DEPARTMENT OF IT DEVELOPS SOFTWARE FOR WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
A Geographical Information System(GIS) based
Watershed Planning and Management Software called ‘WATMAN’ has
been developed by National Centre for Human Settlement & Environment
(NCHSE), Bhopal under the technical guidance and funding of Department
of Information Technology, Ministry of Communications&IT.
The package has been successfully used in watershed development
planning for Mohi micro watershed and Sardarpur milli watershed.
WATMAN software has been supplied and used in
various watershed project sponsored by Rajiv Gandhi Watershed
Mission, CAPART. The package is available through NCHSE, Bhopal
and the E-mail address is nchse@bom6.vsnl.net.in,
nchse@sancharnet.in
Watershed management involves planning using
multi criteria strategy considering socio-economic factors, cropping
patterns, slope, rainfall, drainage etc, the end result of watershed
planning is proposal for implementation of various water harvesting
structures alongwith engineering details, alternative cropping
pattern, land use etc.
Majority of Indian Farmers and rural population
at large depend on rain for their agriculture, fodder and other
day to day needs. In medium and low rainfall areas, soil moisture
conservation and water harvesting are important for crop production
and livelihood of rural mass. Integrated Watershed management
has been recognised as an effective strategy for sustainable development
of complete area. It is in fact effective method for drought proofing
of the country.
