The Great Rann of Kachchh (GRK) in Gujarat, India, is a hyper-saline environment where isolated island communities face acute water scarcity. This literature review synthesizes Scopus and Web of Science indexed research to evaluate an integrated geo-hydrological approach for sustainable water development. The analysis integrates geology, lithology, geomorphology, hydrogeology, and socio-economic dimensions including population distribution, livelihoods, and agriculture. Subsurface core analysis reveals marine transgression since ~18 ka BP, with fine-grained sediments rendering shallow aquifers saline. However, remote sensing and High-Resolution Electrical Resistivity Tomography (HERT) have successfully delineated buried palaeochannels containing confined artesian aquifers below 100 m depth, offering promising brackish water sources. The region hosts ~17,000 inhabitants across 48 hamlets, including pastoralist Jatts and Maldharis, and artisan Meghwals, whose livelihoods depend on animal husbandry, handicrafts, and tourism – all vulnerable to water insecurity. By integrating geo-hydrological and socio-economic understanding, this review proposes a multi-phase development framework encompassing geospatial prospecting, geophysical surveys, exploratory drilling, and community-based management. Critical knowledge gaps include groundwater age, recharge dynamics, and sustainable yield estimation. An integrated approach combining earth sciences and human geography is essential for ensuring long-term water security for the Great Rann’s island communities.

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1. Maurya DM, Khonde N, Das A, Chowksey V, Chamyal LS. Subsurface sediment characteristics of the Great Rann of Kachchh, western India based on preliminary evaluation of textural analysis of two continuous sediment cores. Curr Sci. 2013;104(8):1071–1077.
2. Institute of Rural Management. Cases in rural management: Endnotes on Banni grasslands and piloodi cultivation. Available from: New Zealand Digital Library.
3. Khonde N, Singh SK, Maurya DM, Rai VK, Chamyal LS, Giosan L. Tracing the Vedic Saraswati River in the Great Rann of Kachchh. Sci Rep. 2017;7:5476.
4. Bhadra BK, Gor N, Jain AK, Meena H, Rao SS. Groundwater investigation of the artesian wells on the palaeochannels in parts of the Great Rann of Kachchh, Gujarat, India, using remote sensing and geophysical techniques. Hydrogeol J. 2021;29(8):2705–2724.
5. Salot P, Mehta L. No place like home: History, politics and mobility among a pastoral nomadic community in western India. Nomadic Peoples. 2004;8(2):48–69.
6. Maurya DM, Khonde N, Das A, Chowksey V, Chamyal LS. Subsurface sediment characteristics of the Great Rann of Kachchh, western India based on preliminary evaluation of textural analysis of two continuous sediment cores. Curr Sci. 2013;104(8):1071–1077.
7. D’source. Banni grasslands: Context, communities and livelihoods. Available from: dsource.in/case-study/non-verbal-codes-communication/context.
8. Bhadra BK, Gor N, Jain AK, Meena H, Srinivasa Rao S. Groundwater investigation of the artesian wells on the palaeochannels in parts of the Great Rann of Kachchh, Gujarat, India, using remote sensing and geophysical techniques. Hydrogeol J. 2021;29:2705–2724.
9. Dey P, Mandal K. Socio-economic vulnerability assessment of culturally unique ethnic communities using RIDIT scoring: A case of Rann of Kutch, India. GeoJournal. 2024;89(5):1–27.
10. Thakkar A, Juyal N, Chamyal LS, Singhvi AK, et al. Mid-Holocene sedimentation and landscape evolution in the western Great Rann of Kachchh, India. Geomorphology. 2012;151–152:89–98.
11. Biswas SK. Regional tectonic framework, structure and evolution of the western marginal basins of India. Tectonophysics. 1987;135(4):307–327.
12. Glennie KW, Evans G. A reconnaissance of the recent sediments of the Rann of Kutch, India. Sedimentology. 1976;23(5):625–647.
