock
areas with lateritic capping and isolated
hillocks in the west
Major Drainages Daya, Devi, Kushabhadra, Bhargavi, and Prachi
3. LAND USE (Sq. Km.)
a) Forest Area 90.57
b) Net Sown Area 1310.93
c) Cultivable Area 1887.45
4. MAJOR SOIL TYPES Alfisols, Aridsols, Entisols and Ultisols
5. AREA UNDER PRINCIPAL CROPS Paddy 171172 Ha,
(As on 31.03.2011)
6. IRRIGATION BY DIFFERENT SOURCES
(Areas and Number of Structures)
Dugwells, Tube wells / Borewells DW 560Ha(Kharif), 508Ha(Rabi),

Major/Medium Irrigation Projects 66460Ha (Kharif), 48265Ha(Rabi),

Minor Irrigation Projects 127 Ha (Kharif),

Minor Irrigation Projects(Lift) 9621Ha (Kharif), 9080Ha (Rabi),

Other sources 9892Ha(Kharif), 13736Ha (Rabi),

Net irrigated area 105106Ha (Total irrigated area.)

Gross irrigated area 158249 Ha
7. NUMBERS OF GROUND WATER
MONITORING WELLS OF CGWB ( As on
31-3-2011)
No of Dugwells 57
No of Piezometers 12
10. PREDOMINANT GEOLOGICAL Alluvium, laterite in patches
FORMATIONS
11. HYDROGEOLOGY
Major Water bearing formation 0.16 mbgl to 5.96 mbgl
Pre-monsoon Depth to water level during
2011

2
Sl ITEMS Statistics
No
Post-monsoon Depth to water level during 0.08 mbgl to 5.13 mbgl
2011
Long term water level trend in 10 yrs (2001- Pre-monsoon: 0.001 to 0.303m/yr (Rise) 0.0 to
2011) in m/yr 0.554 m/yr (Fall). Post- monsoon: 0.004 to
0.302 m/yr (Rise). 0.0 to 0.183 m/yr (Fall).
12. GROUND WATER EXPLORATION BY
CGWB (As on 31-03-2011)
No of wells drilled(EW, OW, PZ, SH, Total) 13EW, 5PZ, 7SH, Deposit wells-9
Depth Range(m) 105-602
Discharge(litres per second) 36.32 to 221.4 m3/hr
Storativity(S) 6.7 X 10-2 to 2.8 X 10-5
Transmissivity(m2/day) 34.1 to 8189
13. GROUND WATER QUALITY
Presence of Chemical constituents more than As it is a coastal area high EC is reported, high
permissible limit (e.g. EC, F, As, Fe) Fe is also reported and high F above the
permissible limit of 1.5 mg/l is reported.
Type of Water (Na + K) +Ca, (Cl + NO3) + HCO3 High EC
and Fe is reported. High fluoride above the
permissible limit of 1.5 mg/l is also
sporadically reported.
14. DYNAMIC GROUND WATER
RESOURCES (2009) – in
Annual Replenishable Ground Water 58806 HaM
Resources
Net Annual Ground Water Draft 10448 HaM
Projected Demand for Domestic and 4102 HaM
Industrial Uses upto 2025
Stage of Ground Water Development 17.77 %
15. AWARENESS AND TRAINING ACTIVITY
Mass Awareness Programmes organized
Date 16-03-2001 and 19-11-2004
Place Puri Town
No of Participants 250
Water Management Training Programmes
organized
Date 18 & 19- 11-2006
Place Puri Town
No of Participants 100
16. EFFORTS OF ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE &
RAIN WATER HARVESTING
Projects completed by CGWB (No & Amount Talsuan creek, Kakatpur block.
spent) Total cost of the project – 20 lakhs.
Projects under technical guidance of CGWB Nil
(Numbers)
17. GROUND WATER CONTROL AND
REGULATION
Number of OE Blocks Nil
No of Critical Blocks Nil
3
Sl ITEMS Statistics
No
No of Blocks notified Nil
18. MAJOR GROUND WATER PROBLEMS In the Jagannath Temple area there is depletion
AND ISSUES of water table and the ground water is
contaminated with high PO43- and NO3- .

