DOCSLIB.ORG

2012 Geomorphology Brahmap

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
2012 Geomorphology Brahmap GEOMOR-03977; No of Pages 12 Geomorphology xxx (2012) xxx–xxx Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect Geomorphology journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/geomorph Tectonic controls on the morphodynamics of the Brahmaputra River system in the upper Assam valley, India Siddhartha K. Lahiri a,b,⁎, Rajiv Sinha a a Engineering Geosciences Group, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur 208016, India b Department of Applied Geology, Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh 786004, India article info abstract Article history: The Brahmaputra is one of the largest tropical rivers of the world and is located in an area of high structural Received 28 May 2011 instability as evidenced from the presence of a large number of earthquakes in the Himalayan catchment Received in revised form 10 April 2012 through which it flows. Syntectonic evidence of changes in the morphodynamics is difficult to identify for Accepted 11 April 2012 the large rivers. Nevertheless, we note that the Brahmaputra River has become astonishingly large in plan- Available online xxxx form in a historical timescale. Reconstruction of planform changes over a period of 90 years in the upper reaches of the Assam valley shows that the 240-km-long channel belt is widening all along its course in Keywords: Himalayan tectonics the region. From the average width of 9.74 km in 1915, the channel belt has widened to the average width Indo-Burmese Arc of 14.03 km in 2005 (44% widening), and in certain reaches the average widening is as high as 250%. However, River dynamics the bank line shift is not symmetric along both banks. Further, the planform characteristics of the Brahmaputra River reveal significant spatial and temporal variability from upstream to downstream reaches, and we attribute this variability to tectonogeomorphic zonation of the river based on subsurface configuration and channel slope. Further, the tributaries joining the northern and southern banks of the Brahmaputra differ remarkably in terms of river dynamics, and this is attributed to the differences in tectonic regimes of the Himalaya in the north and the Naga Patkai hills in the south. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction In contrast, the upper reaches of the river in Assam have received inadequate attention so far (Goswami, 1985; Sarma and Phukan, 2004, The Brahmaputra is a large mountain-fed river system (Sinha and 2006; Kotoky et al., 2005; Sarma, 2005). The Brahmaputra River divides Friend, 1994) draining the tectonically active Himalayan foreland the upper Assam valley into two distinct geographic zones, the north basin through Assam (India) and Bangladesh and has the distinction and the south banks. In addition, this reach of the river hosts one of of being the river with the highest sediment yield (852.4 t/km2/y; the largest alluvial islands in the world, the Majuli Island, which is Latrubesse, 2008) in the world. The Brahmaputra acts like an efficient known for its unique cultural heritage (Sarma and Phukan, 2004) conduit to transfer a large sediment flux from the Himalaya (the source) apart from its geomorphic significance. The Brahmaputra River shows (Singh, 2006; Singh et al., 2006)totheBayofBengal(thesink). With significant geomorphic diversity in this region, which is strongly mani- a mean annual discharge of 21,200 m3/s, measured at Bahadurabad, fested in the morphodynamics of the river at a historical timescale. Bangladesh (Latrubesse, 2008), the Brahmaputra is the seventh largest Moreover, the tributaries joining the main river from these two banks river in the world (Hovius, 1998; Tandon and Sinha, 2007) and has are quite different in terms of their morphometric characteristics and created a thick and extensive valley fill in its alluvial reach. The large- temporal dynamics. The present study documents the spatial diversity scale dynamics of the Brahmaputra River has fascinated geomorpholo- in morphodynamics of the Brahmaputra River in the upper Assam val- gists across the globe for over three decades; and a large number of ley as well as the tributaries joining the northern and southern banks. studies, particularly in the lower reaches of the river in Bangladesh, We argue that such spatial variability in morphodynamics has been bear testimony to the international attention this river has received strongly influenced by different tectonic domains in this region. (see Coleman, 1969; Bristow, 1987; Curray, 1994; Goodbred