Spatial analysis of groundwater potential zone using GIS and AHP: a case study of the Upper Ken Basin, Madhya Pradesh, India.

Water deficiency has become a global issue, especially in India's hard rock regions where groundwater is depleting at alarming rates. Climate change and anthropogenic activities have intensified water scarcity and drought events. The Ken River Basin, with its humid subtropical climate and dry winters, faces significant groundwater management challenges requiring immediate attention. Groundwater modeling for distribution and potential mapping demands reliable methodologies to characterize aquifer systems across different geological settings. Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA), integrated with remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS), plays a pivotal role in exploring and conserving groundwater resources. This study used the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) for pairwise comparison matrix analysis to determine the relative importance of influencing factors. Parameters including geology, geomorphology, land use/land cover, lineament density, soil type, drainage density, slope, rainfall, topographic wetness index, roughness, topographic position index, and curvature were used to generate groundwater potential zone maps. Five potential zones were identified: very high (0.01%), high (7.45%), moderate (65.17%), low (26.98%), and very low (0.38%). Most regions fall under moderate potential, followed by low potential zones. This groundwater potential mapping provides crucial information for sustainable water resource management, agricultural planning, and rural development in the Ken River Basin. The findings support policymakers in implementing targeted conservation strategies and help communities optimize water usage. Priority should be given to artificial recharge in moderate to high potential zones, while water conservation measures should be intensified in low potential areas for long-term sustainability.