4
 1.0 INTRODUCTION
Puri is one of the nine coastal alluvial district of eastern Orissa with a geographical area of 3479 sq. km. About
84.3 percent of the population of the district live in rural areas and agriculture is the main stay of the people.
Puri district lies between North latitudes 19°28’ and 20° 10’ and East longitude 85° 09’ and 86°25’, falling in
Survey of India toposheet nos74 E, 73 H, 74I, 73L. It is bounded on the north by Jagatsinghpur and Cuttack
district; on the east by Bay of Bengal, on the south by Ganjam district, and on the west by Khurda district. The
district has only one subdivision. There are 11 community development blocks in the district. The district is well
connected by rail and roads and is about 60 kms from Bhubaneshwar. All the block headquarters are connected
by metalled roads. The district comprises only one subdivision and 11 Community Development Blocks with
the district headquarters at Puri (Plate-1). According to 2001 census data, the total population of the district is
15,02,682 constituting 4.08 % of the total population and 2.23% of total land area of Orissa. The rural and
urban populations are 12,98,654 and 2,04,028 respectively. The density of population is 138 against the state
figure of 236 persons per sq. km.

Puri district falls in the Mahanadi river basin and the main drainage is formed by the rivers Daya, Devi,
Kushabhadra, Bhargavi, and Prachi, which have southerly, southeasterly and south westerly courses. The river
Bhargavi changes its course from north south to southwest near Sakhigopal and further downstream it bifurcates
into numerous channels. All the rivers have reached their old stage and are meandering in nature, branching into
a number of distributaries draining into the sea or the Chilika lake. Other important rivers flowing in the area are
Kadua, Ratnachira, Dhanua and Kandal. The tidal effects are observed upstream even upto 10kms from the
confluence point. All the rivers maintain sluggish flow during the summer months, but swell menacingly during
the rainy season. The other important surface water bodies in the district are Sar and Samang lakes. Another
important water body is Chilika, which is a lagoon separated long back from Bay of Bengal.

Puri district is covered by well developed irrigation network covered by Mahanadi Delta Stage-II canal
systems. The net sown area in the district is 1,31,093 ha. Only 9% of the cultivable area is irrigated. The total
cultivable land in the district is 188745 Ha and irrigated area is 105106 Ha. There are three crop seasons in
command area and two crop seasons in non-command area. The Kharif crops are Paddy, Jute, Oilseeds, and
Pulses etc. The Rabi crops are Paddy, Gram, Pulses, Groundnut, Oilseeds, Mustard, Vegetables and Potato etc.
and summer crops include summer Paddy, Cowpea, Vegetables, Groundnut, Ragi. Paddy is the principal crop
of the district and is cultivated in 171172 Ha in 2004-05.

Systematic geological mapping of the district has been completed by the officers of Ground Water
Division of Geological Survey of India during the seasons 1968-69 and 1969-70. The entire district has been
covered by systematic hydrogeological survey by S/Shri B.B. Basak, G.K. Roy, Scientist ‘B’during the field
seasons1984-85, 85-86, 91-92 and 1995-96. The district has further been covered through reappraisal surveys by
S/Shri N.C.Nayak, P.K.Naik Scientist‘B’ of Central Ground Water Board during the period 2000-2001 and
2005-06 on 1:50,000 scale. The district report on hydrogeological framework and groundwater development
prospects in Puri District, Orissa was prepared by Shri G.K. Roy, Scientist-D on November-2004.

Ground water exploration by deep drilling upto 602m has been taken up in the district and 13nos.
exploratory wells so far has been drilled to delineate the deeper potential aquifer. The location of the wells are
depicted in Plate –I Ground water monitoring is being done through 69 hydrograph network stations four times
in a year.

5
 2.0 RAINFALL & CLIMATE

The south-west monsoon is the principal source of rainfall in the district. Average annual rainfall of the
district is 1449.1 mm. About 75% of the total rainfall is received during the period from June-September.
Floods are quite common in the district. As the district mainly receives rainfall from south-west monsoon which
is very erratic. Analysis of 24 years of rainfall data from 1982 to 2006 reveals that the rainfall is uneven with
maximum rainfall (2146mm) in 1991 and minimum (522mm) in1974.

The climate of the district is subtropical with hot and dry summer and pleasant winter. The summer
season extends from March to middle of June followed by the rainy season from June to September. The winter
season extends from November till the end of February. Relative humidity is generally high throughout the year
and at Puri it varies from 62-85%. The mean monthly potential evapo-transpiration values varies from 57mm.
in January to 254mm in May. The mean annual wind velocity at Puri (IMD) station, is recorded as 14.8 km/hr.
During summer and southwest monsoon months wind velocity increases.

