Groundwater status of arid tehsils of Sirohi district of Rajasthan state

146-148Western part of Rajasthan state known as Thar Desert is very poor in terms of natural resources. Low and erratic rainfall, high wind velocity and intense solar regimes are some major climatic constraints of this region. Groundwater is generally deep and saline in most parts and is not suitable for drinking and irrigation purposes. Soils in the region are mostly sandy with low water holding capacity. Shifting of sand dunes due to high wind velocity is very common. Due to absence of other water resources like canal and rivers, agricultural and other allied activities are totally dependent on rain. Due to adverse climate conditions, drought occurs frequently in this region. Therefore, sustainability in production system can only be achieved through proper management and conversation of available natural resources like soil and water. For sound planning of soil and water resources, its assessment and quantification is the first step. Central Arid Zone Research Institute – Jodhpur has conducted a detailed survey of Sirohi district (Rajasthan) to assess the quantity and quality of groundwater. The paper present the details of the information collected during the survey.