and Kuehl, 1998, 2000; Richardson and Thorne, 2001; Goodbred et al., 2. The study area 2003). The study area includes a 240-km×80-km corridor in the Brahma- putra valley that is sandwiched between the NE–SW bound Himalayan ⁎ Corresponding author at: Department of Applied Geology, Dibrugarh University, frontal thrust (HFT) and the Naga-Patkai thrust (NPT) (Fig. 1A, B). The Dibrugarh 786004, India. Tel.: +91 373 2370247; fax: +91 373 2370323. older topographic maps suggest that three rivers (the Siang, the Dibang, E-mail address: [email protected] (S.K. Lahiri). and the Lohit) used to meet at a place called Kobo to form the 0169-555X/$ – see front matter © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2012.04.012 Please cite this article as: Lahiri, S.K., Sinha, R., Tectonic controls on the morphodynamics of the Brahmaputra River system in the upper As- sam valley, India, Geomorphology (2012), doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2012.04.012 2 S.K. Lahiri, R. Sinha / Geomorphology xxx (2012) xxx–xxx 0 1000 km A B Dh Di Ti NL Si Legend Prominent thrusts Blind thrusts Jo Faults Places Study area Fig. 1. (A) Three major reaches of the Brahmaputra River and the valley shown by encircled numbers: I, the upper Assam reach; II, the lower Assam reach and III, the Bangladesh reach. (B) The study area in the upper reach of the Brahmaputra valley with three distinct units is shown on the IRS-P6-LISS-3 image. Unit 1 is from the oldconfluence of three rivers: the Lohit, the Dibang, and the Siang to Dibrugarh in the downstream direction. Comparatively steady, unit 2 continues up to the upper tip of Majuli Island. Segment 3 includes Majuli Island and extends towards the Mikir hills. Abbreviated place names are Dh — Dhemaji; Di — Dibrugarh; Ti — Tinsukia; Si — Sibsagar; NL — North Lakhimpur; Jo — Jorhat. Brahmaputra during 1915. This confluence point shifted by ~16 km multipattern river that has a tendency to very frequently generate an downstream to a place called Laikaghat by 1975. By 2005, a farther down- anabranching (Latrubesse, 2008) pattern in decadal scale. stream shift of 19 km took place as observed in the satellite imagery. Fig. 1B shows the tectonic setting of the study area. Apart from the Though the Brahmaputra has been described as a braided river, the regional-scale thrusts such as the MBT (Main Boundary Thrust), HFT, conventional definitions for braided rivers (Lane, 1957; Leopold and and NPT, several other faults have been mapped in this region based Wolman, 1957; Bristow, 1987) as anastomosing channels or the pres- on the interpretation of seismic data acquired by the oil companies ence of a number of bars and islands having an intertwining association (Murty, 1983; Ranga Rao, 1983; Bally, 1997; Narula et al., 2000; with channels is not adequate to describe it. In the study reach of the Kent et al., 2002; Goswami and Goswami, 2007). Some of these faults upper Assam area, the Brahmaputra appears to be a multichannel and are trending in the NE–SW direction and others are crisscrossing them. Please cite this article as: Lahiri, S.K., Sinha, R., Tectonic controls on the morphodynamics of the Brahmaputra River system in the upper As- sam valley, India, Geomorphology (2012), doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2012.04.012 S.K. Lahiri, R. Sinha / Geomorphology xxx (2012) xxx–xxx 3 A Bankline shift (km) B D C Fig. 2. The bank lines and the nature of the bankline shift of the channel belt of the Brahmaputra River are shown during three different times over the last 90 years (1915–2005). AB H1 Unit 1 L1 Mean elevation = 114m H2 Mean slope = 0.35m/km H3 L2 Unit 2 H4 H5 Mean elevation = 98m L3 Mean slope = 0.25m/km L4 L5 Unit 3 Mean elevation = 77m Mean slope = 0.21m/km Channel belt width (km) Relative widthvariation–1915(%) =((Place width -5.89)/5.89)*100 Av. widthin1915=5.89km Minimum= -66.89304atX = 128.65 Maximum= 56.19694atX = 122.4 UNIT 1 UNIT 2 UNIT 3 Relative width variation–1975(%) =((Place width–8.88)/8.88)*100 NE SW Av. widthin1975 = 8.88km Upstream Downstream Minimum= -70.4955atX = 150.31 Maximum= 49.77477atX = 3.43 Width variability - 1915 Relative width variation–2005(%) Minimum= 2.34atX = 12.65 ((Place width–11.96)/11.96)*100 Maximum= 23.11atX = 146.56 Minimum= -72.15719atX = 152.37 Mean= 9.74 Maximum= 85.45151atX = 4.68 Widthvariability - 1975 (Note: In the above calculations, Minimum= 5.38atX = 236.86 Majuli Maximum= 21.93atX = a 146.56 was excluded from the channel belt. Mean= 11.60 As a result, average width decreased Considerably. For example, average Width variability - 2005 Width with Majuli in 