3.0 GEOMORPHOLOGY & SOIL TYPES

Physiographically the district can be broadly divided into three natural divisions, viz,
(i) The Saline marshy tract along the coast.
(ii) The very gently sloping plain.
(iii) Undulating hard rock areas with lateritic capping and isolated hillocks.
The coastal sand dunes occur as a linear strip, running parallel to the shore line, which maintain higher
altitude than the immediate interior part. The width of this tract varies from few hundred meters to 7km.
Swamps and tidal flats are also common in this tract.
The deltaic plains may be divided into three parts: lower, middle and upper. The lower deltaic plains occur
adjacent to the coastal sand dunes, having a width of 5 to 10km. Extensive flood plains, meandering stream
curves, swamps, minor ridges etc. characterize this geomorphic unit. The Sar and Samang lake near Puri were
important features in this terrain which have been silted up at present. The middle deltaic plains have
characteristic parallel to sub-parallel drainage pattern and splitting distributaries. The upper deltaic plains occur
along the course of the Daya river with an width of 2 to 3 km. This alluvial plain is characteristically flat. The
altitude of the deltaic plain varies from 1 to 10m above mean sea level.
The undulating hard rock terrain occurring over a limited area in the western parts covering Delang and
Kanas blocks, maintain a general slope towards south. The country rocks are often covered by laterites and the
general elevation varies from 8 to 15m above mean sea level.
There are mainly three types of soils in the area, which are Alfisols, Aridsols and Entisols. However, Ultisols
occur over a small patch in the northwestern sector of the district.
Alfisols: The deltaic alluvial soils belong to this group and occupy major parts of the area. These deltaic soils
are generally deficient in P2O5 and N2. The K2O are fairly adequate, and pH varies between 6.5 and 7.3.
Generally these soils support paddy crops.
Ardisols: These are saline and saline alkali soils found near the coast and are restricted to Krushnaprasad and
Astarang blocks. In Astarang block it occurs along the course of the Devi river. These soils are rich in calcium,
magnesium and contain half decomposed organic matter.
Entisols: these include youngest alluvial soils occurring in the western parts of the district, coastal sandy soils
around Chilika lake and in the coastal tract. These soils are deficient in nitrogen, phosphoric acid and humus
material, but generally not in potash and lime. The pH values are on the alkaline side. The texture varies from
sandy to loamy sand. These are fertile soils and can produce a wide variety of crops, including paddy, wheat,
sugarcane, cotton, banana and tobacco.
Ultisols: The Ultisols soil include the laterite and lateritic soils found in a small area in the northern part of the
district in and around Delang, characterized by compact vesicular mass. It is developed on the hard rock terrain
as well as in the alluvial areas. The soil is gravelly to loamy and rich in iron, aluminium but low in nitrogen,
phosphorous, potash and silica. Fertility of the soil is low and it is well drained.

6
 4.0 GROUNDWATER SCENARIO

4.1`Hydrogeology
The geological formations in the district spans in age from Archean to Recent (Quaternary). The Tertiary
and Quaternary formations occurring over major parts of the district while the Archeans occupy the hilly areas
under higher altitudes in the west.
The Quaternary deposits consist of laterites and alluvium. While the laterite occurs only in the western
and northwestern parts, major parts of the district are covered by alluvium of varying thickness. The average
thickness of laterite is around 8 to 10m.The older alluvium is generally exposed in the northwestern parts
including a sequence of sand, clay and kankars of grey to brown in colour. The younger alluvium, which covers
nearly 90% of the area, occurs as flood plain deposits along the course of major rivers and streams. These
sediments consist of an admixture of silt, sand, gravel and pebble in varying proportions. These layers increase
in thickness towards the sea, showing a gentle dip. Discontinuous ridges of sand dunes occur along the coast
and are formed due to wind action.

(i) Areas underlain by alluvium.

(ii) Areas underlain by fractured, fissured and consolidated basement rock formations.

Water bearing properties of the Consolidated formations:

The aquifer system in the district may be broadly divided into
(i) Shallow aquifers (ii) Deeper aquifers.

6.1.1 Shallow Aquifer

The thickness of shallow aquifers (near surface aquifer) varies widely due to salinity problem. The
geological setup as discussed earlier controls the occurrence and movement of ground water. The crystalline
Archeans are devoid of primary porosity. Although they possesses secondary porosity on being weathered and
fractured. However, the unconsolidated sand and gravel layers of Tertiary and Quaternary age form the main
repository of ground water. Groundwater occurs under water table conditions in shallow aquifers. All the
hydrogeological formations can be broadly divided into three sub groups viz. (a) Crystalline formations (b)
Sedimentary formations and (c) Laterites.
The unconsolidated or porous formations comprising of Tertiary and Quaternary sediments, encountered
in the major parts of the district. The sand and gravel layers form the main repository of ground water in this
area. The groundwater in near surface shallow aquifers occurs under phreatic conditions, even down to a depth
of even 135 m below ground level. The laterites occurring as capping over the country rocks are vesicular,
ferruginous and highly porous, which support large number of domestic wells.

