Factors responsible for degeneration of the ecosystem
Following are based on study of data and detailed field visits:
i) Hills and pediments with rocky outcrops with poor soil formation and can support only
sparse vegetation.
ii) Steep slopes causing high erosion.
iii) Theexisting sparsevegetation of thorny scrubs provides very little protection against
erosion.
iv) Growing cattle population (local and migratory) and rampant grazing has led to
depletion in vegetative cover.
v) Illegal felling of trees to meet fuel wood demands.
vi) Lack of awareness among the local people.
vii) Little concern on the part of the monitoring agencies.
Suggestions and recommendations
Water Resources Development The main recommendations for water resources comprise
a) prospective sites for rain water harvesting / ground water recharge through construction
of small, low cost structures using local material and techniques across lower order
streams. Structures suggested comprise small masonry check dams (21), nala bund (61)
and nala plugs (at regular interval). b) Desilting / deepening / modification of
existing tank/pond structures to increase the water holding capacity and facilitate
recharge to ground water.
Land Resources Development
The land resources plans depict conservation measures with suitable change in land use/
land cover. Priorities (high, moderate and low) for development has been provided based
on existing physical parameters within the micro-watersheds. The suggestions are as given
below
- Staggered Pits & afforestation with
non grazing variety of trees (2733.53 ha.) with high (569.72 ha.),
moderate (1116.49 ha) and low (1047.32 ha.) Priority.
- Contour trenching & afforestation with
non grazing variety of trees (799.22 ha. In Govt. land) with high
(432.73 ha.), moderate (196.64 ha.) and low (169.85 ha.) priority.
- Contour trenching & silvipasture with
non grazing variety of trees (1660.95 ha. Panchayat land) to meet
fuel fodder needs.
- Pits & afforestation with non-grazing
variety of shade trees (about 122.81 ha.) along path to hill
shrines.
- Protective bunding & Silvipasture
(2047.94 ha.) in sheet erosion areas.
- Gap filling with protection of forest
(1117.13 ha.)
- Agro-Horticulture & Field Bund (26.01
ha.)
- Double Cropping With Ground Water
Exploitation (4416.01 ha.)
- Minimum Action (Soil Moisture
Conservation) (13752.62 ha.)
- Agro-Forestry (117.46 ha.).
- No Action (294.39 ha.), and others like river bed, water body etc.
Other significant measures like in general protection of forestland for natural regeneration
of vegetation and development of pastureland based on traditional methods in the existing '
Gauchar' land have also been suggested.
Conclusions
Micro-watershed development planning can be done by following an integrated approach using
remote sensing data and criteria based analysis in GIS.
Acknowledgements
We are extremely thankful to Dr. George Joseph, the then Director Space Applications
Centre (SAC) for his encouragement and support in carrying out this study. Thanks are also
due to Dr. A.K.S. Gopalan, Director SAC for his valuable suggestions.