Vineesh V, Geography

The National Water Policy (NWP) is India's central framework for managing and utilizing its water resources. It lays down principles, objectives, and strategies for optimal water development, management, and regulation across the country. Year of Initiation and Revisions: The first NWP was adopted in 1987 , focusing on increasing irrigation, drinking water access, and sanitation facilities. It was revised in 2002 to address emerging challenges like inter-state water disputes and environmental considerations. The current policy, NWP 2012 , emphasizes integrated water management, conservation, and sustainability. Ministry of Jal Shakti: In 2019, the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation was merged with the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation to form the Ministry of Jal Shakti . This unified ministry oversees the implementation of the NWP and other water-related programs and initiatives. Key Highlights of ...

Interlinking of rivers in India refers to a proposed project aiming to connect rivers across the country through a network of canals and reservoirs. The primary objectives include redistributing water resources to water-deficient regions, mitigating floods, and enhancing agricultural productivity. However, the project has faced challenges, including environmental concerns, displacement of communities, and inter-state water disputes. The debate over its feasibility and potential impact continues, with proponents highlighting potential benefits and critics raising ecological and social issues. Himalayan Rivers Interlink Component (HRIL) Peninsular Rivers Interlink Component (PRIL) - Goal: The idea is to connect rivers so that water can be moved from water-rich areas to water-scarce areas, helping manage water resources more effectively. 1. Himalayan Rivers Interlink Component (HRIL):    - What it does: Connects rivers in the Himalayan region (like the Ganges) to transfer excess water to ...

Background: Alwar, located in a semi-arid region of Rajasthan, faces water scarcity issues due to erratic rainfall and over-extraction of groundwater. Recognizing the need for sustainable water management, the Water Parliament was established as a community-driven initiative. Key Features: 1. Participatory Decision-Making:    - Community Involvement: The Water Parliament engages local communities, including farmers, villagers, and stakeholders, in decision-making processes related to water management.    - Democratic Approach: It operates on a democratic model, allowing participants to discuss and decide on water-related issues, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility. 2. Water Harvesting and Conservation:    - Traditional Knowledge: The initiative incorporates traditional water harvesting techniques aligned with local knowledge and practices.    - Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting: Implementation of rooftop rainwater harvesting systems is promoted, reducing dependence on conventi...

The relationship between water, climate change, the water cycle, and the geography of climate change is complex and interconnected: 1. Climate Change and the Water Cycle:    - Temperature Changes: Climate change, driven by factors like greenhouse gas emissions, leads to rising global temperatures. This, in turn, affects the water cycle by influencing rates of evaporation and condensation.    - Altered Precipitation Patterns: Changes in climate can result in shifts in precipitation patterns, including changes in the frequency, intensity, and distribution of rainfall. This impacts regional water availability and drought/flood occurrences. 2. Water and Climate Change Impacts:    - Sea Level Rise: Climate change contributes to the melting of ice caps and glaciers, causing sea levels to rise. This affects coastal areas, leading to saltwater intrusion into freshwater sources.    - Extreme Weather Events: Increased frequency and intensity of extreme events such as hurricanes, floods, and heat...

Forest management and water conservation are closely intertwined concepts, as forests play a crucial role in maintaining water resources. Here's an explanation of their connection: 1. Water Regulation: Forests act as natural sponges, absorbing rainwater and releasing it gradually. Trees help regulate water flow, preventing rapid runoff and reducing the risk of floods. 2. Groundwater Recharge: Trees contribute to groundwater recharge by allowing rainwater to percolate into the soil. This replenishes underground aquifers, which are important sources of freshwater. 3. Erosion Control: Forests provide vegetation cover that protects soil from erosion caused by rainfall. This, in turn, helps maintain the quality of water bodies by preventing sedimentation. 4. Streamflow Maintenance: Healthy forests ensure consistent streamflow. Trees release water through transpiration, influencing local and regional precipitation patterns and sustaining rivers and streams. 5. Biodiversity and Water Qual...