6.1.2 Deeper aquifers

The occurrence of fresh water bearing deeper aquifers are identified from available bore hole data down
to a maximum depth of 602m in Puri town. The available information indicate that in general the deeper fresh
water bearing zones are sandwitched between saline water bearing zones. The fresh water bearing zones are
composed of sand, silt, clay, gravel and among these materials sand and gravel horizon and mixture of sand and
gravel zones form the prolific fresh water bearing aquifers. The deeper aquifers occur under semi confined and
confined conditions. The aquifers are extensive, interconnected and have prolific yield potentials (upto 65 lps).
The thickness of individual aquifers varies from 6 to 7m, while the cumulative thickness of aquifer materials
down to a depth of 250m varies from 10 to 79m. The common groundwater abstraction structures are dug wells,
shallow tube wells, deep tube wells and filter points.

7
Groundwater Exploration

In Puri district Central Ground Water Board has drilled 13 exploratory wells, 9 deposit wells, 5 deep
piezometers, and 7 slim holes. The depth of the borehole varies from 54.57m at Santrapur to 602m at
Agricultural farm, Puri. The hard crystalline basement complex was encountered at several places at different
depths, shallowest in Delang (119.8m) and deepest at Jagannathballabh in Puri Sadar block (556m). In the
central part of the district basement was encountered at 208m depth at Rupadeipur, 282m at Sakhigopal.
Athgarh sandstone was encountered in the borehole of Pipli at 56m. depth.

The yield of the exploratory borewells varied from 36.32 m3/hr to 221.4 m3/hr. The transmissivity values
ranges from 34.10 m2/day at Sakhigopal to 8189 m2/day at Tompalo.The storativity values varies from 6.7 x
10-2 to 2.8 x 10-5. The static water level in deeper aquifer varies from 0.05 to 9.97 mbgl. Some of the deeper
aquifer are autoflow in nature.

Auto flow zones

In the southern sector of the area, adjoining Chilika lake a numbers of auto flow wells are found which
have been constructed by PHED and DANIDA. Autoflow wells are located in Krishnaprasad, Brahmagiri
blocks and partly in Kanas, Delang, Puri Sadar and Satyabadi block. The zones tapped varies from 150m to 250
mbgl. At Sadanandapur and Birgobindapur (74 E/13) two auto flow wells have been constructed by Danida.
The piezometric head at Birgobindapur has been found to be 2.64 magl and at Sadanandapur it is about 0.45
magl. The temperature of water from auto flow wells varies from 29 0C at Sadanandapur to 350C at Bengama.
The temperature of the auto flow wells around Chilika varies from 32 0C to350C. The quality of water varies
from fresh at Sanabandha to saline at Sadanandapur. The well at Birgobindapur was fresh at the beginning but
with time at present it has turned into saline well.

Depth to Water Level (Pre-monsoon and Post-monsoon, 2011)

The depth to water level is measured from the National Hydrograph Staions situated in different blocks of the
Puri district. The Pre monsoon, 2011 water level data varies from 0.16 mbgl (Pratapramchandrapur) to 5.96
mbgl (Satpada). The depth to water level map of pre -monsoon, 2011 is displayed in Plate II.

The depth to water level data of Post-monsoon, 2011 represents 0.08 mbgl (Sadanandapur) to 5.13 mbgl
(Ramchandi). Plate III represents depth to water level map of post –monsoon,2011.

Seasonal Fluctuation

The fluctuation of depth to water level in 2011 between pre-monsoon and post-monsoon varies from 0.1 m
(Juinti) to 3.51 m (Chandanpur).

Long Term Water Level Trend in last 10 years in Ground Water Monitoring wells

The long term trend of ( 10 years ) in water level for the pre-monsoon shows rise from 0.001 to
0.303m/yr. Fall in water level is restricted within 0.0 to 0.554 m/yr. 63.6% of the wells show rising trend and
36.4 % of the wells show falling trend.

