Analysis of water balance for Upper Kolab catchment was done according to Thornthwaite book keeping technique for six stations located within the catchment and for the entire catchment for the normal climatic year. On annual basis the catchment has a water need, rainfall, actual evapotranspiration, water surplus and water deficit of 1703.7 mm, 1479.82 mm, 1003.13 mm, 476.69 mm and 700.56 mm respectively. There is a water surplus from July to October and water deficit from November to May. The surplus months of June and part of July contribute to recharge the soil moisture deficit.

Bauhinia Vahlii one of the valuable species is a giant climber and also called as Siali in Orissa and "mahul patta" in Madhya Pradesh. Leaves are used for making cups and plates and for wrapping food. The collectors harvest Siali leaves by damaging plant to obtain maximum leaves. Such unsustainable harvesting method led depletion in the growing stock of leaves inn the study area.

The iniquitous development agenda pursued by successive governments at the centre and the state has rendered several tribal groups in Orissa, who reside in some of the poorer, more inaccessible districts of the state, largely marginal to the governance process.

Rainfall and maximum and minimum temperature data of 32 years (1970-2001) at Semiliguda, Koraput (Orissa) were analysed to study the weekly, monthly and yearly drought investigation by studying the water balance. The IMD method was adjusted more suitable for drought identification than the revised IMD method.

In the undivided Koraput district of Orissa, there exist 190 villages that have slowly been pushed off the map of India. Hurled by fast track development into what the state officially calls a cut off region hills submerged by the stilled waters of h