1915 was 9.74km Minimum= 4.71atX = 236.86 C And without Majuli 5.89km) Maximum= 22.54atX = 146.56 Mean= 14.03 UNIT 1 UNIT 2 UNIT 3 NE SW Upstream Downstream Fig. 3. (A) The planform variation in the widths of the channel belt of the Brahmaputra River (Majuli Island included) in three different times and units shown in the location map. (B) Longi- tudinal profile and the channel slopes at different stretches. H — highs, L — lows stand for the geomorphic highs and lows. (C) Relative changes in widths of the channel belt from the average width without the Majuli Island. We observed that the relative changes in widths, planar as well as temporal, show an increasing trend caused by the ‘damming’ effect of the geomorphic highs.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Impacts of Flood on Socio-Economic Activities of Riverine People: a Case Study of Three Selected Villages in Dibrugarh District, Assam
    International Conference on Recent Trend and Practices in Science, Technology, Management and Humanities for Sustainable Rural Development (STMH - 2019) Impacts of Flood on Socio-Economic Activities of Riverine People: A Case Study of Three Selected Villages in Dibrugarh District, Assam Prasanna Bora Guest Lecturer, Department of Geography, N.N Saikia College, Titabar E-mail: [email protected] Abstract—Excessive input of water in a drainage system within a seen the impact of disaster in terms of social change. The short span of time causes flood and erosion. Flood leads to study is mainly concerned with the impact of flood on the inundation of low lying area and causes mass destruction of human people residing near the river. Burhi Dihing is the largest lives and property mostly in densely populated areas. Nigg and south bank tributary of river Brahmaputra of about 380 km Tiemy (1993) have seen the impact of disaster in terms of social from source to mouth. This river has close relation with change. Burhi Dihing is a meandering river which has a character of frequent flood and shifting bank line within the alluvial plain by history and geography of Assam. To study and analyze the erosion. The present study is based on empirical level. Empirical nature and impact of flood and erosion on the riverine people data is generated from both primary as well as secondary sources. three villages of Borboruah Block of Dibrugarh District i.e., The proposed study emphasizes to understand the impact of flood and Kawoimari, Senimari and Dihing Majdoor have been selected. erosional activities on socio-economic profile of the study area.
    [Show full text]
  • Morphotectonic Evolution of the Majuli Island in the Brahmaputra Valley of Assam, India Inferred from Geomorphic and Geophysical Analysis
    Geomorphology 227 (2014) 101–111 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Geomorphology journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/geomorph Morphotectonic evolution of the Majuli Island in the Brahmaputra valley of Assam, India inferred from geomorphic and geophysical analysis Siddhartha K. Lahiri a,b,⁎, Rajiv Sinha a a Engineering Geosciences Group, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur 208016, India b Department of Applied Geology, Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh 786004, India article info abstract Article history: The Majuli Island, located in the upper reach of the Brahmaputra valley in Assam (India), has reduced in its areal Received 27 April 2013 extent from 787.9 km2 to 508.2 km2 during the period 1915–2005 (35.5% reduction). This amounts to severe Received in revised form 10 March 2014 average erosion of 3.1 km2/yr. All efforts so far to save the island have failed to achieve the desired redress. Accepted 25 April 2014 The engineering approach of ‘Save Majuli’ action plans has focused on quarantining the island from the influence Available online 9 May 2014 of the Brahmaputra River rather than designing long-term process-based solutions anchored on proper under- Keywords: standing of evolution of the relic island. The existing geomorphic model for the evolution of the Majuli Island re- Majuli Island lated its genesis to the great earthquake (M 8.7) in 1750 during which a much smaller palaeo-Brahmaputra thalweg developed an anabranch and captured the Burhi Dihing River. The intermediate land-locked area thereby became basement the Majuli Island that is constituted primarily of the older floodplain deposits. We demonstrate that the evolution structural highs of the Majuli Island has been influenced by fluvial morpho-dynamics, as well as basement configuration and fluvial dynamics tectonic controls.
