Delineation of target areas for MGNREGA related NRM activities using web GIS and multi thematic geo spatial datasets

Abstract

Development of Indian villages is critically dependent on the availability of water and it’s judicious use, especially in the context of fast altering climatic trends and land degradation. This paper concentrates on selecting suitable sites for the implementation of natural resource management activities and aims to choose tentative sites for the planning of water conservation activities such as farm ponds, check dams, plantation, horticulture and other drought proof activities. The approach is done by considering the rules and regulations of an Indian labour act called MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) designed at improving the rural inadequate and to make resilient resources of mission water conservation. Here, multi thematic geo spatial data sets of Vayalpad mandal of Chittoor district are considered. The inputs used are Land Use Land Cover (LULC), Digital Elevation Model (DEM), Road map, Drainage map, slope map and other topographical features. These layers are tested using allowable thresholds for understanding sensitivity of decisions.