Applied Geography

Water scarcity is a leading concern in both arid and semi arid regions. In this article the seasonal and annual rainfall and rainy days data is analysed for the years 1980-2012 to understand rainfall fluctuations in semi arid region of Sangli District of Yerla River basin, Maharashtra. The study area lies in the rain shadow zone of basaltic Deccan Traps region and receives 632.22 mm average annual rainfall. In the area the early rains are scanty and the late rains are capricious, so drought occurs repetitively. The monthly and annual rainfall and rainy days data of Vita and Tasgaon stations obtained from India Meteorological Department were analysed on the computer using Microsoft Excel. Correlation between average annual rainfall and average rainy days are calculated for each station. Temporal variations in rainfall are observed with wet and dry spells during the rainy season. September is the wettest month followed by June, October, July and August. There are little or no rainfall occurred in the pre monsoon period from February to May and sporadic showers occurred during the post monsoon period from mid October to January in the region. Nature and distribution of rainfall are essential for watersheds management and allied studies.

Geographic research on natural hazards has a long history, starting with a focus on physical processes and moving forward with an increased recognition of the interactions between the physical and human environments. This special issue on natural hazards presents papers that illustrate a variety of areas of applied hazards research, from the physical to the socio-economic, as well as the array of approaches and techniques utilized, from the quantitative to the qualitative.

In P'ungsu, Yoon and his collaborators describe through two parts and sixteen mindfully coordinated chapters the following:

1. A traditional (and inscrutable) East Asian geomancy that was a unique and highly systematized ancient art of selecting auspicious sites and arranging harmonious structures such as graves, houses, and cities on them by evaluating the surrounding landscape and cosmological directions.

2. A unique and comprehensive system of conceptualizing the physical environment that regulated human ecology in traditional Korea by influencing Koreans to select auspicious environments and to build harmonious structures such as graves, houses, and cities on them.

Water is essential for the existence of the biotic world including human beings. Watershed is a hydrologic unit is often used for the management and planning of natural resources. Watershed development is a need of hour for sustainable water resource development and management of rain shadow region. Nidhal is a small village situated in the critical drought-prone Khatav Tahsil of Satara District, Maharashtra. Scarcity due to erratic and scanty nature of rainfall study area experiences drought conditions repetitively. Main objective of the study is to study role of watershed development programme in sustainable development. Present study is based on the primary and secondary data. In the study area Indo-German Watershed Development Programme and other programme was successfully implemented under active leadership and guidance of Mr. Chandrakant Dalvi (IAS) from 1998 to 2012. ‘Panlot Kshetra Vikas Sanstha’ of Nidhal village was successfully completed various area treatment and drainage line treatment activities along with community contribution. Due to that at present the watershed is self-sufficient in agricultural production. Ground water level of the region and socio-economic status of villagers is increased. Present work shows that role of watershed development programme is helpful for sustainable development of watershed.

Keywords: Watershed Management, Sustainable Development, Nidhal Watershed, Yerla River, Maharashtra

Link: http://www.unishivaji.ac.in/uploads/journal/Journal_42/16.pdf