Knowledge of land use and hydro-geomorphology is important for
planning and management activities concerned with the surface of the earth. The
resource managers and planners for agricultural land use need detailed, timely,
accurate and reliable data on the extent, location and quality of land and water
resources and climate characteristics. The data on landuse potential and the
conservation needs can help in planning for uses that will maintain the quality
of land. The application of satellite remote sensing for land use surveys and
mapping is gaining importance largely because of its ability to provide rapid
and reliable data within a given time framework.
Development programmes concerning optimum utilisation of
natural resources are now increasingly oriented with watershed as an integral
unit. A watershed is a natural entity conforming to the increasing homogeneity
of geomorhic sculpturing process. Watershed management implies rational
utilisation of land and water resources for optimal and sustained production
with the minimum hazard to natural resources and environment. It requires
collection and analysis of great deal of information on physical relationship of
vegetation-soil-water to land management to ensure economic and social progress
of a watershed. The success of planing for developmental activities depends on
the quality and quantity of information available on both natural and
socio-economic resources. Therefore, accurate and reliable data base generation
and management is extremely important for devising ways for optimal planning and
management of watersheds.
Problem Definition
Hilly regions of our country are
facing a serious water availability crisis due to various developmental and
economic activities in the hills and as a result of reduction in the protective
vegetation cover and forests. Due to lack of the protective cover, the
infiltration and subsequent recharge to ground water has declined adversely.
Viable sources of water like springs, which are plenty in the hills, are drying
up because of inadequate recharge of flow domain of the springs. This study
attempts to quantify geomorphological characteristics, generation of various
thematic data base in GIS format, derivation of land use information using
remote sensing digital data, land capability classification and generation of
alternate land use plan for the Danda watershed for proper management of natural
resources in this mountainous watershed.
The Study Area
Danda watershed is located in Hindolakhal
block of Devprayag Tehsil in Tehri Garhwal district of Uttar Pradesh. The Danda
watershed lies between latitude 30
° 13
¢ 36
² N to 30
° 14
¢ 46
² N
and longitude 78
° 37
¢ 04
² E to 78
° 38
¢ 56
² E. The area falls in Survey of
India (SOI) Toposheet No. 53 J/12. Details, such as, roads, streams, settlements
and spot height, contours etc. are taken from this toposheet. The Danda
watershed has an area of 450.44 hectare at the gauging site (under construction)
near Dugyar village. The Watershed has a highly undulating topography with steep
slopes and scanty vegetation. The elevation within watershed varies from 777m
above mean sea level at outlet near Dugyar to 1810m above mean sea level at
ridge at watershed boundary. The main source of water is numerous springs and a
few perennial streams. Lithologically, Danda area falls under the Chandpur
formation of Jaunsar groups. The rock type of the area is low grade metamorphic
rock with slates. These greyish coloured low grade metamorphic rocks are highly
fractured and foliated. Important salient features of the study area are given
in Table 1.
Table 1. Important salient features of the Danda watershed
| Geographic Location |
Latitude: 30° 13' 36" N to 30° 14' 46"N
Longitude: 78° 37' 04" E to 78° 38' 56"
EHindolakhal Block of Tehri District |
| Geographical Area |
450.446 hectare |
| Climate |
Subtropical(cool temperate)
Moderate rainfall with annual average of 900mm |
| Physiography |
High relief, deeply dissected topography
Elevation varies between 777-1810m |
| Lithology |
Mainly Phyllites of Chandpur Formation |
| Economic Activity |
Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Husbandry |