An interactive web based State of Environment Atlas is being prepared for the Ministry of Environment and Forests. This Atlas will depict the major environmental issues in India in the form of web based interactive maps.  eKH (Environment Knowledge Hub) project

Developing information and knowledge products on water and solid waste management for South Asia, which include GIS based products.

Trainings on GIS

Customised training on GIS are given to various organizations including grass root NGOs, Government Departments, Funding agencies etc. Recently a training was conducted at Patna for UNICEF – Bihar and PHED Bihar officials.

 Interactive Water Quality Maps for CLEAN India Programme

Interactive Water Quality Maps are prepared for the CLEAN India Programme which depict the quality of drinking water in various cities across the country.

Completed Projects:

Bhilwara Project:
The Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission (RGNDWM), Ministry of Rural Areas and Employment, Govt. Of India is a project for preparation of ground water prospects maps on the scale of 1:50,000, using high resolution satellite data towards scientific source finding of drinking water for all the non-covered (NC) and partially-covered (PC) habitations in the country by the concerned States and Union Territories. Due to increasing population and declining ground water levels, more villages are added to PC and NC habitations every year. Taking this as a serious issue, the Govt. of India has included this in the common minimum programme for providing drinking water to all the villages in the country on priority basis in a time-bound manner.
 
The total work as an integrated project includes satellite data interpretation, preparation of ground water prospects maps, follow-up ground surveys, identification of sites on the ground for drilling, selection of sites for construction of water harvesting structures and ultimately creating a digital database.
 
NRSA has entrusted Development Alternatives for preparing the ground water prospects maps on 1:50,000 scale based on satellite imagery interpretation with limited field checks for Bhilwara district and its surrounding areas.

Concept & Methodology:
The ground water regime is a dynamic system wherein water is absorbed at the surface of the earth and eventually recycled back to the surface through the geological strata. In the process various elements like relief, slope, ruggedness, depth and nature of weathering, thickness and nature of deposited material, distribution of surface water bodies, canal command areas, ground water irrigated areas etc also influence the ground water regime, besides the geologic framework. The ground water conditions at a particular site are completely unique. Though their are a large number of variables that are important in understanding the ground water conditions of an area, it is not possible to separately map and study all the variables individually during the course of the investigation, For this purpose, all the variables that control the ground water regime have been grouped under:

• Geology / Litho logy: In such studies texture (primary/secondary porosity & permeability) of the rock and transmitting capacity vis-à-vis the aquifer characteristics are more important
• Geological structures: They exercise a control on the aquifer characteristics. As identified from the satellite imagery are broadly classified as primary (associated with rock types) and secondary (which cut or affect the rock unit)
• Geomorphology / Landforms: The geomorphologic maps vary greatly depending on the purpose for which they are prepared. For ground water prospects map at 1:50,000 scale geomo4rphic units/ landforms have been broadly classified into 3 major zones: Hills & plateaus; Piedmont zones; and plains
• Recharge conditions: An important factor before evaluating the ground water prospects of each unit. Factors like perennial / ephemeral nature of water bodies, rivers, streams, amount of rainfall, extent of recharging area and hydro geological conditions. This information is very useful for the planning recharge structures in different units to improve the sustainability.

By integrating the information referred above, the ground water prospects map can be prepared which provide a better understanding of ground water regime as compared to the conventional hydro geological map. Thus these maps will be useful in narrowing down the target zones for detailed ground surveys/exploration for selection of sites, both for drilling as well as for taking up recharge structures.

Conservation And Sustainable Development Strategy For 
The Khajuraho Heritage Region:

The project initially conceptualized to address the issue of deterioration of the temples but other issues also need to be addressed like the cultural zones that need to be within which the temples are located, assessment of the social and natural resources etc. The study was done at three levels: architecturally looking at the cultural and heritage issues, Development Alternatives looking at the assessment of the natural resources, issues of human well being, local economy and infrastructure facilities. The study taken in 2 parts firstly situation analysis and then development and conservation strategy.
 
The area around the world heritage site was surveyed to map all relevant physical characteristics and a detailed inventory of all the heritage components was prepared. Satellite imagery interpretation coupled with ground truth verification and rigorous consultation enabled a detailed assessment of the natural resource condition in the whole region. The detailed analysis of the current situation was done under the broad heads of Land. Water, Cultural heritage, Local economy, Visitors facilities, Landscape component and the management Facilities which addresses the issues relating to the multiple stakeholders and a centralized approach to governance whereas the action programmed was broadly consisting of three integrated components i.e. Integrated heritage management; sustainable tourism development; and integrated community development. The project also laid down the outline for the implementation mechanisms to be set in place to ensure the effective implementation of the action oriented programmes in three phases of six years.

Zoning Atlas For Siting Of Industries:
The central pollution control board is in the process of preparing the zoning atlas for the siting of the industries and Development Alternatives is assigned the task of digitizing and GIS analysis for Sagar, Bulandshar, Meerut, and Raipur districts.

Concept & Methodology: By sustainable development alone we can resolve the conflict between rapid industrialization and the need to conserve and protect our environment. Environmental planning is a proven tool for reducing the impacts from such risks. The zoning atlas was developed to indicate suitable sites for location of industries in low risk zones. Site selection was done based only on the environmental criteria with the objective of minimizing the adverse environmental impacts. In this project the land was classified in each district according to its capacity to absorb the effects of industrial activity. Data regarding the current land use patterns, water (surface & ground) and air quality, pollution load of existing industrial areas and information regarding habitations, forests, wildlife areas etc was analyzed and interpreted to identify ecologically sensitive areas and high risk areas where no industries should be sited. In addition to providing the environmental status of the district the zoning atlas also indicated the suitable sites for new industries from the view point of sustainable development. The zoning atlas in addition to the stream lining of the decision making process will also act as a good decision making tool for the government, public, and industry.

Started with an objective of a creating a multi prolonged approach of triggering rapid growth, especially for poorer segments of the population, and regenerating the resource base, the project is a step to further the cause of sustainable development in the country. The project involved intensive community interaction focusing on the panchayairaj institutions The entire analysis was carried out digitally, using GIS to its maximum potential. The project was taken up in two parts: firstly the situation analysis which examined the position with respect to the three crucial aspects: natural resources, human well being (local economy, infrastructure basic needs, community groups), and institutions (Govt administration, panchayatraj system, NGO’s & other institutions etc). Secondly the action -plan proposed in the form of four main interventions i.e. natural resource management, sustainable livelihood options, human and infrastructure development and institutional capacity building. The project also laid down the outline for the implementation mechanisms to be set in place to ensure the effective implementation of the action oriented programmes along with the financing mechanisms.

Extensive deforestation and unsustainable agricultural practices have not only been the cause of climate change but has also led to severe soil erosion resulting in sedimentation of reservoirs and rivers causing recurrent floods and decreasing soil productivity. Although major irrigation projects and big dams intended to contribute to improve agricultural production, have, in reality, created the problems of water logging, Stalinization and loss of valuable bio-resources due to their unplanned and mismanaged creation.
 
The salt affected land is generally characterized as land that has adverse effects on the growth of most of the plants due to the presence of excess soluble salts (saline) and high exchangeable sodium in soils.
 
The project involved firstly the rectification of the cadastral map using satellite data and then delineation of the salt affected lands at cadastral level (1:3,960 scale) into broadly three categories i.e. double cropped, single cropped and barren sodic lands. The final output map will give the unit wise classification of the different categories along with their plot numbers also. The project was taken up in two districts of uttar pardesh, in sultanpur and Mainpuri districts.