The need:

"The Watershed Development needs accurate planning. It needs planning for variety of themes and features of the concerned area. The planning is for development and it is most concerned with the facts and features, at the current time and their interrelationship and futuristic equation between the actions and impacts of these many items."
- Anonymous.

The PIAs (Project Implementing Agencies) take the task of implementing the Watershed programmes. The PIAs after collection of data have to draw conclusions about the present features of the area, the requirements and needs of the area and the people thereof, about the activities as solutions for the problems, etc.

It requires a definite technique to use the data, to draw conclusions and then take decisions about actions as remedy. No pre-defined, pre-tested and easy to follow procedures exist (or are not accessible to all), which could act as guidelines for the PIAs to methodically exercise micro-planning for Watershed Development.

WHY GIS ? WHY GUIDANCE PROCEDURE?

Not every one of us would know:

q       The process of arriving at a fool proof action  plan for Watershed development.

q       As to what information at what step helps the process of planning?

q       From which source, for what period/frequency, data is to be resourced?

q       Which maps can be combined/used for mutual updating?

q       How maps at different scales are combined/superimposed?

q       How information is transferred upto khasra level?

q       When to interact with villagers and how to use their inputs alongwith technical information?

The Procedure for Watershed Planning: The guidance procedure is prepared in written document form. The users can take its advantage by adhering to the instructions in the sequence, which are already most logically arranged. The users, have to simply follow the activities mentioned, rather mechanically and they are driven through till arriving at suitable action plan. The process calls for a lot of mapped data illustrations and the cartographic work needs a assisting tool that is computer with CAD facilities. Hence it is customary to use software here. A combination of the documentation and the software is thus worked out for enabling an effective watershed planning. The software developed is meant for assistance in the planning process at several levels, and it basically acts as a tool for accessing the CAD functions related to the cartographic works. The software helps the total process of data recording into the computer, the illustration on maps, integration of maps, analyses, and eventually arriving at the to be proposed action plan for treatment activities for the watershed development. The unique feature is that the planning process sees a balanced use of scientific approach and villagers involvement to ensure that all the planned activities are technically viable and socially acceptable. A proper use will not only help and guide the user through the process, but it may lead to help achieve even that, which is beyond the scope of the here described planning technique.

THE STEPS INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS
MODULE I: Basic Maps Preparation The first module deals with basic map preparation. These maps are all at small scales of 1:250,000 or 1:50,000 and are made from Survey of India toposheets and from remote sensing products. This module achieves the 'map base' preparation showing themes at village level and are prepared for miliwatershed unit.

MODULE II: Updating Maps, Scale Alteration & Analysis This module deals with mutual updation of the maps prepared in previous module and also performs few integration and analyses, exercises. This module also alters the scales of all maps to 1:12,500.

MODULE III: Microwatershed Level Works The module, uses the maps produced in previous module and allows them to be transferred to Khasra maps. Micro watershed level works. It helps arriving at several decisions regarding identification of treatment measures and suitable sites for these. The participation of the villagers is also ensured here. Action plan is prepared and finalised here, as per the actual ground level requirements and the consent of the villagers. 

S.No.

MAP

Source

Use

1.

Watershed Geo-coded map (1:50,000)

Mission or
Zila Panchayat

Miliwatershed boundary

Geo-coordinates (lat long)

2.

Mazmuli Map (1:10,000)

Revenue or NCHSE

Village boundaries

3.

SoI Toposheet (1:25,000)   or

SRTM data from NRSA for contours

Survey of India

Drainage, Villages within watershed, Landuse, contour (5meters)

4.

Remote Sensed data

CartoSAT 2.5m or 1m resolution

NRSA

Up-to-date Drainage

PROCESS:

Precise Miliwatershed boundary delineation based on Miliwatershed area, drainage and slopes.

Microwatershed boundary delineation

S.No.

MAP

Source

Use

5.

Khasra map (1:4,000)

Patwari

Khasra boundaries

6.

Khasra Data

Patwari registers copy

Landuse and ownerships

PROCESS:

Superimpose khasra map with Microwatershed boundary, Drainage, Slope

S.No.

MAP

Source

Use

7.

Geology (1:2,50,000)

GSI

Geological formations helpful in analyzing site suitability for structures

8.

Geo-morphology

Distt. Plans

Geomorphology details helpful in analyzing site suitability for structures

9.

Soil

 - Strata

 - Type

NBSS

Soil details helpful in analyzing site suitability for structures

10.

Groundwater status data

Groundwater Potential map

CGWB reports

Soil details helpful in analyzing need of treatment and site suitability for structures

S.No.

MAP

11.

Slope direction indicator map

Optional: use of ETS for micro areas

12.

Soil Erosion map

13.

Ground water Well Data

14.

Land use data

15.

Cropping pattern data

16.

Irrigation status