Modelling and Mapping of Artificial Groundwater Recharge Zones using Geospatial Techniques and Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) of Mochemad River Basin, Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra, India

The groundwater extraction in coastal area is increased in recent year due to ecotourism and climate change, this results into depletion of groundwater level which needs the modelling and mapping for artificial groundwater recharge zones (AGRZ). The present study carried out at Mochemad River basin at western coastal part of Maharashtra India. The study area is having sea water intrusion as major problem can be resolved by the reaching runoff water as area receive more 3500mm rainfall. In view of this, the present study uses thematic layer for instance Lithology, Geomorphology, Land utilisation, Gradient, Drainage and Lineament Density and Rainfall with multicritical based Analytical Hierarchical Process analysis for giving accurate weights to each geospatial layer and its sub class. Further, the modelling of AGRZ was assessed with weighted overlay analysis in geospatial software. The finalised map of AGRZ is classified into four categories namely, unsuitable (14.24%), moderately suitable (19.25%), highly suitable (55.94%) and very highly suitable (10.56%). Finally, findings were validated using an assessment matrix of ROC (receiver operating characteristics) and AUC (area under curve), which revealed that the AHP approach performed reliably with an accuracy of 89%. Furthermore, various artificial recharge constructions like check dams, runoff infiltration tanks, Mati Bandara (soil bench trenching), and continuous contour trenching (CCT), are proposed in the demarcated favourable zones to facilitate the development, forecasting, and management of the water resources in the study area.