SILTATION PROBLEM OF KATTERY RESERVOIR IN THE NILGIRIS AND AN APPROACH TOWARDS ITS RENOVATION

Abstract

THE PAPER DEALS WITH THE BRIEF HISTORY OF KATTERY DAM IN THE NILGRIS, DESCRIPTION OF WATERSHED CHARACTERISTICS , RAINFALL AND OTHER CLIMATIC PARAMETERS, PAST LAND USE AND CAUSES OF ITS DEGRADATION LEADING TO ITS ABANDONMENT. THE DETAILS OF THE WORKS EXECUTED IN KATTERY WATERSHED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING, TAMIL NADU SUCH AS CONTOUR STONE WALL, BENCH TERRACING , WASTE LAND AFFORESTATION , REVETMENTS, CHECK DAMS AND STREAM TRAINING ARE DESCRIBED BESIDES GIVING A SCIENTIFIC APPROACH FOR RENOVATION OF THE DEGRADED HABITAT. SUITABLE CONSERVATION MEASURES SUCH AS AFFORESTATION AND SILVIPASTURE , LANDSLIDE CONTROL , STREAM BANK AND ROADSIDE EROSION CONTROL ETC ARE ALSO DEALT WITH. THE INVESTIGATIONS CARRIED OUT AT CSWCRTI , RESEARCH CENTRE OOTACAMUND ON EFFECT OF LAND USE ON RUNOFF AND SOIL LOSS ARE FOUND TO BE IN FAVOUR OF PERENNIAL VEGETATION CONSISTING OF TREES, SHRUBS AND GRASSES. SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS SPECIFIC TO THE NILGIRIS FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE POLICY MAKERS ARE FURNISHED AND NEED FOR EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION OF THE INHABITANTS OF THE WATERSHED IS STRESSED.