Impact of urbanization in the groundwater levels around the underground metro rail corridors in Chennai.

Abstract

This paper made an attempt to predict the changes in the water level pattern on either side of the underground metro rail corridor.Twenty observation wells are located in the study area .Five wells on each side of the corridor I(Cenral to Thirumangalam) and Corridor 2(Washermenpet to Saidapet).The Water levels were taken for the post monsoon and pre monsoon periods of the twenty wells. The water levels which were observed were tabulated and the minimum and maximum water level values are identified for each corridor for their respective directions. The differences in between the minimum and maximum values are calculated to find the changes that occurred in the water level pattern. From the results the sides of the corridors affected with lower water levels are identified.It is found that the topography and the properties of the subsurface aquifer becomes the major factors for the fluctuations in the water level.