    [Show full text]
  • Protection of Endangered Ganges River Dolphin in Brahmaputra River, Assam, India
    PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED GANGES RIVER DOLPHIN IN BRAHMAPUTRA RIVER, ASSAM, INDIA Final Technical Report to Sir Peter Scott Fund, IUCN Report submitted by - Abdul Wakid, Ph. D. Programme Leader Gangetic Dolphin Research & Conservation Programme, Aaranyak Survey, Beltola, Guwahati-781028 Assam, India Gill Braulik Sea Mammal Research Unit University of St. Andrews St. Andrews, Fife KY16 8LB, UK Page | 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We are expressing our sincere thanks to Sir Peter Scott Fund of IUCN for funding this project. We are thankful to the Department of Environment & Forest (wildlife) and the management authority of Kaziranga National Park, Government of Assam for the permission to carry out the study, especially within Kaziranga National Park. Without the tremendous help of Sanjay Das, Dhruba Chetry, Abdul Mazid and Lalan Sanjib Baruah, the Project would not have reached its current status and we are therefore grateful to all these team members for their field assistance. The logistic support provided by the DFO of Tinsukia Wildlife Division and the Mongoldoi Wildlife Division are highly acknowledged. Special thanks to Inspector General of Police (special branch) of Assam Police Department for organizing the security of the survey team in all districts in the Brahamputra Valley. In particular Colonel Sanib, Captain Amrit, Captain Bikash of the Indian Army for the security arrangement in Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border and Assistant Commandant Vijay Singh of the Border Security Force for security help in the India-Bangladesh border area. We also express our sincere thanks to the Director of Inland Water Transport, Alfresco River Cruise, Mr. Kono Phukan, Mr. Bhuban Pegu and Mr.
    [Show full text]
  • Tiger Conservation Through Integrated Conservation and Development Intervention’
    TCICDI:STF:NFWF#2005-0013-001 Final Programmatic Report FINAL PROGRAMATIC REPORT Of the project ‘Tiger Conservation through Integrated Conservation and Development Intervention’ Supported by SAVE THE TIGER FUND NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION Implemented by Centre for Environment Education North Eastern Regional Cell K. K. Bhatta Road, Chenikuthi Guwahati – 781 003. India www.ceeindia.org Simanta: CEE North East TCICDI:STF:NFWF#2005-0013-001 Final Programmatic Report FINAL PROGRAMATIC REPORT Of the project titled ‘Tiger Conservation through Integrated Conservation and Development Intervention’ Supported by SAVE THE TIGER FUND NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION Implemented by Centre for Environment Education North Eastern Regional Cell K. K. Bhatta Road, Chenikuthi Guwahati – 781 003. India www.ceeindia.org Simanta: CEE North East TCICDI:STF:NFWF#2005-0013-001 Final Programmatic Report Final Programmatic Report summarizing the accomplishments achieved during the term of the Agreement Title of the project: Tiger Conservation through Integrated Conservation and Development Intervention Project number: 2005-0013-001 Duration of the project: 1 April 2005 to 1 April 2006 Extended till: 30 November 2006 Project Administrator: Brian Gratwicke Project Coordination: Simanta Kalita Contact Address: Centre for Environment Education North Eastern Regional Cell K. K. Bhatta Road, Chenikuthi Guwahati – 781 003. India [email protected] [email protected] Advisors: Shri Kartikeya V. Sarabhai, Director, CEE Sri M. C. Malakar, Chief Wildlife Warden, Assam Dr. P.C. Bhattacharjee, Gauhati University Shri Sawpon Doerah, Academic Officer, SE Board of Assam Ms. Meena Raghunathan, Director, GMR Foundation Dr. Abdhesh K Gangwar, Regional Director, CEE Ms. Mamata Pandya, Coordinator, CEE Shri Narayan Mahanta, Director, Assam State Zoo Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Assam: State Geology and Mineral Maps
    GSI Misc. Pub. 30 Pt. 4 Vol. 2(i) PGSI. 307 700-2009 (DSK-II) GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF ASSAM GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA Miscelleaneous Publication No. 30 Part IV Vol 2(i) Assam 150 YEARS in the service of the nation Published by the order of the Government of India 2009 GSI Misc. Pub. 30 Pt. 4 Vol. 2(i) Copy right © India, Geological Survey, 2009 First Edition : 2009 Second Reprint s: March, 2011 Manuscript processed for printing by: G. K. KESARI Geologist (Sr) under the guidance of : G. DAS GUPTA B. V. R. REDDY DR. H.S.M. PRAKASH Director Director AND Director Publication Division Publication Division Publication Division Overall supervision by: B.K. Mohanty Sudipta Lahiri U.K.Behara Ex-Dy. Director General Dy. Director General AND Director In-Charge Geological Survey of India NORTH EASTERN REGION Shillong- 793 003 Printed at ESSAR OFFSET Janapath Lane, G.S. Road, Ulubari, Guwahati-781007, Mobile : +91-9435106080 Price: Inland : Rs. 84/- Foreign : £ 3.31 or $ 4.61 GSI Misc. Pub. 30 Pt. 4 Vol. 2(i) FOREWORD The Miscellaneous Publication 30 Series of the Geological Survey of India brings out concise information on the geology and mineral resources of the states of India. The present volume Part IV, Vol. 2(i) of the series, pertaining to the state of Assam, is a revised and updated version of the first edition published in 1974. During the span of three decades since the first edition was published, enormous knowledge has been added in the sphere of geology of the area, hence warranting publication of a revised edition.
