Sunderban a GIS approach Major objectives of GIS application in Sunderban Main object to create a GIS based data base for the following information’s To generate various reports for the management as a decision support system.
Till the end of march 92,840 km. of brick paved road has been constructed by the board in sunderban area. This has opened up new horizons for the local people. It has brought about considerable mobility in the remote sunderban areas where transport and communication was previously difficult specially during the monsoon season. The GIS based information system can help in making future development and logistics planning for local community development. Since 1981-1982 the construction of 37 jettis has been completed. The provision of jettis has been made for promotion of landing facilities in the riverine sunderban areas. The Jettis are serving an estimated population of 15.6 lacs spread over about 250 villages from 60 to 3500 persons per day. Apart from this GIS can develop a proper system at Chemaguri and Kachuberia points cater to needs the pilgrims from all over India during the Gangasagar Mela. About 427.7 kms of channels have been re-excavated till the end of March 1992. It is estimated that more than 6000 ha. of land have been brought under the fold of a second crop in the dry season with the sweet water stored in this re-excavated channels. In all probabilities, in the coming years, this figure will move upward. The farmers within the command areas of re-excavated channels are always advised to cultivate those ravi crops which reasonably less irrigation water. Conditions of these channels along with the re-excavation of Govt. bonds can be monitored through GIS and remote sensing application along with a proper model of development.  Dranage Map The program element “Brackish aqua culture” the Fish Farm Activities were introduced by the SDB (Sunderban Development Board). GIS based model can help the objective of boosting the production of Brackish Water Fish and to provide technical supervision and marketing facilities in the area. Under this Social Forestry Program (SFP),SDB was initiated in 1981-1982 . At the outset the program size was small compared to the other program elements of the project. The initial program was as follows:-
Experimental Mangrove plantation 100 ha. The economy of the Sunderban Region is dependent primarily on Agricultural activity. About 90 % of the people of the region fall back on agriculture alone for the livelihood. The Sunderban Region having a total Geographical area of 431893 ha. With a cultivable area of 299419 ha. Is mainly monocrop, the main crop being kharif paddy. Over 50 % of the people are landless laborers while over 40% of the farming house holds of the region operate in less than 2 ha. of agricultural land. The problem of agriculture in sunderban is initially related to salinity and water logging. Inadequate drainage, during monsoon, affects the paddy crop adversely. A huge portion of land remains follow land during the dry season for want of irrigational facility. A GIS based drainage and irrigation program can create potential farming activities for the region. The cropping intensity, drainage system, irrigation potentiality can be judged distinctly through GIS system. Apart from this the economic condition of small and marginal farmers can be measured and a master data base with the help of spatial information can introduce for the decision support system. Animal Resource program was introduced in the year of 1991-92. For improving the breeding stocks, bucks and rams were distributed in 9 blocks and for creating veterinary aid in the sunderban region 48 lacs rupees in the forms of transport subsidies was provided to the Veterinary Services Directorate. With the help of GIS technology we can understand the current status and identify the developing segment of the region. Also with the help of GIS monitoring of tiger project can also possible. During 1990 -91 the SDB undertook a scheme of sinking tube well under its Rural Water Supply program in the sunderban region aiming at providing safe drinking water in deficient mouzas in the region. A sum of Rupees 36 lacs was allotted to Zilla parishad of south and north 24 paraganas for execution of the scheme. If we can use GIS to locate the safe drinking water zones more and more people will be benefited by this program. The department of non conventional energy sources, Govt. of India, was started this program in the year 1986 –87 with street lights (25 units). Today they are also using bio-mass gasifier for rural electrification. To identify the potential areas for these types of system GIS and Remote Sensing is a very effective tool. In a remote area like sunderban these technologies is very helpful to understand the natural resource balance and their equitable uses as an energy source. Under this program the district rural development agency (DRDA) of south and north 24 paraganas districts have been imparting vocational training to the village women folk in group also there are different production centers for the region. With the help of our system they can understand the growing needs of the people and locate different skills & resources for further improvement. Since sunderban is a world heritage site, there are different development programs from state and central government also programs funded by different foreign agencies. Ngo’s are playing a vital role for the development for this region. They became catalyst between local people and government. So a comprehensive development model (gis based) can help them to integrate different information’s and give them clear view in understanding the objectives of different development programs for the people. |