MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REHABILITATION OF DEGRADED SHIWALIKS THROUGH WATERSHED MANAGEMENT

Abstract

THE ENVIRONMENTAL REHABILITATION THROUGH INTEGRATED WATERSHED MANAGEMENT APPROACH AS EXAMPLIFIED IN SUKHOMAJRI CONCEPT OF FARM AND FOREST DEVELOPMENT TOGETHER , HAS NOT BEEN TRIED SO FAR IN THE SANDY SHIWALIK BELT OF HOSHIARPUR DISTRICT OF PUNJAB STATE. THEREFORE, A TYPICAL WATERSHED OF 627 HA WAS SELECTED IN VILLAGE RELMAJRA OF THIS DISTRICT FOR TESTING THE TECHNOLOGICAL PACKAGE FOR ENVIROMENTAL REHABILITATION OF DEGRADED SHIWALIKS. THIS PLAN, ENVISAGING AND EXPENDITURE OF RS 34.48 LAKHS HIGHLIGHTS THE PROBLEMS OF THE REGION, PROPOSE TECHNOLOGICAL PACKAGE AND DATA GENERATION FOR (I) REHABILITATION OF DENUDED HILLS (II) WATERSHED HYDROLOGY, (III) WATER RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, (IV) WASTELAND DEVELOPMENT, (V) CROP IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMMES , (VI) CHOE TRAINING WORKS AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMMES FOR ENSURING ECOLOGICAL SECURITY WITH PEOPLE'S PARTICIPATION. LARGE NUMBER OF WORLD BANK AIDED PROJECTS ARE COMING UP FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THIS ECOLOGICALLY FRAGILE REGION. PROPER IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE AMBITIOUS PROGRAMMES REQUIRE DATA SUPPORT WHICH UNFORTUNATELY IS INADEQUATE . THE PROJECT , THEREFORE, AIMS AT STRENGTHENING THE DATA BASE FOR FUTURE PLANNING. DATA ON DETAILED SURVEY OF SOIL, NATURAL VEGETATION, PRESENT SOCIO- ECONOMIC STATUS, ENGINEERING ASPECTS AND DESIGN OF AN EARTHFILL DAM FOR HARVESTING, STORING AND UTILIZING RAIN WATER FOR SUPPLEMENTAL IRRIGATION ARE REPORTED.