Over-exploitation of groundwater (comprising 24% of annual rainfall) for rising demand in domestic and agriculture happens in dry land Barind Tract, NW Bangladesh. The area has scarcity of rainfall, constrain in runoff water conservation, low groundwater recharge potentiality, loss (35%) of runoff water etc. Moreover, the management practice results rapid declination of groundwater tables in last few decades. Unfortunately no proper study of sustainable management have yet made. So the potentiality of rainwater harvesting with artificial recharge of groundwater using MAR model has studied using integrated approach of RS and GIS in MCDM tool. The Tract area has potentiality of the MAR application in 448 km2 (20%) as high; 1456 km2 (66%) as moderate; and that of 312 km2 (14%) as unsuitable. But 68% of runoff water has scope to recharge naturally/artificially to revert in sustainability. The cost of recharging 1 m3 of rainwater in MAR is US$ 0.18 as slightly expensive, but may play pivotal role in sustainable resource management for economically marginalized rural community facing hardship for water. Finally, the present study provides guideline to managers and decision makers in water sector as lauded in the Bangladesh Water Act (BWA) (2013).
Study on Feasibility of Rainwater Harvesting Using MAR Model in Dry Land Barind Tract, Bangladesh