Feasibility of ground water development in the mountain terrains of Nepal - A conceptual study

Abstract

The mountain terrain of Nepal, particularly the Midland zone, acquired importance in view of its inhabitation, its population and utility of the entire hill slopes for agriculture. However, water resource has become a problem both for domestic and agriculture purposes on these higher altitudes.

The Midland zone which is composed of meta-sediments and gneisses become water bearing by virtue of fracture porosity due to intensive tectonic episodes and partly due to weathering. Presence of numerous springs and seepages in this zone bears testimony of this.

Conventional vertical bore wells  in  this  terrain  would  be  a  failure  as  the  water  table  in the mountain aquifers is generally steep following the hill  slopes.  Alternately, horizontal bore wells are suggested for ground water development from these mountain aquifers, cautious development and suitable methods of artificial recharge may qualify these aquifers as eternal reservoirs of ground water. Development of ground water from these hills may also reduce landslide hazards.