The long term trend of (10 years) in water level for post monsoon season shows rise in water level from
0.004 to 0.302m/yr. The fall in water level is in the range of 0.0 to 0.183 m/yr. 63.4% of the wells show rising
trend and 36.6 % of the wells show falling trend.
8
4.2 Ground Water Resources

The Ground Water Resources of the district has been assessed adopting the methodology recommended by the
Groundwater Estimation Committee (1997), constituted by Govt. of India. The task was jointly carried out by
the Central Ground Water Board and Ground water Survey & Investigation, Department of Water Resources,
Govt. of Orissa. The block wise computation of ground water resources in the district has been presented in
Table 4.1. The Annual Replenishable ground water resources in the district are computed as 58806 HaM, out of
which the existing Ground Water Draft for irrigation is 7246 HaM. The ground water draft for irrigation is
through dug wells shallow tube wells and tube wells. So far ground water development in the district has been
meagre, and all the blocks fall under the safe category. The stage of ground water development varies from
4.83% (Krushnaprasas) to 29.45% (Puri) in different blocks. The overall Stage of Groundwater development of
the district is 17.77%. There is ample scope for stepping up ground water development in the district. The
ground water budget of the district is presented in Plate No. IV.
Table-4.1 Ground Water Resources of Puri District
(in ha m)
Sl No Assesment Net Annual Existing Existing Existing Allocation Net Ground Stage of
Unit/ District Ground Gross Gross Gross for domestic Water Ground Water
Water Ground Ground Ground and availability Development
Availability Water Water water industrial for future {(6/3)*100}%
Draft for draft for draft for requirement irrigation
irrigation domentic all uses supply upto Development
and (4+5) next 25 (3-4-7)
industrial years
Water
Supply

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Puri
1 Astaranga 2496.00 382.00 138.82 521.00 177.00 1937.00 20.87
2 Brahmagiri 7515.00 1070.00 232.25 1302.00 312.00 6133.00 17.33
3 Delanga 4024.00 782.00 245.13 1026.00 330.00 2913.00 25.50
4 Gop 6346.00 622.00 293.86 916.00 399.00 5325.00 14.43
5 Kakatpur 3379.00 675.00 186.07 860.00 241.00 2463.00 25.45
6 Kanas 4498.00 263.00 262.99 526.00 336.00 3898.00 11.69
7 Krushnaprasad 11418.00 381.00 170.00 551.00 251.00 10786.00 4.83
8 Nimapada 5882.00 1122.00 398.44 1520.00 535.00 4225.00 25.84
9 Pipli 5337.00 840.00 340.51 1181.00 435.00 4062.00 22.13
10 Puri 4742.00 721.00 680.65 1401.00 768.00 3254.00 29.54
11 Satyabadi 3169.00 388.00 256.51 644.00 318.00 2463.00 20.32
District Total 58806.00 7246.00 10448.00 4102.00 47459.00
3205.00 17.77

4.3 Ground Water Quality

The chemical quality of ground water in the district has been assessed on the basis of ground water
samples collected during ground water monitoring, hydrogeological surveys and ground water exploration. The
range of different chemical constituents in shallow and deeper aquifers is given in Table-4.2.

9
 Range of different chemical constituents in shallow aquifers

Table 4.2 Range of Chemical Constituents in Different Aquifers

Shallow aquifer Deeper aquifer

Chemical constituents Range Average Range Average
E.C. (µs/cm at 250c) 155-4882 353-2829 159-8920 524-4086
pH - - 7.1-8.2 7.13-8.1
Bicarbonate (mg/l) - - 20-439 116-390
Chloride(mg/l) 14-1389 57-695 3-3332 46-1536
Nitrate(mg/l) 0-164 2.54-8.61 0-13 0.5-10
Fluoride(mg/l) 0.34-12 0.48-2.65 0.07-1.9 0.2-1.3
Total Hardness (mg/l) 40-940 90-580 25-1640 70-351
Calcium(mg/l) - - 8-409 14-84
Magnesium(mg/l) - - 4.9-151 8.5-40
Sodium(mg/l) - - 7.2-1449 53-463
Potassium(mg/l) - - 4-36 7.7-33
Carbonate(mg/l) - - - -
Sulphate(mg/l) - - 0-448 11-240
Iron(mg/l) 0.07-8.63 0.51-2.47 0.01-9.93 0.25-0.89
Silica(mg/l) - - 18-66 18-29

As it is a coastal district so salinity hazard is very common in both shallow and deeper aquifer and
electrical conductivity reaches as high as 8920 mg/l. High value of chloride, sodium and sulphate is reported in
deeper aquifer. High fluoride is reported sporadically in shallow aquifer but so far no health hazard is reported.
The suitability of ground water for irrigation in the district has been assessed by use of US salinity diagram
prepared on the basis of sodium absorption ratio (SAR) and specific conductance. The classification of water in
the district is given in Table 4.3 below.

