Investigating Factors Influencing Groundwater in the Upper Yamuna Basin, India: A Geospatial Analysis

GroundwaterGroundwater is one of the most precious resources, as it is a significant component in securing multiple sustainable development goalsSustainable development goals (i.e. food security and livelihood sustainability). However, the continuous anthropogenic activities put pressure on the groundwater, alarming those precious resources, especially in the upper Yamuna basin, India. This article aims to investigate spatial variation of determinant factors of the groundwater in the upper Yamuna basin using statistical and geospatial techniquesGeospatial techniques. The study utilised the open-source databases, including precipitation, evapotranspiration, drainage density, vegetation cover areas, agriculture areas, groundwater extraction, and population density. The result indicates that the groundwater depth is alarmingly high in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi (> 50 m). The spatial and statistical analysis revealed that groundwater abstractionGroundwater abstraction is a significant determinant of lowering groundwater table depth in the intensive agricultural regions of Rajasthan, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. However, vegetation coverage depicts negative effects on groundwater depletion, for instance, in Tehri Garhwal, where vegetation cover is 97.24%, associated with lower groundwaterGroundwater depth and a strong negative correlation coefficient (b = ~ −0.40). The results of this study can provide better insight into the causes behind groundwater depletion, thus supporting better groundwater management.