    [Show full text]
  • History of North East India (1228 to 1947)
    HISTORY OF NORTH EAST INDIA (1228 TO 1947) BA [History] First Year RAJIV GANDHI UNIVERSITY Arunachal Pradesh, INDIA - 791 112 BOARD OF STUDIES 1. Dr. A R Parhi, Head Chairman Department of English Rajiv Gandhi University 2. ************* Member 3. **************** Member 4. Dr. Ashan Riddi, Director, IDE Member Secretary Copyright © Reserved, 2016 All rights reserved. No part of this publication which is material protected by this copyright notice may be reproduced or transmitted or utilized or stored in any form or by any means now known or hereinafter invented, electronic, digital or mechanical, including photocopying, scanning, recording or by any information storage or retrieval system, without prior written permission from the Publisher. “Information contained in this book has been published by Vikas Publishing House Pvt. Ltd. and has been obtained by its Authors from sources believed to be reliable and are correct to the best of their knowledge. However, IDE—Rajiv Gandhi University, the publishers and its Authors shall be in no event be liable for any errors, omissions or damages arising out of use of this information and specifically disclaim any implied warranties or merchantability or fitness for any particular use” Vikas® is the registered trademark of Vikas® Publishing House Pvt. Ltd. VIKAS® PUBLISHING HOUSE PVT LTD E-28, Sector-8, Noida - 201301 (UP) Phone: 0120-4078900 Fax: 0120-4078999 Regd. Office: 7361, Ravindra Mansion, Ram Nagar, New Delhi – 110 055 Website: www.vikaspublishing.com Email: [email protected] About the University Rajiv Gandhi University (formerly Arunachal University) is a premier institution for higher education in the state of Arunachal Pradesh and has completed twenty-five years of its existence.
    [Show full text]
  • Introduction
    Available online at http://www.journalijdr.com International Journal of Development Research ISSN: 2230-9926 Vol. 11, Issue, 03, pp. 45428-45431, March, 2021 https://doi.org/10.37118/ijdr.21422.03.2021 RESEARCH ARTICLE OPEN ACCESS RELATIONSHIP OF TRIBAL PEOPLE WITH THE FOREST: A CASE STUDY ON THE ISSUE OF OPEN CAST MINING AT DIHING PATKAI *Adil Akram, Debolina Roy, Somyashree Tripathy and Srinidhi K S TATA Institute of Social Sciences Hyderabad, India ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Article History: Forests are the source of life especially for the indigenous people, who are dependent on the Received 19th January, 2021 forest which provides them with natural elements of life for their survival. Interference from the Received in revised form outside world especially in the name of development by the government organisations affects 21st January, 2021 their livelihood and natural habitat forcing them to leave their lifestyle along with the depletion of Accepted 11th February, 2021 th natural resources and agricultural practices due to commercialization of forests. With growing Published online 26 March, 2021 demand for mineral resources and favourable policy towards the mining sector, developing Key Words: countries have become investment hubs for mineral extraction. Extractive industries such as coal mining generate negative externalities that bring irreversible changes in the socioeconomic and Indigenous tribes, Industrialization, Rehabilitation, Community, NEC, EIA, ecological scenarios, which adversely affect the local economy and threaten the sustainability of MoEFCC, Displacement, local livelihood systems. On other side this expansion of mines has provided employment to Ecological degradation. locals directly as well as indirectly, which has helped to increase finance.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Assam Geography GK PDF Part
