Saraswati Nadi in Haryana and Its Linkage with the Vedic Saraswati River – Integrated Study Based on Satellite Images and Ground Based Information
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JOURNAL GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF INDIA Vol.73, February 2009, pp.273-288 Saraswati Nadi in Haryana and its Linkage with the Vedic Saraswati River – Integrated Study Based on Satellite Images and Ground Based Information B. K. BHADRA, A. K. GUPTA and J. R. SHARMA Regional Remote Sensing Service Centre, Dept. of Space, CAZRI Campus, Jodhpur - 342 003 Email: [email protected] Abstract: Detailed studies on the status of Saraswati Nadi of northern Haryana have been carried out using multi date and multi resolution satellite images, GIS techniques and ground data. Palaeochannels have been delineated using remote sensing techniques and validated using discovered archaeological sites, sedimentological data from drilled wells and water quality data. Detailed analysis of hydrological data (rainfall and stream discharge), catchment area and petrographic analysis of rock samples have been done to decipher the dwindling state of Saraswati Nadi. Likelihood of Adi Badri as the place of origin of Saraswati Nadi and its possible linkage with the Vedic Saraswati River is discussed. Suggestions have been given for safeguarding and revival of Saraswati Nadi as a national heritage. Keywords: Remote Sensing, GIS, Palaeodrainage, Hydrogeology, Archaeology, Saraswati Nadi, Adi Badri, Haryana. INTRODUCTION DRAINAGE SYSTEM IN HARYANA Saraswati Nadi (also known as Saraswati River, A number of ephemeral drainages such as Ghaggar, Saraswati Nala, Sarsuti and Chautang in certain segments) Dangri, Markanda, Saraswati and Chautang presently drain in northern Haryana is one of the important tributary of the through Haryana (Fig. 1). Most of these drainages originate “Lost Vedic Saraswati River” that flowed through Haryana, from Siwalik Hills and flow to the west through Indo- Punjab, Rajasthan and northern Gujarat States in full might Gangetic alluvial plain. But the River Yamuna and its around 6000 B.C. and disappeared around 3000 B.C. tributaries (Somb, Boli and Pathrala) flow in an opposite (Chauhan, 1999; Kalyanaraman, 1999; Kochhar, 2000; direction, to the east. Hence, it seems logical that the westerly Radhakrishna, 1999; Valdiya, 2002). The Saraswati Nadi flowing river systems of northern Haryana must have originates near Rampur Herian, south of Adi Badri and contributed to the Vedic Saraswati River. passes through Bilaspur, Mustafabad, Thanesar, Bibipur and Pehowa and ultimately joins River Ghaggar near Saraswati Nadi of Haryana Rasauli village in Punjab. Presently, Saraswati Nadi is in As seen on the Survey of India (SOI) topomaps, defunct state and exhibits as a discontinuous drainage. Saraswati Nadi originates from a place called ‘Rampur Existence of a large number of archaeological sites Herian’ which is located south of Adi Badri in Yamunanagar along the river, suggests it to be an important drainage of district. The existence of Saraswati Nadi from Rampur the past. Though Adi Badri is located on the bank of Herian to Bibipur is seen clearly on the topomaps and River Somb, but local people believe that Saraswati satellite images. On topomap of 1969-70, it is shown as originates at Adi Badri. Mention of Saraswati Nadi of Saraswati Nala / Nadi / River. Haryana has been made in drainage related studies carried Saraswati Nadi is believed to be a sacred river in out by various authors in this region. The morpho-tectonic Haryana. This is evident from the occurrence of several control of the drainages of northern Haryana has been historical temples, pilgrimage and Hindu ritual sites and discussed by Thussu (1999) and Virdi and Philip (2006). relics of archaeological sites all along the course of this However, exclusive studies on this drainage system are river, indicating it to be a perennial river of the past. Most very rare. of these pilgrim sites belong to either Post-Harappan or 0016-7622/2009-73-2-273/$ 1.00 © GEOL. SOC. INDIA 274 B. K. BHADRA AND OTHERS Fig.1. Spatial distribution of major drainages in northern Haryana. Important pilgrim sites/tirthas lie on the bank of Saraswati Nadi. Inset: Location of the study area. Mahabharata period. The river passes through Yamunanagar, disappeared around 3000 B.C. Several remnants of this river Kurukshetra, Kaithal and Fatehabad districts and joins with exist as palaeo channels (Ghose et al. 1979; Gupta, 1996; River Ghaggar at Rasauli village near Shatrana in Patiala Mishra, 1995; Radhakrishna, 1999; Valdiya, 2002; Yashpal district of Punjab. Drainage pattern of Saraswati Nadi et al. 1980). Today the Vedic Saraswati River is represented derived from the topomaps shows two southwesterly by the Ghaggar River which flows on palaeochannel of Vedic flowing sub-parallel streams on either side of the Chautang Saraswati, located in the western part of the Haryana state Nala which crisscross at several places between Purangarh (Bhadra et al. 2006; Sood and Sahai, 1983). The Vedic and Babain villages (Fig.1). The shifting of their course is Saraswati River has been flowing sub-parallel to the Indus possibly due to discontinuous discharge in