Table 4.3 US Salinity Classification

Classification No. of Samples

based on Grade
Salinity Deeper aquifer Deeper aquifer (%)
diagram (Total-19)

C1S1 Good 2 10.52

C1S2 Moderately Good - -

-

C1S3 Unsuitable - -

C1S4 Highly Unsuitable - -

C2S1 Good 5 26.31

C2S2 Moderately Good 1 5.26

C2S3 Unsuitable -- -

10
 C3S1 Moderately Good 1 5.26

C3S2 Unsuitable 1 5.26

C4S1 Unsuitable 4 21.05

C4S3 Unsuitable 3 15.79

C4S4 Unsuitable 2 10.52

It may be noted that about 50% of the groundwater samples collected from deeper aquifers are not suitable for
irrigation purposes as it is a coastal area and suffers from salinity hazard. From Piper diagram it is interpreted
that in deeper aquifer the water type is (Na+K) + Ca – (Cl + NO3)+ HCO3 .

4.4 Status of Ground Water Development

Ground water development in the district is mainly through dug wells, shallow tube wells and deep tube
wells. Ground water is mainly used for domestic and irrigation purpose and in limited scale for industrial
purposes. The stage of development of ground water in the district is low. So far only 10.51% of its resources
has been exploited. Hence a strategy for detailed ground water development is required. Depth range,
probable thickness of aquifers and yield of different groundwater structures in Puri district is
given in Table -4.4. The hydrogeological, remote sensing studies and ground water exploration so far carried
out in the district depict the tentative possibilities of ground water development through suitable ground water
abstraction structures in various hydrogeological settings (Plate –VI).
Table-4.4
Depth range, probable thickness of aquifers and yield of different groundwater
structures in Puri district
Sl. Type of Depth Probable Probable Approx Hydrogeologic
No. structure range thickness yield command al setting
or aquif er (LPS) area (Ha)
1 Dugwell 9-12 4.5-6 <3 1 Cr ystalline and
alluvial area
2. Borewell 60-150 - <5 3 Cr ystalline
area
3. Filter point 25-60 10-15 <10 Alluvial area
and shallow
tubewells
4. Medium 60-100 20-30 15-40 25 Tertiary and
deep alluvial area
tubewell
5. Deep 135 -290 30-40 >40 40 Alluvial area
tubewell

The areas suitable for different structures are described below:

Medium deep Tube wells: The medium deep tube wells are feasible in alluvial areas in Gop, Kakatpur,
Nimapara, Pipli. The depth of wells may range from 60-100 m tapping 20-30 m of aquifer thickness. The
diameter of the wells can be 150 mm and the yield may range from 15-40 lps. Submersible pumps 7.5 to 20 HP
can be installed depending on yield.
11
Shallow Tubewells: The shallow tube wells are feasible in Gop, Kakatpur, Astarang , Nimapara, Pipli blocks
covering alluvial formations. The depth of these wells will be less than 50 m. and the diameter of these wells
can be 100 mm and the yield is expected to be less than 10 lps.
Filter point Tubewells:- The filter point tube wells are feasible in alluvial areas covering parts of Gop,
Kakatpur, Nimapara, Pipli blocks. The depth of these wells are generally within 45 m tapping a aquifer
thickness of 10-15 m. The yield of filter point tube wells is expected to be up to 10 lps. The diameter of the filter
point tube well may be 100 mm and borewell may be 150 mm and submersible pump of 2 to 3 HP can be
installed.
Dug wells: The dug wells are feasible in all the blocks. In the blocks like Brahmagiri, Krushnaprasad, which
are beset with salinity problems, where the ground water is saline from top to bottom, the dug wells are
feasible only in pockets where fresh water is available in a limited area. Depth of the dug wells in the alluvial
areas vary from 9 to 12 meters with a dia of 4.5 to 6 meter. The yield of the wells is expected to be less than 3
lps and centrifugal pumps of 2 HP can be installed

5.0 Ground Water Management Strategy

5.1 Ground Water Development

The Ground Water Development of the entire Puri District is depicted in Plate -VI. Depending on the
hydrogeological condition of the area the development possibilities has been predicted.