13. Roy B, Merh SS. The Great Rann of Kachchh: A geomorphic puzzle. Proc Indian Natl Sci Acad. 1982;48:520–528.
14. Malik JN, Merh SS, Sridhar V. Palaeodelta complex of Vedic Saraswati and other ancient rivers of Gujarat. Geol Soc India Mem. 1999;42:163–174.
15. Merh SS. The Great Rann of Kachchh: Perceptions of a geologist. J Geol Soc India. 2005;66:265–274.
16. Oldham RD. A manual of the geology of India. Calcutta: Government of India Publication; 1893.
17. Stein A. A survey of ancient sites along the “lost” Sarasvati River. Geogr J. 1942;99(4):173–182.
18. Rajendran CP, Rajendran K. Characteristics of deformation and past seismicity associated with the 1819 Kutch earthquake, northwestern India. Bull Seismol Soc Am. 2001;91(3):407–426.
19. Chowksey V, Maurya DM, Khonde N, Chamyal LS. Tectonic geomorphology and evidence for active tilting of the Bela-Khadir islands, eastern Great Rann of Kachchh, western India. Z Geomorphol. 2010;54(4):467–487.
20. Singhvi AK, Bluszcz A, Bateman MD, Someshwar Rao M. Luminescence dating of loess-palaeosol sequences and coversands: methodological aspects and palaeoclimatic implications. Earth Sci Rev. 2001;54(1–3):193–211.
21. Alizai A, Carter A, Clift PD, VanLaningham S, Williams JC, Kumar R. Sediment provenance, reworking and transport processes in the Indus River by U–Pb dating of detrital zircon grains. Glob Planet Change. 2011;76(1–2):33–55.
22. Bhushan R, Dutta K, Somayajulu BLK. Concentration and burial fluxes of organic and inorganic carbon on the western margin of the Bay of Bengal. Curr Sci. 2007;93(6):822–827.
23. Geevan CP, Dixit AM, Silori CS. Ecological and economic analysis of human-settlement and livestock grazing in the Banni grasslands, Kachchh. Bhuj: Gujarat Institute of Desert Ecology; 2003.
24. Salzman PC. From nomads to dairymen: two Moroccan cases. In: Attwood DW, Baviskar BS, Lipton M, editors. Who shares? cooperatives and rural development. Delhi: Oxford University Press; 1988. p. 233–248.
25. Francke J. Mapping paleochannels in the Libyan Sahara with ground penetrating radar. In: Proc 16th Int Conf on Ground Penetrating Radar; Hong Kong; 2016.
26. Sarkar S, Das K, Mukherjee A. Groundwater salinity across India: Predicting occurrences and controls by field-observations and machine learning modeling. J Hydrol. 2024;628:130456.
27. Ishola KS, Bakare MO, Hamid-Mosaku AI, Okolie CJ, Olagunju KT, Oshikoya OM. Fusion of GIS, remote sensing, geophysics and Dempster Shafer theory of evidence for mapping groundwater prospectivity: A case study of the central parts of Lagos State, Nigeria. Solid Earth Sci. 2024;9(3):100196.
28. Burnes A. Memoir on the eastern branch of the Indus, giving an account of the alterations produced on it by an earthquake in 1819, and also a theory of the Runn of Cutch. Trans R Asiat Soc G B Irel. 1835;3(3):550–588.
29. Platt LB. The Rann of Kutch. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc. 1962;59:297–319.
30. Sivewright R. Cutch and the Ran. Geogr J. 1907;29(5):518–539.
31. Ghose B, Singh S, Kar A. Geomorphology of the Rann of Kutch. In: Proc Symp on Ecology and Archaeology of Western India; New Delhi; 1979. p. 19–24.
32. Oldham T. The Cutch (Kachh) earthquake of 16th June 1819. Mem Geol Surv India. 1926;46:1–39.
33. Maurya DM, Thakkar MG, Chamyal LS. Late Quaternary evolution of the Great Rann of Kachchh, western India: Implications from geomorphic and sedimentological studies. J Geol Soc India. 2008;72:509–518.
