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Abstract

A major share of water supply to meet the ever increasing demands for domestic, industrial and irrigation usages is derived from groundwater resources which are distributed over the entire globe. These resources are invisible from ground surface. The need for their delineation with high precision has led to the continuous advancement in the geophysical survey techniques and interpretation theory. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is an outcome of such advancement in the conventional electrical resistivity methods used for exploration of this sub-surface natural resource on the basis of distinctive reduction in the electrical resistivity value of groundwater bearing geological formations/structure in comparison to their host environs devoid of water. Objective of this paper is to present an overview of the application of ERT in delineation of groundwater resources in complex geological setup of problematic areas, sources of geothermal water, and delineation of groundwater pockets in mining areas in order to prevent natural disasters such as landslide in open cast mines with the help of related case studies. This kind of knowledge about the occurrence of groundwater/geothermal resources is essential to achieve the preset objectives of their management.