Nature Environment and Pollution Technology

P. Srinivas ¹, C. Sarala ²

Affiliations
1 Deptt. of Civil Engineering, K L University, Vaddeswaram-522 502, Guntur Dist., Andhra Pradesh, IN
2 Centre for Water Resources,JNTU Institute of Science & Technology, Kukatpally, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, IN

Abstract

Critical appraisal of existing land becomes significant for assessment of sustainable development of any resource, as the runoff moves and water resources on spatial-temporal dimension are indispensable. The process of planning at grass ischolar_main level for optimal utilization of these resources further needs deeper evaluation. Timely as well as reliability on available data facilitates the planner to formulate a comprehensive plan with unambiguity. The present work envisages to assess natural resources for a part of Maheshwaram watershed area situated in Rangareddy District, A.P., and to identify the existing problems and potential of the area and to generate an action plan for the optimum development on a sustainable basis. The efficient and proper utilization of water resources is very essential in order to fulfil the water requirements for various purposes such as drinking, irrigation, industrial use, etc. It can be achieved by proper watershed management, which requires various characteristics of watershed such as land use information, geology of the area, soil type, drainage system, it's size and shape of streams. Conventional and manual techniques for the study of watershed characteristics are expensive and time consuming. Remote Sensing and GIS techniques can provide quick and accurate information about watershed characteristics for the efficient watershed management. IRS-1D (LISS-III+PAN) data have been used to generate different thematic maps. The action plan suggests necessary measures to be taken to convert the unproductive areas into profitable one without increasing environmental degradation.

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P. Srinivas ¹, C. Sarala ²

Affiliations
1 Deptt. of Civil Engineering, Koneru Lakshmaiah College of Engineering, Vaddeswaram-522 502, Dist. Guntur, A.P., IN
2 Centre for Water Resources, Institute of Science and Technology, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Kukatpally, Hyderabad, A.P., IN

Abstract

Water is an important resource for the development of any community. Rainfall is the major means by which freshwater is made available. As the utility increases to many fold, availability of water has become a scarce commodity. Hence, utilization of rain water is gaining significance, which otherwise wastes into oceans. To meet the growing population demands rainwater harvesting is need of the hour. The study area is a site near Chowdavaram village, Guntur District. Past rainfall records were collected and annual rainfall was computed. Water levels in the wells and bore wells near the site were measured at suitable intervals during pre and post monsoon seasons. A rainfall harvesting structure i.e., check dam was designed and constructed. Water levels were increased by and large due to construction of check dam as visualized from the depth of water level records. It was observed that the influence of check dam was more on bore wells near to which gradually decreases with distance. It is also observed that for every 5 m rise of water level, power required is reduced to half. If energy conserved is appreciated as energy produced in a society starving of resources, a lot more can be done to future generations in the form of economic savings. Hence, rainwater harvesting is the need of the hour for achieving sustainable development.

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P. Srinivas ¹, C. Sarala ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Civil Engineering, K. L. College of Engineering, Vaddeswaram-522 007, A.P., IN
2 Centre for Water Resources, Institute of Science and Technology, J.N. Technological University, Hyderabad, A.P., IN

Abstract

The agricultural productivity, especially in dry land agriculture, depends upon chiefly the occurrence and distribution of rainfall in a particular region, but due to non-uniform distribution of rainfall and prolonged dry spells during monsoon season and crop period, the dry land agriculture in arid and semiarid regions is becoming difficult. The identification of dry spells and wet spells to find out drought occurring conditions are complex because of the fact that, it requires to analyse the vast hydrological data in a systematic order. The laborious process can be made easy with the advent of using computers and the appropriate data management software. Anantapur is one of the drought-affected districts in Andhra Pradesh due to its location in the rain shadow region of Western Ghats. Due to prolonged dry spells and ill distributed rainfall the district underwent a metamorphosis from drought to desert prone area. Keeping this in view, the present study has been carried out to identify the droughts in Anantapur district by analysing the daily rainfall and evaporation data for a period of 21 years from 1979 to 2000 by the application of Data Base Management System (DBMS) approach by developing programs using Microsoft Visual FoxPro Software.

        From the data analysis, dry days, dry spells, wet days, wet spells, monthly, seasonal and annual rainfall, and driest and wettest months were obtained. From the results it is possible to identify the likelihood of occurrence of dry spells and wet spells. The onset of monsoons was late and consequently the late sowing of crops which results in crop failure in Anantapur district. Thus, knowledge of likelihood of occurrence of dry spells will greatly help in protection of crop from wilting. The identification of dry spells is, therefore, helpful in agricultural planning, reservoir operations, releasing of water to canals for irrigation and for planning cloud seeding operations.

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P. Srinivas ¹, C. Sarala ², P. Prabhakara Chowdary ³

Affiliations
1 Department ofCivil Engineering, K. L. College of Engineering, Vaddeswaram, Guntur District, A.P, IN
2 Centre for Water Resources, I.S.T, J.N. Technological University, Hyderabad, A.P, IN
3 Panchayat Raj Engineering Department, Hyderabad, A.P, IN

Abstract

Watershed is a geo-hydrological unit draining at a common point by a system of streams. Watershed management is the rational utilization of land and water resources for optimum production with minimum hazard to natural resources. Remote sensing (RS) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) techniques can be utilized for effective management of land and water resources in a watershed. Even the Government of Andhra Pradesh is implementing watershed development programs on priority basis for sustainable development of land and water resources on holistic approach. The activities of watershed management mainly include rainwater harvesting structures, soil conservation measures and environmental protection measures.

The study area was Boothpur Mandal, which is one of the 64 mandals of Mahaboobnagar district. These areas have been identified as chronically drought affected areas in the State because of scanty and erratic rainfall. Collection of source data like satellite data of two seasons, SOI toposheets and village maps were carried out. Secondary data like ground water levels, agriculture, population and socioeconomic data were collected. Various thematic maps like base map, contour map, drainage map, soil map, geomorphology map, slope map and land use/land cover map were prepared by using SOI toposheets and satellite imageries. After analysing all maps, action plan map was generated for the soil and water conservation in the study area.

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