34. Shlachter Z, Kulkarni A. Pastoralist communities of Banni [Internet]. Available from: banni.in/?page_id=5224.

The Great Rann of Kachchh (GRK) in Gujarat, India, is a hyper-saline environment where isolated island communities face acute water scarcity. This literature review synthesizes Scopus and Web of Science indexed research to evaluate an integrated geo-hydrological approach for sustainable water development. The analysis integrates geology, lithology, geomorphology, hydrogeology, and socio-economic dimensions including population distribution, livelihoods, and agriculture. Subsurface core analysis reveals marine transgression since ~18 ka BP, with fine-grained sediments rendering shallow aquifers saline. However, remote sensing and High-Resolution Electrical Resistivity Tomography (HERT) have successfully delineated buried palaeochannels containing confined artesian aquifers below 100 m depth, offering promising brackish water sources. The region hosts ~17,000 inhabitants across 48 hamlets, including pastoralist Jatts and Maldharis, and artisan Meghwals, whose livelihoods depend on animal husbandry, handicrafts, and tourism – all vulnerable to water insecurity. By integrating geo-hydrological and socio-economic understanding, this review proposes a multi-phase development framework encompassing geospatial prospecting, geophysical surveys, exploratory drilling, and community-based management. Critical knowledge gaps include groundwater age, recharge dynamics, and sustainable yield estimation. An integrated approach combining earth sciences and human geography is essential for ensuring long-term water security for the Great Rann’s island communities.

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.

1. Maurya DM, Khonde N, Das A, Chowksey V, Chamyal LS. Subsurface sediment characteristics of the Great Rann of Kachchh, western India based on preliminary evaluation of textural analysis of two continuous sediment cores. Curr Sci. 2013;104(8):1071–1077.
2. Institute of Rural Management. Cases in rural management: Endnotes on Banni grasslands and piloodi cultivation. Available from: New Zealand Digital Library.
3. Khonde N, Singh SK, Maurya DM, Rai VK, Chamyal LS, Giosan L. Tracing the Vedic Saraswati River in the Great Rann of Kachchh. Sci Rep. 2017;7:5476.
4. Bhadra BK, Gor N, Jain AK, Meena H, Rao SS. Groundwater investigation of the artesian wells on the palaeochannels in parts of the Great Rann of Kachchh, Gujarat, India, using remote sensing and geophysical techniques. Hydrogeol J. 2021;29(8):2705–2724.
5. Salot P, Mehta L. No place like home: History, politics and mobility among a pastoral nomadic community in western India. Nomadic Peoples. 2004;8(2):48–69.
6. Maurya DM, Khonde N, Das A, Chowksey V, Chamyal LS. Subsurface sediment characteristics of the Great Rann of Kachchh, western India based on preliminary evaluation of textural analysis of two continuous sediment cores. Curr Sci. 2013;104(8):1071–1077.
7. D’source. Banni grasslands: Context, communities and livelihoods. Available from: dsource.in/case-study/non-verbal-codes-communication/context.
8. Bhadra BK, Gor N, Jain AK, Meena H, Srinivasa Rao S. Groundwater investigation of the artesian wells on the palaeochannels in parts of the Great Rann of Kachchh, Gujarat, India, using remote sensing and geophysical techniques. Hydrogeol J. 2021;29:2705–2724.
9. Dey P, Mandal K. Socio-economic vulnerability assessment of culturally unique ethnic communities using RIDIT scoring: A case of Rann of Kutch, India. GeoJournal. 2024;89(5):1–27.
10. Thakkar A, Juyal N, Chamyal LS, Singhvi AK, et al. Mid-Holocene sedimentation and landscape evolution in the western Great Rann of Kachchh, India. Geomorphology. 2012;151–152:89–98.
11. Biswas SK. Regional tectonic framework, structure and evolution of the western marginal basins of India. Tectonophysics. 1987;135(4):307–327.
12. Glennie KW, Evans G. A reconnaissance of the recent sediments of the Rann of Kutch, India. Sedimentology. 1976;23(5):625–647.
