Abstract
A catchment area that is neither rural nor urbanised is referred to as a peri-urban watershed. These basins have unique hydrological and geophysical features that interact directly with the local water demand. In addition to becoming scarce in terms of useable surface water, ground water is gradually but steadily getting less in many parts of the world. As a consequence, many heavily urbanised metropolises are experiencing a severe water scarcity, while many rural areas are rapidly becoming desert due to unchecked resource extraction. The issue pertaining to peri-urban watersheds is distinct in that the population that depends on them is neither very huge nor small, resulting in a moderate water scarcity. Their interactions are becoming more and more significant as a result of the little urban colonies that are sprouting up in response to the fierce competition for the existing resources that is seen in metropolitan settings. As a result, many rural regions are being transformed into periurban areas. Now, in order to meet the water needs of the periurban population, it is crucial to determine the ground water recharge zone. However, because of the physical makeup of the watersheds, each element plays a more significant role in determining the probable ground water recharge zones. In order to anticipate the significance of each element and, with the aid of the results, identify the probable GWR zones, the current work attempts to utilize novel MCDM techniques like MAUT and MEREC. Previous research has attempted to detect GWR using MCDM and GIS approaches; however, the focus of these studies was not on periurban watersheds, but rather on micro, meso, or macro level basins. Furthermore, since the application of MEREC and MAUT for these objectives has never been tried, the current study is novel and can assist engineers and urban planners in developing plans for sustainable development that will guarantee that residents in periurban watersheds experience no water stress.