Assessment from Drought Perspective for Bundelkhand Region, India

Abstract

The Bundelkhand region in Madhya Pradesh state poses many issues related to water resource availability and is under grip of frequent drought like situation. The drought condition in the region is continuously worst than before due to climate change which intimate increased drought intensity and magnitude. The region mainly consists of 7 district of Uttar Pradesh and 6 district of Madhya Pradesh. The present study aims to investigate drought characteristics in Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh using departure analysis and prioritization of which is carried out using Relative Departure Index (RDI) for planning immediate mitigation strategies. The impact of climate change was assessing using Mann-Kendell test and its magnitude of change using Sen’s slope estimator. For assessment of drought characteristics and evaluation of climate change 45 years (1970-2014) monthly rainfall data is analyzed. The average annual rainfall in Bundelkhand region in M.P is computed as 1071.1 mm. In 1970, 1974, 2002, 2006, 2007 and 2010 the region was under grip of widespread drought condition.  Prioritization using RDI indicated that Sagar district is at the highest priority and was followed by Chhatarpur and Panna. The trend analysis reveals the decrement of seasonal rainfall patterns except in Damoh and Chhatarpur districts. The annual rainfall trends assessment showed quite similar changing patterns among the districts, except in Chhatarpur and Panna district.