13. Roy B, Merh SS. The Great Rann of Kachchh: A geomorphic puzzle. Proc Indian Natl Sci Acad. 1982;48:520–528.
14. Malik JN, Merh SS, Sridhar V. Palaeodelta complex of Vedic Saraswati and other ancient rivers of Gujarat. Geol Soc India Mem. 1999;42:163–174.
15. Merh SS. The Great Rann of Kachchh: Perceptions of a geologist. J Geol Soc India. 2005;66:265–274.
16. Oldham RD. A manual of the geology of India. Calcutta: Government of India Publication; 1893.
17. Stein A. A survey of ancient sites along the “lost” Sarasvati River. Geogr J. 1942;99(4):173–182.
18. Rajendran CP, Rajendran K. Characteristics of deformation and past seismicity associated with the 1819 Kutch earthquake, northwestern India. Bull Seismol Soc Am. 2001;91(3):407–426.
19. Chowksey V, Maurya DM, Khonde N, Chamyal LS. Tectonic geomorphology and evidence for active tilting of the Bela-Khadir islands, eastern Great Rann of Kachchh, western India. Z Geomorphol. 2010;54(4):467–487.
20. Singhvi AK, Bluszcz A, Bateman MD, Someshwar Rao M. Luminescence dating of loess-palaeosol sequences and coversands: methodological aspects and palaeoclimatic implications. Earth Sci Rev. 2001;54(1–3):193–211.
21. Alizai A, Carter A, Clift PD, VanLaningham S, Williams JC, Kumar R. Sediment provenance, reworking and transport processes in the Indus River by U–Pb dating of detrital zircon grains. Glob Planet Change. 2011;76(1–2):33–55.
22. Bhushan R, Dutta K, Somayajulu BLK. Concentration and burial fluxes of organic and inorganic carbon on the western margin of the Bay of Bengal. Curr Sci. 2007;93(6):822–827.
23. Geevan CP, Dixit AM, Silori CS. Ecological and economic analysis of human-settlement and livestock grazing in the Banni grasslands, Kachchh. Bhuj: Gujarat Institute of Desert Ecology; 2003.
24. Salzman PC. From nomads to dairymen: two Moroccan cases. In: Attwood DW, Baviskar BS, Lipton M, editors. Who shares? cooperatives and rural development. Delhi: Oxford University Press; 1988. p. 233–248.
25. Francke J. Mapping paleochannels in the Libyan Sahara with ground penetrating radar. In: Proc 16th Int Conf on Ground Penetrating Radar; Hong Kong; 2016.
26. Sarkar S, Das K, Mukherjee A. Groundwater salinity across India: Predicting occurrences and controls by field-observations and machine learning modeling. J Hydrol. 2024;628:130456.
27. Ishola KS, Bakare MO, Hamid-Mosaku AI, Okolie CJ, Olagunju KT, Oshikoya OM. Fusion of GIS, remote sensing, geophysics and Dempster Shafer theory of evidence for mapping groundwater prospectivity: A case study of the central parts of Lagos State, Nigeria. Solid Earth Sci. 2024;9(3):100196.
28. Burnes A. Memoir on the eastern branch of the Indus, giving an account of the alterations produced on it by an earthquake in 1819, and also a theory of the Runn of Cutch. Trans R Asiat Soc G B Irel. 1835;3(3):550–588.
29. Platt LB. The Rann of Kutch. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc. 1962;59:297–319.
30. Sivewright R. Cutch and the Ran. Geogr J. 1907;29(5):518–539.
31. Ghose B, Singh S, Kar A. Geomorphology of the Rann of Kutch. In: Proc Symp on Ecology and Archaeology of Western India; New Delhi; 1979. p. 19–24.
32. Oldham T. The Cutch (Kachh) earthquake of 16th June 1819. Mem Geol Surv India. 1926;46:1–39.
33. Maurya DM, Thakkar MG, Chamyal LS. Late Quaternary evolution of the Great Rann of Kachchh, western India: Implications from geomorphic and sedimentological studies. J Geol Soc India. 2008;72:509–518.
34. Shlachter Z, Kulkarni A. Pastoralist communities of Banni [Internet]. Available from: banni.in/?page_id=5224.