IIT Madras suggests rapid groundwater recharge technology to mitigate droughts and floods
Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras have proposed implementing a rapid groundwater recharge technology for flood and drought mitigation near Ayankulam village in Thisayanvilai taluk of Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu.
The region surrounding this village is considered a dry belt with hot summers. Many small land-holding farmers have abandoned their farming practices and work as labourers in larger farms or other labour-based occupations.
Being close to the coastal zone, several agricultural and domestic wells in the region suffer from saltwater intrusion due to excessive pumping and lowering of groundwater levels.ghts and floods
However, to the surprise of many researchers and villagers, an open agricultural well in Ayankulam was widely reported to recharge an estimated 1,500-2,500 litres of water every second for several weeks without overflowing.
The recharge water for this well came from the excess overflow of an adjacent minor irrigation tank due to the record monsoon rains in November and December last year.