Abstact: In the present study, a challenge is made to delineate groundwater potential zones in Amravati River Basin using remote sensing, GIS, and Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP). Manifold data, viz. lithology, lineament density, geomorphology, slope, soil, rainfall, drainage density, relief, land-use/landcover were considered for delineating the groundwater potential zones. All thematic layers were organized using remote sensing data on ArcGIS 10.8.1 platform. Next, weights were allocated to different layers and the features within them using a pairwise comparison matrix through the AHP. The weights attained were tested for their uniformity using the consistency index and consistency ratio. A final weighted map was then prepared by multiplying each thematic layer’s weights with the weights of features within them and adding them. Built on this final weighted layer, the basin was categorized into very poor, poor, moderate, good, very good groundwater potential zones. The maximum area (26.75 %) is under the poor groundwater potential zone followed by the moderate zone (21.37 %), very poor (21.43 %), good (15.70 %), very good (14.76 %). Sensitivity analysis using the map removal method is performed to assess the most influential parameters, geology, geomorphology, lineament density are the most influential. General results prove the effectiveness of the use of geospatial technology in combination with AHP in the delineation of underground water potential zones.

Keywords: Consistency ratio, Groundwater, Analytical Hierarchical Process, GIS

| DOI: 10.17148/IARJSET.2021.81115