12-14 September, 2011, Lucknow - Earth Science India

National Conference on Science of Climate Change and Earth’s Sustainability: Issues and Challenges ‘A Scientist-People Partnership’
12-14 September, 2011, Lucknow
groundwater pumping and surface runoff. The result is a drop in the local water table
and a reduction of ground water discharge, or base flow, in local streams. Since the rate
of recharge of several tiers of water table is far from its optimal value, the crucial geoenvironmental
problem sets in, this ultimately affects the large population of major
cities. In the Gomti basin, Loni river contributes a lot in Lucknow region and will be
influenced by growing urbanization due to its agriculture domain in due course of time.
Therefore, it becomes significant to access the changes taking place in this area.
The present study is an attempt to assess the impact of urbanization on natural
characteristics of Gomti basin taking a case of Loni watershed and selecting suitable
sites for further development programmes through cost benefit approach using
Geographical Information System (GIS) technique to minimize further environmental
degradation. Gomti basin is located in the interfluves region of the Ganga and the
Ghaghara rivers, in central part of the Ganga Plain. It is essentially ground water fed
channel that flows within the vast alluvium of Ganga Plain. The major fluvial processes
of rivers are principally controlled by monsoonal precipitation. During its course the
river flows through the various districts of Uttar Pradesh including state capital
Lucknow where the Loni watershed contributes to the Gomti basin. Here, urbanization
and industrialization is unscientific, uncontrolled and unplanned in many areas. There is
a mad rush towards it in search of livelihood, resulting in an accelerated urban growth.
In 1901 the total urban area of Lucknow city was 44.03 sq km which has increased to
303.63 sq km in 2011 and if this increase remains continuous it will be 414.34 sq km by
2021. The analysis of the spatial arrangement of the urban sprawl in Lucknow city
shows that it covers a wide strip from one end to the other in north and south direction
of Lucknow district. The buffer zone created using GIS along urban realm of Lucknow
city shows that the district boundary along the north and south is entirely engulfed. Now
the spread is towards north-west and south-east. In the south-east major part of the Loni
watershed will be covered by 2021 estimation ascertained by GIS analysis. Thus it
seems that within approximately 8-10 years more than 50 percent of its area will be
converted into concrete jungle. This will result in loss of fertile agricultural land,
lowering of the water table due to excess use of groundwater, loss of natural water
bodies that will directly affect the natural recharge system of the region thus loss of
present ecosystem and habitat. The Loni watershed that plays a pivotol role in Gomti
basin seems to be engulfed in due course of time. Therefore, land use and land cover of
the region must be sustainably handled and use of wasteland and saline soils should be
taken for development programs so as to make minimal loss of environment. This will
provide an option for securing the natural environment with proper assessment for
development programs. Therefore, there is utmost need to attract everybody’s attention
towards this problem to save this natural resource as well as our environment.
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