Theme-V-12-Geo-spatial database and conservation of natural resources by the people.

Abstract

India is endowed with bountiful natural resources for sustenance of mankind. However, the continuous population growth and increasing demand for food, fibre, fodder and fuel caused tremendous pressure on natural resources such as soil, water and forest resulting depletion of soil fertility, water stress and degradation of green cover. The scenario of Punjab state, one of the major contributors of food grain production in the country is critical due to over exploitation of ground water resources. The impact of degradation of natural resources is visible in the form of climate change that calls for scientific endeavour to mitigate the adverse effect of climate change on food production. Basic information on soil and land parameters on hydrologic unit forms the prime base to adopt scientific measures as mitigation plan. The geospatial data base on hydrologic units, soil and land attributes are vital for evolving mitigation plan to conserve soil, water and vegetation resources. Soil and Land Use Survey of India (SLUSI) has contemplated to disseminate the geospatial data base to the local people by creating platform free data base that would be provided through DVD to the users who could take print out of any microwatershed with drainage on A4 size paper and devise working plan on their own for conservation of natural resources. The paper deals with generation and creation of digital spatial data base for web services for natural resource management by the people taking an example of Gurudaspur district, Punjab. Gurudaspur district, Punjab an integral part of Their' catchment has been taken to demonstrate the use of geospatial data base for conservation of precious natural resources following watershed approach. Out 17 microwatersheds covering an area of 8,326 ha 16 have been identified as very high and 1 medium priority category on the basis of sediment yield index (SYI) values. The data reveals that about 94 % of the total area of the study area is falling under very high category and needs immediate attention for soil and water conservation measures. It has been estimated that 180810 man days employment could be generated under watershed development programme for treating 7954 ha very high priority area out of total surveyed area of 8326 ha in Gurudaspur district, Punjab. The modern tools for soil and land resource mapping such as remote sensing, creation of digital spatial data base using geographic information system, dissemination of geospatial data base to the user communities through Web with creation of ICT (Information Communication Technology) open a new vista for management of natural resources. The accessibility of geospatial data base is limited to the executives for GIS based planning under G2G domain. Such data base is inaccessible to the local or common people as it requires adequate hardware and software which is rarely available at district or village level. Soil and Land Use Survey of India (SLUSI) has contemplated to disseminate the geospatial data base to the local people by creating platform free data base that would be provided through DVD to the users who could take print out of any microwatershed with drainage on A4 size paper and devise working plan on their own for conservation of natural resources.