Abstract:
The Devak Catchment considered for the present study extends from 32°-35' to 32°-45' north latitude and longitude 75°-00' to 75°10' east. The Devak River, one of the tributaries of Ujh River, originates from Baral at an altitude of 850 m above mean sea level.
Landuse and landcover exerts considerable influence on the various hydrologic phenomenon’s such as interception, infiltration, evaporation and surface flow. Various aspects of hydrological problems (i.e Rainfall-Runoff modelling, Sedimentation studies, etc.) can be studied if information on landuse / landcover is available for a Catchment. In the present study, a landuse / landcover map of Devak Catchment for the years 1958,79,90 and 98 up to Gura slathian, Jammu has been prepared by Image processing and Visual interpretation technique from the analysis of the IRS-1A L2B2 (FCC) data for the year 1990, IRS-1C LISS-III (Digital data) for the year 1998 and SOI topographic maps for the year 1958 &1979.
In this analysis Leve- l classification was adapted and the various categories of landuse are Mixed forest mainly pine, agricultural with sparse habitation, open scrub & scattered trees and water bodies (river). Results revealed a large change in the area of different landuse categories during the period from 1958 to 1998.The open scrub and scattered tress covering an area of about 46.17% in 1958 reduced to 9.90% in 1998.while the area under mixed forest increased from 36.68% in 1958 to 65.84% in 1998. The agriculture with sparse habitation also increased from 7.09 % in 1958 to 13.92 % in 1998. The main river drainage covering an area of about 10 % of the total catchment.