5.2 Water Conservation & Artificial Recharge

As it is a coastal area in Pre-monsoon also water level recorded is less than 5mbgl except in Puri
Municipality where deeper water level of more than 10 m is reported. Roof Top Rain Water Harvesting has to
be followed in Puri Municipality. In islands like Mahasa-Barahampura etc in Krushnaprasad block due to
salinity hazard there is acute shortage of fresh water. In these areas rainwater is the only source of fresh water.

A creek project has been taken up in coastal saline hazard areas of Kakatpur block for utilizing the minor
creeks and nalas for storing the fresh water for irrigation and side by side injecting the fresh water into saline
water bearing shallow aquifers so that the salinity of water can be reduced and make it useful for irrigation and
other purpose. The length of the Talasuan creek is 3.5km and sub creeks are 7.0 km. The total drainage area is
500 ha. The creeks and sub creeks are silted up. It was proposed to construct sluice gate to regulate the flow of
sweet/fresh water and renovation of creek and sub creeks at estimated cost of Rs20 lakhs. With this, drainage
congestion will be relieved and ingress of saline water can be checked through sluice gate.

6.0 Ground Water related issues & Problems

6.1 Ground Water Problems
Salinity Hazard: The area lies in eastern coastal tract where salinity prevails in phreatic as well as in deeper
aquifer. In Krushnaprasad, Brahmagiri, Delang, Kanas, Gop, Astaranga, Puri Sadar block etc. salinity hazard is
widespread. In Pipli, Nimapara, Kakatpur salinity hazard is less prevalent.
In Puri district 19480ha (7.3%) is affected with salinity and 15192ha (5.72%) is waterlogged. In 2006,
crop of 1606 villages of 232 grampanchayat was submerged (submergence more than 50%) due to flood . Total
area affected was 58465 ha which is 22 %of the total area.

Water logging and Crop submergence: In Puri district 19480 ha (7.3%) is affected with salinity and 15192ha
(5.72%) is waterlogged. In 2006, crop of 1606 villages of 232 grampanchayat was submerged (submergence
more than 50%) due to flood. Total area affected was 58465 ha which is 22 %of the total area. Waterlogged
area, saline area and crop submergence (in 2006) in Puri district is given in Table-6.1

12
 Table-6.1
Waterlogged Areas/ Saline area/ Crop Submergence (in 2006) in Puri District (Area in ha)

Sl.N Block Total area Saline % of area Waterlo- % of area Submergence in 2006
o area affected by gged area waterlo-
salinity gged No. of No. of Total area % of area
GP village affected affected
affected affected
1 Astaranga 16223 2500 15.41 185 1.14 14 97 2663 16.41
2 Brahmagiri 30289 3000 9.90 6621 21.86 18 164 2948 9.73
3 Delang 20189 80 0.39 128 0.63 18 135 7765 38.46
4 Gop 33340 1500 4.50 628 1.88 30 209 7904 23.70
5 Kakatpur 16706 2000 11.97 3378 20.22 14 115 3251 19.46
6 Kanas 22668 700 3.09 146 0.64 22 138 6344 27.98
7 Krushnaprasad 32873 8000 24.34 705 2.14 20 110 5535 16.83
8 Nimapara 28403 0 0 890 3.13 29 211 4092 14.40
9 Pipli 20324 0 0 425 2.09 20 178 5755 28.31
10 Puri Sadar 26082 1700 6.52 1703 6.53 25 153 6412 24.58
11 Satyabadi 18309 0 0 383 2.09 22 96 5796 31.65
Total 265406 19480 7.3 15192 5.72 232 1606 58465 22.03

Ground Water Pollution : As no major industries are located in the district ground water pollution is not
reported in Puri district except in Puri urban area. As the phreatic aquifer extends upto 39 meter below ground
level and there is no confining layer there is chances of contamination from municipal wastes. Hence suitable
sewarage system is urgently required to be planned and implemented to curb further ground water
contamination. The area surrounding the famous temple of Sri Jagannath have most of the houses and the
dharamasalas the traditional soak pit system of faecal waste disposal. Storm water drains exist only for disposal
of other domestic wastes. There is considerable contamination of both shallow and deeper aquifers. High PO43-
and NO3- have been detected mostly in the thickly populated area. The concentration of the NO3- varies
between 91-336 mg/l.

