Geo environmental study for sustainable development of the kulsi watershed Assam

Abstract

The geo-environmental study of the Kulsi watershed is to generate a natural resource-based sustainable development plan for the watershed. For this, database on natural resources, terrain parameters, meteorology, contemporary technology and socio-economic profile of the study area is generated. Analysis of data and integration of the same using computer based GIS technology help in arriving at a suitable action plan for sustainable development. The various resource aspects that has been identified for the investigation of the geo-environmental aspect of the study area are drainage, watershed and surface water body; slope, aspect and altitude; soil; hydrogeomorphology, geology and groundwater prospect; land use / land cover; rainfall, climate and flood information; settlement location and block / village boundary; socio-economic data base. The main focuses in the action plan prepared for sustainable development of the watershed are on the following aspects. 1. Recommendation of suitable land use pattern. 2. Groundwater potentiality zonation 3. Land capability classification 4. Recommendation for sustainable water resource development 5. Recommendation for sustainable land resource development To formulate the action plan for sustainable development of the watershed a GIS based spatial and attribute database is generated Both the spatial and attribute information database in the GIS environment is used for analysis and to generate final output. All the thematic maps are prepared in the 1:50,000 scale. The maps have been prepared taking help of the satellite imagery, Survey of India Toposheets and the already available maps with the support of the field evidence. The attribute information is collected from the primary as well as secondary sources. To get an overview about the general information on the Kulsi watershed; its location, physical setting including physiography, geology, soil, drainage, climate and rainfall, cultural setting including population, demography, socio-economic aspects and industries are...