Assessment of Surface Water Dynamics between 1984-2021 in Madhya Pradesh, Central India, using Remotely Sensed Dataset

The measurement of surface water bodies plays a vital role in assessing the magnitude of floods and droughts despite their relatively little contribution to the overall hydrosphere on Earth's surface. The distribution and accessibility of water resources have been greatly impacted by global climate change and unsustainable human activities. These factors have resulted in heightened strain on surface water supplies, causing shortages that hinder both human consumption and socioeconomic progress. Therefore, the mapping and identification of surface water reserves are essential for achieving optimal utilization and sustainable management. Madhya Pradesh, henceforth referred to as MP, possesses a highly diverse range of geographical features within the Central Indian area. According to prior research, a total of thirty-six out of fifty-one districts within the state of Madhya Pradesh have seen significant hydrological drought conditions in recent years, mostly attributed to the scarcity of surface water resources. Despite the challenges faced in the MP area, there remains a lack of sufficient understanding of the long-term and seasonal variations in surface water dynamics within districts, as well as the overall availability and accessibility of surface water resources. Field-based observations of surface water bodies in regions with vast expanses, such as Madhya Pradesh (MP), pose considerable obstacles. However, the comprehension of spatiotemporal fluctuations in surface water can be enhanced with the utilization of remote sensing datasets for observations. Hence, to gain an understanding of the long-term fluctuations in surface water patterns in different regions of Madhya Pradesh, India, over a span of 38 years, we employed a publicly accessible global surface water dataset provided by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission. This dataset covers the time period from 1984 to 2021. Based on the results of our investigation, it is apparent that a disparity exists in the per capita accessibility of permanent water resources in the majority of MP districts, notably during periods of low precipitation, as well as in the per capita availability of seasonal water resources, particularly during months characterized by high levels of rainfall. While the monsoon period generally results in increased surface water availability, the Bundelkhand and Malwa Plateau regions experience severe shortages of surface water during dry periods, which, therefore, leads to the over-exploitation of groundwater resources. The implications of these findings are significant for the management of freshwater bodies in the Madhya Pradesh area, particularly in light of their depletion caused by climate change and human activities. Furthermore, these findings have broader implications for promoting sustainable development in the region.