Environmental impact of Indira Gandhi Canal Project in Rawatsar tehsil of Hanumangarh district, Rajasthan

In Rawatsar tehsil of Hanumangarh district, seepage from the Indira Gandhi canal system, excessive use of water in cultivated fields and accumulation of water in depressions have brought more than perceptible change in the en vironment through sub-soil water revel rise, waterlogging and soil salinity . The field data and spectral characteristics of IRS-IB I-ISS II FCCs revea l that nearly 165 sq, km (34.25%) of the total command area is under waterl ogging and soil salinity. The problems of the affected area have been categ orised as slight (67.95 sq, km), moderate (3.37 sq. km), severe (93.67 sq. km) and very severe (36.76 sq. km). Tilt areal extent of waterlogging and s oil salinity is increasing every year. However, there is scope to arrest th ese problems using improved technologies of land and water resources manage ment.