Enhancing Water Resource Efficiency in Mining Sector Through Analytical Hierarchy Process and Entropy Method: A Case Study of Jharkhand

Abstract With a population exceeding 40.3 million, Jharkhand faces critical water resource management challenges amidst its mineral-rich landscape. this study investigates the potential of integrating mine water into water resource management strategies, focusing on the Gidi A region. Utilizing the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Entropy Analysis, the research assesses the feasibility, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of mine water utilization. The Consistency Ratio (CR) of approximately 10.24% validates the robustness of the pairwise comparisons in the AHP method. Key findings highlight stakeholders' prioritization of Water Quality (40.015%), Environmental Impact (25.77%), and Technological Feasibility (16.61%), indicating significant concerns about water purity, environmental sustainability, and practical management technologies. Infrastructure Investments emerge as the top consideration, accounting for 57.80% of the objective weight, signifying its paramount importance in water resource management in Gidi A. In contrast, Recycle and Reuse (15.30%), Green Technology (6.42%), and Conservative Measures (1.19%) exhibit lower percentages, suggesting stakeholders' relatively lower emphasis on these alternatives compared to Infrastructure Investments. Additionally, the entropy values for each alternative offer insights into stakeholders' consensus, with Infrastructure Investments showing the highest entropy value (57.80%), indicating considerable variability in stakeholder judgments but emphasizing their perceived necessity. This research offers insights for sustainable development in mining regions, aiding in the responsible and efficient utilization of mine water resources.