Ground Water Depletion: The stage of ground water development in different blocks varies from 3.72%
(Krushnaprasad) to 16.88% (Delang) with the overall stage of development 10.51% in the district. So all the
blocks fall in safe category. As it is a coastal area there is no significant decline in water level in Puri district.
But in Puri urban area the stage of ground water development is almost 100%. Both in Pre- and Post-monsoon
deeper water level of more than 8 mbgl is reported particularly in the Temple area as there is very little scope
for recharge of rainfall. Hence, the sweet water recharge in Chakratirtha and Baliapanda areas needs to be
protected.
7.0 Awareness & Training Activity
7.1 Mass Awareness Programme (MAP) & Water Management Training Programme (WMTP) by
CGWB
(i) Mass Awareness Programme (MAP) Puri, Puri District:
The program was organized twice on 16-03-2001 and 19-11-2004 at Puri town, Puri district. More than
250 persons including farmers, Block Development Officers, District level officers/ officials have participated
in program. Deliberations on ground water development protection and conservation were held among the
participants and CGWB scientists.

13
 The exhibition was arranged in which the achievements of CGWB were displayed through different
models, plates, photographs and instruments. Different posters were displayed for conservation of ground
water, ground water pollution and its effects and slogans protecting this valuable resource. The programme
have received high appreciation and were widely covered by press as well as electronic media.

(i) Water Management Training Programme (WMTP) Puri, Puri District:

The program was organised on 17-03-2001 and 18- 11-2004 at Puri town. Deliberation on Ground Water
Development Protection and Conservation were held among the participants and CGWB scientists.
An exhibition was organized in which the achievements of CGWB were displayed through different
models, plates, photographs and instruments. Different posters were displayed for conservation of ground
water, ground water pollution and its effects and slogans protecting this valuable resource. The programme
have received high appreciation and were widely covered by press as well as electronic media.
8.0 Areas Notified by CGWA
The stage of groundwater development is well within safe category and there is no overexploitation and
major threat of groundwater pollution and depletion. Hence no area has been notified by CGWA.

9.0 Recommendations
1. Large scale planning for Ground Water Resources development should be preceded by intensive
hydrogeological and geophysical survey aided by Remote Sensing studies and ground truth data.
2. As the district is a part of coastal area salinity hazard is prevalent in the area. In Puri district 19480 ha
(7.3%) is affected with salinity. In Krushnaprasad block adjacent to Chilika lake and Brahmagiri, Kanas
block salinity hazard is acute.
3. Though in most part of the district water level is between 2-4 mbgl but deeper water level of more than
8mbgl is reported in both Pre- and Post-monsoon in Puri urban area. Roof top rain water harvesting can
only enhance ground water recharge and check the depleting water table.

4. Renovation of old ancestral structures like ponds/tanks etc. should be renovated which enhances ground
water recharge and stores rainwater. Experiments have shown that removal of bottom clay enhances
ground water recharge upto 10 times.

5. Though 55 % of the cultivable area of the district is covered with irrigation facilities Krishnaprasad
block is having no irrigation facilities yet. Harvesting of rainwater is the only viable alternative by
development of minor irrigation facilities.

6. As it is a coastal district the water level is shallow and 15192ha (5.72%) of the area is waterlogged. In
2006, crop of 1606 villages of 232 grampanchayat was submerged. So appropriate drainage clearance
measured has to be taken to check waterlogging.

7. Siltation is the main problem Chilika lake is facing and it is calculated to be 1.5 sq. km. per year. Due
care must be taken to reduce this load by suitable plantation and watershed development programme in
the catchment areas.

8. In Puri district 19480ha (7.3%) is affected with salinity and 15192ha (5.72%) is waterlogged. In 2006,
crop of 1606 villages of 232 grampanchayat was submerged (submergence more than 50%) due to flood.
Total area affected was 58465 ha which is 22 %of the total area. Total area affected was 58465 ha which
is 22 % of the total area.

14
9. In the islands of the Chilika lake area there is acute salinity problem and shortage of fresh water so
rainwater harvesting is the only scope for fresh water.

10. In Jagannath Temple area there is decline in ground water table because of overexploitation and
decreasing recharge to ground water. So Roof Top Rainwater harvesting is the only alternative. Due to
overexploitation of ground water along the Puri coast there are chances of sea water intrusion.
Overexploitation of ground water has to be stopped.
11. The ground water of the area surrounding the famous temple of Sri Jagannath is contaminated with high
PO43- and NO3- . Proper measures has to be taken up to protect the ground water.

12. The sweet water recharge in Chakratirtha and Baliapanda areas needs to be protected to enhance ground
water recharge.

15
16
17
18
19
Plate -5

20
21