Geospatial Strategy for Wasteland Mapping: A Case Study of Panchkula District of Haryana

摘要

The ever-increasing population explosion needs food fiber, shelter, fuel and fodder for meeting its various demands for which it has exploited over the natural resources causing land degradation and ecological imbalance. Industrialization has also played havoc in the post-independence era in India. Simultaneously land degradation due to desertification, soil salinity, water logging, flooding, droughts, excessive soil erosion due to deforestation and unscientific agricultural practices have resulted in the creation of wastelands. The major area in Haryana, barring Aravalli and Siwalik hills, form a part of Indo-Gangetic alluvial plain in which low lying pockets are having the problems of water logging, soil salinity and/or alkalinity etc. The present study demonstrates the scope, methodology and outcomes of wasteland mapping for panchkula districts of Haryana state. One season data of LANDSAT ETM~+ (22th Nov, 2006) was interpreted using hybrid approach for the mapping of various wasteland categories on 1:50,000scale. These maps are very useful for district level planning and can be used for taking suitable rehabilitation measures like plantations, afforestation or reclamation etc. depends upon the nature of wastelands.