Rainwater harvesting is a method of collecting and storing rainwater for later use. Various harvesting methods exist, including: 1. Surface Runoff Harvesting: Collecting rainwater from surfaces like rooftops and directing it to storage tanks or reservoirs. 2. Groundwater Recharge: Allowing rainwater to percolate into the ground to replenish underground aquifers. 3. Rain Gardens: Designing gardens with plants that absorb and manage rainwater runoff, preventing soil erosion. 4. Check Dams: Building small dams or barriers in streams to slow down rainwater runoff and facilitate infiltration. The importance of rainwater harvesting includes: - Water Conservation: It helps conserve water resources by using rainwater for various purposes, reducing dependence on traditional water sources. - Mitigating Flooding: Harvesting rainwater reduces surface runoff, minimizing the risk of flooding during heavy rainfall. - Groundwater Replenishment: Recharging groundwater through harvesting helps maintain ...

Traditional water harvesting and management refer to age-old practices employed by communities to collect, store, and wisely use water resources in a sustainable manner. These methods have often been rooted in local wisdom and adapted to the specific geographical and climatic conditions of a region. Here are some common traditional water harvesting and management practices: 1. Rainwater Harvesting: Collecting rainwater from roofs or surfaces and storing it in tanks or underground reservoirs for later use. This method is particularly effective in areas with seasonal rainfall. 2. Check Dams and Contour Trenches: Constructing small dams or trenches along the contours of the land to slow down water runoff, allowing it to percolate into the soil and recharge groundwater. 3. Community Ponds and Wells: Building communal water bodies like ponds or wells where the community can draw water. These serve as shared resources and often have regulations for equitable use. 4. Agricultural Terracing: C...

Human dependence on groundwater refers to the reliance on subsurface water stored in aquifers for various purposes, including drinking water, agriculture, and industrial processes. Over-extraction occurs when the rate at which humans withdraw water from aquifers exceeds the natural recharge rate, leading to a decline in groundwater levels. Several factors contribute to over-extraction of groundwater. Population growth, agricultural demands, and urbanization often result in increased water needs. However, if the extraction rate surpasses the ability of aquifers to replenish through precipitation or other means, it can lead to negative consequences. Over-extraction can lead to a range of problems, including land subsidence, reduced water quality, and ecological impacts on surface water bodies connected to the aquifers. Sustainable management practices, such as regulating pumping rates, promoting water conservation, and implementing recharge projects, are essential to mitigate the adverse...

A watershed is a geographical area where all the water that falls or drains into it eventually flows to a common outlet, such as a river or lake. It serves as a natural boundary for water management. Integrated Watershed Management Planning (IWMP) involves coordinating various activities to sustainably manage resources within a watershed. IWMP considers factors like soil erosion, water quality, and land use to develop plans for conservation and sustainable development. It typically involves collaboration among stakeholders, including local communities, government bodies, and environmental agencies, to ensure effective and holistic management of water resources and related ecosystems within the watershed. The aim is to balance socio-economic development with environmental conservation for long-term sustainability.

Image classification. Supervised classification Unsupervised classification. Stages: Raw data Preprocessing Signature collection Signature evaluation Classification  . Information Class and Spectral Class Information class: It is a class specified by an image analyst. It refers to the information to be extracted. Spectral class: It a class which includes similar gray-level vectors in the multispectral space. Spectral classes are groups of pixels that are uniform (or near-similar) with respect to their brightness values. . Supervised and Unsupervised Supervised (Information Class) Have a set of desired dasses in mind then create the appropriate signatures from the data. Appropriate • when one wants to identify relatively few dasses . when one has selected training sites that can be verified with ground truth data • when one can identify distinct, homogeneous regions that represent each dass. Unsupervised (Spectral Class) Classes to be determined by spectral distinctions that are inheren...