    ASSAM GEOGRAPHY GK 20 MOST IMPORTANT ASSAM1 GEOGRAPHY GK NewJobsinAssam.comPART (3) Q41) The approximate share of AsSsam in India's annual production of Tea is: A) 62% B) 55% C) 50% D) 43% NewJobsinAssam.com Q42) Which of the following river doesn't originate in the hills of Arunachal: A) Dihing River B) Kameng River C) Dibang River D) Kolong river NewJobsinAssam.com Q43) Which one is the highest peak in Assam: A) Nilachal Peak B) Laike Peak C) Patkai Peak D) Kanduli Peak NewJobsinAssam.com Q44) Which forest is single-handedly planted by Jadav Payeng: A) Barnadi forest B) Molai forest C) Barail forest D) Dihing forest NewJobsinAssam.com Q45) In which year Crude Oil was drilled in Assam for the first time: A) 1889 B) 1899 C) 1999 D) None of the above NewJobsinAssam.com Q46) Oak Tasar a wild silkworm is found in which of the following district in Assam:| A) Dima Hasao B) Kokrajhar C) Barpeta D) Sonitpur NewJobsinAssam.com Q47) The origin of Barak river lies in: A) Barail Range B) Karbi Plateau C) Jaintia Hills D) Lushai Hills NewJobsinAssam.com Q48) Which of the following tree is predominant in the forests of Assam: A) Bamboo B) Sal C) Hollong D) Teak NewJobsinAssam.com Q49) Which two places have been connected by Bhupen Hazarika Bridge: A) Sadiya-Bukakhat B) Sadiya-Krisnapur C) Dhola -Sadiya D) None of the Above NewJobsinAssam.com Q50) The proposed Tipaimukh Dam is to |be constructed over which river: A) Brahmaputra River B) Surma River C) Dibang River D) Barak River NewJobsinAssam.com Q51) The.
    [Show full text]
  • Rural Risk Assessment Due to Flooding and Riverbank Erosion in Majuli, Assam, India
    Rural Risk Assessment due to Flooding and Riverbank Erosion in Majuli, Assam, India Dipima Sarma March, 2013 IIRS SUPERVISOR ITC SUPERVISORS Dr. S.P. Aggarwal Ms. Drs. Nanette Kingma Dr. Dhruba Pikha Shrestha Rural Risk Assessment due to Flooding and Riverbank Erosion in Majuli, Assam, India DIPIMA SARMA Enschede, The Netherlands [March, 2013] Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation of the University of Twente in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Geo-information Science and Earth Observation. Specialization: Natural Hazards and Disaster Risk Management IIRS SUPERVISOR ITC SUPERVISORS Dr. S.P. Aggarwal Ms. Drs. Nanette Kingma Dr. Dhruba Pikha Shrestha THESIS ASSESSMENT BOARD: Chairperson : Prof. George Vosselman ITC Professor : Prof. Victor Jetten IIRS Supervisor : Dr. S. P. Aggarwal ITC Supervisor : Ms. Drs. Nanette Kingma ITC Supervisor : Dr. Dhruba Pikha Shrestha External Examiner : Dr. G. P. Juyal DISCLAIMER This document describes work undertaken as part of a programme of study at the ITC, Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation of the University of Twente, The Netherlands. All views and opinions expressed therein remain the sole responsibility of the author, and do not necessarily represent those of the Faculty. dedicated to my parents.................. RURAL RISK ASSESSMENT DUE TO FLOODING AND RIVERBANK EROSION IN MAJULI, ASSAM, INDIA ABSTRACT The risk to the rural society of Majuli, located in the State of Assam, India, due to flooding and unrelenting riverbank erosion had been assessed using both conventional field survey method as well as non-conventional remote sensing technique. Flood inundated areas of Majuli were extracted using Radarsat-1 imageries of 21st July, 2004 and 17th September, 2010 covering the near peak flood of 2004 and end of a peak flood in 2010.
