Vol1-Foreward

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We have a chequered history of application of research on, and management of, impacts of both natural and anthropogenic change on our land and water resources. Early on, in our country when we adopted the linguistic model of separation of states as administrative areas, we commenced the complete neglect of our basic natural life support resources - LAND and WATER. By doing so we de-recognised the value of whole-catchment as a unit of quantifying life support potential of a particular area of common micro and macro climatic conditions resulting in a spatial habitat capable of providing water and food chain linkages to sustain life…for the flora, fauna and therefore the human population as well. Degradation of this habitat has resulted in loss of vegetation which was holding the soils on hill slopes.

Introduction of EP Act and the process of environmental clearance by the MoEF did bring to fore the importance of catchment area treatment. Similarly the existing rules under the forest act specifying the procedure for “Diversion of Forest Land for non forest use” did have adequate emphasis on the treatment of Catchment areas.

However the focal point of the MoEF clearance is very project specific and it pays greater attention to management of “downstream” effects of specific water resource projects. In much the same manner the focus in a diversion proposal is on the cost benefit, compensatory afforestation provisions and on the budgetary provisions for the specified catchment area.

A wide variety of issues, including riparian management, wetlands restoration, water allocation, groundwater abstraction, and green fields’ development, would benefit from an integrated approach to catchment management. Such an approach requires a cooperative effort among land owners, (both government and private), project developers, managers, and scientists; aided by a coordinated mix of process-oriented studies, environmental monitoring, and computer simulation.

The focus of our current work in hand is on improving and protecting the soil and moisture regime of specific locale. We are focused on selected processes in Environmental Management Technologies that might be employed to this end. Some may question whether catchment management is really an “innovative” tool. Haven’t we employed catchment management approaches for decades? The answer would have to be yes. However, we never did think of planning on a basin level and execution on each micro watershed level. We never thought beyond the time tested procedures that were not terrain specific. We never did think of people’s participation as a catchment area treatment tool which could enhance and alter their livelihood patterns.

‘What is Comprehensive (Integrated) Catchment Management (ICM)?’

Integrated catchment management (ICM) can be thought of as both a research approach and as an organising philosophy. As a research approach, ICM recognises that the environment is a complex system of interacting resources – an “ecosystem” – operating within a landscape context.

The landscape context that we most often consider is the catchment or watershed, in recognition of the central role of water as a critical resource and of catchments as a source of water. It is instructive to recall that it was not until relatively recently that Comprehensive CAT Plan of Satluj River Basin

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scientists recognised the inherent power of linking research on water transport to research on material (i.e., nutrients and pollutants) transport across the land. This link has spawned whole new fields of research, such as environmental hydrology and biogeochemistry that have provided powerful new insights into how nature works and how people affect those workings. Thus, the catchment approach has provided an essential framework in which to link research on physical hydrology with research on and management of, water quality, soil quality, vegetation dynamics, and land use.

The conceptualisations of ICM as a research tool and as an approach to management are strongly intertwined. A fully-functional ICM approach would include a seamless interaction among knowledge generators, knowledge purchasers, and knowledge users.

These individual constituencies interact with one another through the processes of governance, consulting, and outreach. Taken together, these activities create an effective, integrated approach to management of the environment.

So to summarise, the definition of ICM or Comprehensive Catchment Treatment would be: An approach which recognises the catchment or river basin as the appropriate organising unit for research on ecosystem processes for the purpose of managing natural resources in a context that includes social, economic and political considerations.

The opportunity offered by the state of Himachal Pradesh by proposing this study is of enormous value for studies of physical hydrology, or complex land-use impacts and most importantly the erosion of our lands and heavy silt loads which in turn will ruin our modern projects together with our indigenous living in harmony with nature. It is also very appropriate to start this planning process from the Satluj, as the Satluj basin encompasses more than one third of the state of Himachal Pradesh. She also holds an enormous potential of generation of hydro electricity for future, but sedimentation in the Satluj is a major concern. It occurs due to erosion in the catchment area of the river which results in heavy silt deposition in the river bed and reservoirs, ultimately decreases their carrying and storage capacity.

Throughout Himalayan region, watershed resource use and productivity is based on crops, horticulture, pastures and forestry which is largely influenced by geographical and environmental diversity prevailing in different zones. The wide variation in altitude and other agro-climate parameters such as rainfall, snowfall and temperature, broadly classify Himalayan region into four major agro-climate zones. These include • Low hills and valleys • Middle hills and valleys with sub humid climate • High mountains and valleys with temperate climate and • Cold dry desert zone The increased pressure of population on the existing land resources for material needs like food, fodder, fuel and timber and many developmental activities like road construction, new construction and mining etc. have lead to a breakdown in the long held natural equilibrium of the fragile mountain ecosystem. The continued misuse and over exploitation of land resources have resulted and continue to bring in its trail enormous soil erosion in the catchments of Satluj. The increased soil erosion in the mountains has on the one hand, lowered the productivity of land, affected adversely the local water supplies, caused aridity in the climate, increased the incidence of the landslides/slips and on the other hand, posed problems downstream in increasing siltation in the hydroelectric reservoir and more incidences of floods. Already, the Comprehensive CAT Plan of Satluj River Basin

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reservoirs of many hydroelectricity projects are getting silted up in frightening proportions, reducing their storage capacity significantly. The experience gained world over shows that it is always wise to treat the catchment of rivers to contain silt inflow than to carry out difficult and expensive dredging operations in the reservoirs.

The challenge before us was to sift through this tough terrain and to find, location specific and doable action plans which will encourage participation, while creating a GIS based system to manage and monitor every aspect of the watershed. I dare say that we in NERIL have succeeded in this task.

We in NERIL, gratefully acknowledge the cooperation, guidance and enthusiastic support that came from one and all of the HPFD and specifically from Mr. Avey Shukla, Mr. Vinay Tandon, Mr. JS Walia, Ms. Archana Sharma, Mr. SS Negi and many many others in every circle, division, range and beat in this difficult yet enchanting terrain.

The suggestions and encouragement by the World Bank officials especially Mr. Piyush Dogra contributed in making this project a success.

For over two years, the NERIL team and the experts have worked, thought, dreamt and talked of nothing but the CAT plan. Their involved dedication to this purpose is worthy of appreciation. The completion of this task was made possible due to their relentless efforts.

Commander (Retd) Dipak D Naik.

CEO NERIL

Comprehensive CAT Plan of Satluj River Basin