Evaluating the Suitability of Groundwater for Irrigational Purposes Using Electrical Resistivity Technique and the Implementation of Artificial Recharge at Kalugotla (V), Veldurthy (M), Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh

The rapid degradation of natural resources in chronically drought-prone areas is alarming, mainly due to increased biotic pressure on the fragile ecosystem, inappropriate management, and conservation practices. In the study area, hydrological boundaries serve as the unit of development, and all households are interconnected, not only in improving individually owned resources, but also in developing and managing common resources like grazing lands, tree cover, and groundwater. The authors identified the rural area of Kalugotla (V) to be in the south of Kurnool town. Since the total number of bore wells is estimated to be around 154, the density of wells indicates that part of the area is over-exploiting groundwater, especially along the stream course. An average area of 1294 acres of land has been irrigated under the bore wells at an average rate of 8.40 acres per well. The discharge of bore wells varies from 1400 to 4500 LPH. Based on field investigations, it is concluded that further drilling is not advisable to maintain groundwater balance.