Top-down approach for generating spatial database at cadastral level- A Sikkim Himalayan experience
Dr. Saurabh Gupta and Syed Taha Owais
NIC, Sikkim
Abstract
The present system of preparing and maintaining land records originated from Mughal period and reached its scientific form during the British rule. With passing of time, maintenance of these records has gone through a process of evolution as required by various socio-economic compulsions. In India, the planners have been very conscious of the fact that proper maintenance of land records is basis of good administration, aimed at social justice through better implementation of rural development programs. With this end in mind, the government has initiated a number of projects specifically related to land records.In the state of Sikkim, the computerization of land record is almost complete and online mutation process currently under progress in west district. The novel technology of GIS/RS is being actively employed at watershed level for developing micro-level planning models. In continuation, cadastral map of one block is digitized and resource management analysis is performed at plot level.
Keywords
LIS, Cadastral, Sikkim, Watershed, GIS, Resource Management, Slope, Aspect, Contour and Landuse.
Introduction
Sikkim state is situated between 270 04' to 280 07’ North latitudes and 880 01’to 880 55’ East longitudes. The state is almost rectangular in shape and covers an area of 7096 sq. km. Nepal bound the state in the west by the vast stretches of the Tibetan plateau, in the north, in the east by Bhutan and Chumbi valley of Tibet and Darjeeling district of West Bengal stretches along its southern boundary.
The mountainous terrain of Sikkim consists of a tangled series of interlacing ridges, rising one above the other, from south to the foot of the high peaks that mark the abode of snow in the north. The entire state is covered with steep hills and deep valleys. The trend of the mountain system viewed as a whole is in a general east west direction. The general run of the main ridges is north-south with subsidiary interlacing spurs from each ridge in a roughly east–west direction. Main ridges in Sikkim run in more or less north–south direction. Sikkim is primarily the catchment of Tista drainage system. Tista River while flowing north to south divides the state into two parts. The river rises from north district fed by snows from Kanchenjunga: its other tributaries join it from Lhonak, Zemu, Talung glacier of Kanchenjunga group in the west. The chief tributaries of Tista – the Great Rangit fed from the snow of Narsing and Kabru peaks, south of Kanchenjunga. There are two predominant zones viz. Gnessic and Daling group and also with some intermediaries. Daling group consists of predominantly phyllites. At the boundary between this and gneissic rocks they pass into silvery mica schist. Dark clay slates with thick quartzite bands prevail in certain areas: silt stones and siliceous limestone is also found in certain areas.
The climate of the state varies generally from sub- tropical to alpine depending upon the elevation of the place. Within the same catchment watershed of a stream, sub- tropical or even tropical climate is often observed at the lower end of the watershed in the valley, while temperate climate prevails at the upper reaches of the stream. Sikkim is richly endowed with natural flora and fauna. The natural vegetation consisting of evergreen trees, grasses and bushes extends upto 5000m MSL only. At elevation above 5000m MSL hardly any vegetation is found. Distribution pattern of natural vegetation in the state may be divided into 5 mixed forest zones – Lower Hill Forest (<900m), Middle hill Forest (900-1800m), Upper Hill Forest (1800-2450m), Rhododendron and Oak Forest (2450-3350m) and Conifer and Alpine pastures (>3350m).
Administratively Sikkim has been divided in four districts namely North District, South District, East District and West District. Each District has further been divided into two subdivisions. Gangtok, Pakyong and Rongli in East district, Namchi and Ravangla in South, Magan and Chungthang in North and Gyalshing and Soreng in West. There are 12 major towns namely Gangtok, Namchi, Jorethang Soreng, Ravangla, Singtam, Pakyong, Mangan and Chungthang. There are 447 villages out which 440 are inhabited. A total of 405505 population was recorded in 1991 with an average density of 57 persons per square kilometres. Lepcha, Bhutias and Nepalis three major ethnic communities. Here. Lepcha and Bhutias are Bhuddists while majority of Nepalis are Hindus. Major population resided in East district followed by South district. Sex ratio in the state is 892 females per 1000 males. Amongst districts the highest sex ratio rate had been seen in West District with 919 females per 1000 males followed by South, East, North. STs are the major population spread in almost 98% of the revenue blocks.
State literacy percentage is 54.39%. Male literacy is 63.44% and female literacy is 44.06%. East district occupies first rank in literacy. It also boasts on two-degree college, one in Gangtok and another in Namchi. In the urban areas, Jorethang has highest literacy rate of 83.50% followed by Gangtok (80.18%).Industrially, Sikkim is a backward state. However, the government has adopted the philosophy of industrial development and as a result some cheese plant, dairy farms, bottling plants have come to existence. Besides this, tourism is the biggest industry.