Water Crisis Relief for Pokhran as Heliborne Survey Detects New Groundwater Sources

News of relief and new hope has emerged for the Pokhran Assembly constituency. The results of the state-of-the-art heliborne survey conducted in this desert region, which has long been facing water shortages, are encouraging. The survey has revealed clear indications of groundwater availability in several areas where traditional efforts have failed. This strengthens the prospects for a permanent solution in the water-starved regions of western Rajasthan.

This survey, conducted in 2021, has now been finalized by the Central Ground Water Board and submitted as a report to the District Collector, Jaisalmer. According to the report, groundwater potential has been identified at a total of 64 locations in the Pokhran area. Of these, 55 locations were previously unconfirmed. Significantly, these are mostly villages that have faced a serious drinking water problem for years.

According to senior groundwater scientist Dr. Narayan Das Inakhia, most of the Pokaran tehsil has long been considered water-poor. According to geological beliefs, the potential for groundwater here was considered negligible. However, the findings of the heliborne survey have significantly changed this perception. The survey has found signs of groundwater even in villages where water was previously thought to be absent.

The heliborne survey conducted an in-depth scientific study of the vast area from Phalsund to Chayan and Dhudsar to Rajgarh in the Pokaran assembly constituency. The survey covered approximately 15,000 square kilometers, making it a significant and comprehensive study in itself.

The survey was conducted in collaboration with the Central Ground Water Board of the Government of India, the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) in Hyderabad, and the Rajasthan State Ground Water Department. Using modern technologies, hidden water sources and groundwater recharge areas within the region were identified.

Heliborne survey is an advanced scientific technique that studies the underground structure using a helicopter. It uses electromagnetic and geophysical methods to determine the location and depth of underground water. This technique is considered capable of surveying large areas in a short time and providing highly accurate results.

Although drinking water supply has already begun through the Indira Gandhi Canal Project in the Pokhran and Bhaniyana subdivisions, experts believe that the construction of tube wells at identified locations will prove extremely useful in future emergencies. In the event of a canal supply disruption or a specific crisis, these groundwater sources could become a lifeline for the local population. One of the survey's biggest achievements is the discovery of groundwater availability in the Phalsund area. This region has long faced severe water shortages. The potential for groundwater availability here could prove to be a significant step toward strengthening the region's water security in the future.