the past. The River in NW India (Oldham, 1893; Pilgrim, 1919; Stein, local people strongly believe that Adi Badri is the place of 1942; Krishnan, 1953, 1968; Wilhelmy, 1999). Gupta et al. origin of Saraswati Nadi and also that this nadi is the main (2004) have mapped the course of Vedic Saraswati, buried Vedic Saraswati River. Local populace performs different below sands of Thar Desert, using satellite data and Hindu rituals along this river course. showed presence of Saraswati channels which are self- evident on satellite images. They have also validated the Vedic Saraswati River course of Vedic Saraswati River through collateral data such The Vedic Saraswati, a mighty and holy river of as geomorphic anomalies, drilling data (litholog) of northwest India during 6000-3000 B.C., originated from tube wells, hydrogeological data (yield, quality and age of Har-ki-Dum glacier in Garhwal Himalayas and finally groundwater), archaeological data and published old discharged into the Gulf of Khambat in Gujarat coast and maps. JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.73,FEB.2009 SARASWATI NADI IN HARYANA AND ITS LINKAGE WITH THE VEDIC SARASWATI RIVER 275 palaeochannels could possibly have a link with the existing/ METHODOLOGY abandoned channels which originate from the Siwalik Hills. In the present study, satellite data from IRS P6 AWiFS Study of drainage pattern through satellite image sensor (56 m resolution) and IRS P6 LISS-III (23.5 m (February, 2004) and the topomaps (1969) shows shifting resolution) of February, 2004 have been used to delineate and narrowing down of Saraswati Nadi between Pehowa the course of palaeochannels and the present drainage and Adi Badri in the last 35 years. A number of ephemeral systems in Haryana. All these data have been digitally drainages such as Ghaggar, Dangri, Markanda, Saraswati processed in ERDAS/Imagine software (version 9.0). and Chautang presently drain through Haryana. Most of Digital image processing techniques like histogram these drainages originate from Siwalik Hills and flow to the equalization, piece/scene wise linear stretching, contrast and west through Indo-Gangetic alluvial plain. River Yamuna brightness enhancement, different band combinations and and its tributaries (Somb, Boli and Pathrala) flow along the edge enhancement etc. have been applied on the satellite eastern margin of the Haryana state in the eastward direction. data. Present day drainages are traced from IRS P6 LISS- IV data (5.8 m resolution) and the topomaps (1969). Field Studies Along Saraswati Nadi Available QuickBird data (2.4 m resolution) data for Field investigations have been carried out during 2004- Yamunanagar district was also used to trace the course of 2005 along the Saraswati drainage course, right from Adi the river. For integrated study, GIS database of various Badri (place of origin) to Bibipur Lake (in the middle) till thematic layers (administrative boundary, settlement, road, Pehowa (downstream). The presence of this drainage course rail, drainage, watershed area, well location, archaeological in different villages (Bari Pabni, Choti Pabni, Chhapar and sites etc) have been prepared by using ARC/INFO software Mustafabad) have been located through Global Positioning (version 9.1). The delineated palaeochannels are validated System (GPS) survey and are shown through field with various ground data and collateral information from photographs (Figs.3a, b, c and d). The name of “Saraswati archaeology, sedimentology, hydrology, hydrogeology, Nadi/Nala” has been inscribed at several old rail/road rainfall and petrography. bridges, about 50-100 years old (Figs.3e and f). In the downstream direction, this drainage becomes wider but left DATA ANALYSIS with stagnated water (Figs.3g, h and i). At many places sewerage water was observed flowing along the Saraswati Remote Sensing Studies drainage course at Sadhaura and Mustafabad in Due to synoptic viewing capability Remote Sensing Yamunanagar district and Thanesar and Pehowa in sensors with different spatial, spectral and multi-temporal Kurukshetra district (Figs.3j, k and l). Ground truth in the resolution, IRS satellite images (AWiFS, LISS-III and area reveals that the drainage becomes narrow (about 10- LISS-IV) have been used for palaeochannel delineation 100 m wide) at several places which is the result of climatic and other thematic interpretations. Palaeochannels are and tectonic changes coupled with anthropogenic basically the old course of river channels which appears interventions. The holy river of the past has turned into a on the satellite image as serpentine drainage course with sewerage drain, obliterated at different places, virtually high moisture content (dark tone). For delineation of defunct and has only the seasonal flow. As a result, frequent palaeochannels, digital image processing techniques like flash floods occur in the area, causing enormous damage to histogram equalization, linear stretching, contrast and the crop and the property. Saraswati Nadi in this region is in brightness enhancement etc have been applied on a small the verge of obliteration and witnesses an unbearable pathetic area of the satellite images (IRS P6 LISS-III of summer, condition. kharif and rabi seasons).