GIS overview of Uttaranchal State, India
J.S.Rawat, S. Naithani, G. Rawat, C.M.S. Adhikari and V.S.Rawat
NRDMS Centre, Department of Geography, Kumaun University Campus
Almora-263611 Uttaranchal (India)
Introduction
In recent years, there has been increased need for more timely responses to promote effective administration, planning, decision-making and development process. The complexity and huge volume of timely data requirement for developmental planning have proved inadequate in the traditional methods of paper based data handling, spatial analysis and presentation. Preparation of resource profile at different levels ( i.e., national, state and district or below) using GIS should be our main objective. The GIS provides a systematic spatial and attribute database which is prerequisite for implementing development and research project; for drawing development strategies that are sustainable, area specific and take into account the local need; and to facilitate the process of decentralized (to smaller unit i.e. district or below) planning, and for more timely response to promote effective administration, planning, decision making and development process. The process of planning is being decentralized to smaller units i.e. (district or below) to facilitate drawing developmental strategies that are sustainable, area specific and takes into account the local needs. With increasing stress on decentralized planning there is an urgent need to develop state, district and lower level mechanism for effective natural and human resources database system which could help to the decision makers, planners, researchers and administrators in implementing there projects. Preparation of district level resource profile should be the primary activity for sustainable district level resource developmental planning.
In view of the significance of the systematic database under GIS environment for development of natural resources, a Natural Resource Database System (NRDMS) Centre at Almora in the Department of Geography, Kumaun University SSJ Campus, Almora has been establish under a DST,GOI research project.
Almora the 46th NRDMS centre of India
The DST, GOI has recently awarded a research project on "Setting up of Natural Resource Digital Database Centre at Almora, Uttranchal and Creation of an Integrated Database for Decentralized Planning (Rawat, 2002). Presently under the NRDMS programme of the DST, Government of India, 46 pilot district Database Centers are operational in different parts of our Country. With the help of above projects, 46th NRDMS Centre of our country was established in the Department of Geography, Kumaun University SSJ Campus Almora which was formally inaugurated by the Honorable State Minister of Science and Technology Government of India on 16th June 2003.
Objectives of the centre
The Fundamental objectives of the NRDMS Centre Almora are:
- Development of Integrated Database as per the DST NRDMS Database Design.
- Generation of Information and Sectorial Plans Needed by State/District Line Departments.
- Development of Technology Base/ Basket, specific to the Need of Line Departments.
- Training of the Officers of Line Departments/Researchers.
- To provide assistance to State/District Authorities as and when required.
Study Area
Uttaranchal State (area 53586.53 km2) one of the newly emerged state of India (Fig.1) is drained by main perennial and non perennial river systems i.e. Ganga, Yamuna, Ram Ganaga, Kali, Saruyu, and Kosi, Suyal and many others Rao’s and base flows in Bhabhar and Tarai areas respectively. Presently it has Two Divisions (viz; Garhwal and Kumaun), 13 Districts ( viz; Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, Chamouli, Dehradun, Haridwar, Nainital, Pauri, Pithoragarh, Rudrapur, Tehri, Udam Singh Nagar and Uttarkashi).