    [Show full text]
  • Reimagining a Violent Landscape: Disaster
    REIMAGINING A VIOLENT LANDSCAPE: DISASTER, DEVELOPMENT, AND CARTOGRAPHIC IMAGINATION IN THE BRAHMAPUTRA RIVER VALLEY by Kevin Inks A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (Geography) at the UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON 2019 i ABSTRACT The physical geography of India's Brahmaputra River, one of the world's largest braided rivers, is characterized by constant shift. Communities along the river experience frequent and intense flooding, and displacement due erosion and flood damage is common. Majuli, the world’s largest river island, is experiencing both erosion and creation of ‘new’ lands along its borders due to high sediment deposition. Having not been surveyed in nearly fifty years, 'new' lands formed from sediment deposition in Majuli are untitled and government-owned, and communities settled on these lands are not entitled to resettlement assistance. The adaptation and migration strategies adopted by residents of these informal settlements are poorly understood. Semi-structured interviews and comprehensive surveys focused on perceptions of risk, efficacy of disaster relief, and migration strategies were conducted with households identified as being at-risk of catastrophic flooding and erosion in Majuli District, Assam. Interviews with policymakers, government workers, and religious leaders were conducted to assess disaster relief efforts in informal settlements. The results suggest that policymakers’ static understanding of land shapes flooding patterns and migration regimes. Members of informal settlements at high risk of displacement adapt to the lack of government assistance by altering adaptation and migration strategies, but are largely constrained to repeated informal resettlement on un-surveyed land. More effective and flexible surveying practices, in combination with expanded disaster relief, are essential to minimize displacement and work towards a new understanding of geomorphology, land tenure, and disaster management as dynamic, intertwined processes.
    [Show full text]
  • Fish Diversity and Habitat Ecology of Dihing River
    International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies 2015; 2(4): 190-197 ISSN: 2347-5129 IJFAS 2015; 2(4): 190-197 Fish diversity and habitat ecology of Dihing river - © 2015 IJFAS www.fisheriesjournal.com A tributary of Brahmaputra river Received: 05-01-2015 Accepted: 10-02-2015 Dibya Jyoti Deori, Santoshkumar Abujam and Shyama Prasad Biswas Dibya Jyoti Deori Department of Life Sciences, Dibrugarh University, Assam Abstract 786004 Extensive survey of fish diversity of the Dihing River (a tributary of Brahmaputra River) was conducted from February’ 2013 to January’ 2014. Seasonally sampling was carried out at three sites. During the Santoshkumar Abujam survey, a total of 50 fish species belonging to 18 families and 34 genera have been recorded from this Department of Life Sciences, river and it was found to be dominated with Cyprinidae family followed by Bagridae and Siluridae. Dibrugarh University, Assam Habitat ecology reveals that the minimum (18.5 °C) water temperature was recorded in winter and the 786004 maximum (25.76 °C) in monsoon; lowest (20.73 °C) air temperature in winter and highest (26.66 °C) in monsoon; highest (141.33 µS cm-1) conductivity in winter and its lowest (89 µS cm-1) in monsoon; Shyama Prasad Biswas minimum (13.56 cm) transparency in monsoon and its maximum (72.16 cm) in winter; minimum ( 0.40 Department of Life Sciences, m/s) current flow in winter and the maximum (0.98 m/s) in monsoon; the lowest (7.16) pH in monsoon Dibrugarh University, Assam 786004 and highest (7.76) in winter; the lowest (6.33 mg/l) DO in post monsoon and its highest (7.51 mg/l) in pre monsoon; minimum (6.13mg/l) FCO2 in pre-monsoon and its maximum (7.97 mg/l) in post monsoon; the lowest (32.44 mg/l) alkalinity in monsoon and its highest (42.89 mg/l) in winter; the highest (82.23 mg/l) hardness in pre-monsoon while its lowest (36.36 mg/l) in post monsoon; minimum (161.66mg/l) TSS in winter and maximum (393.33 mg/l) in smonsoon; the minimum (108.33 mg/l) and maximum (296.66) TDS was found in winter and monsoon season respectively.
    [Show full text]
  • Assam Power Sector Enhancement Investment Program - Tranche 1
    Resettlement Plan Project Number: 41614-023 October 2015 IND: Assam Power Sector Enhancement Investment Program - Tranche 1 Transmission Line - 132 kV Double Circuit LILO at Rupai from 132 kV Double Circuit Tinsukia – Margherita line Submitted by Assam Power Distribution Company Limited, Guwahati This report has been submitted to ADB by the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited, Guwahati and is made publicly available in accordance with ADB’s public communications policy (2011). It does not necessarily reflect the views of ADB. This resettlement plan is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB's Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area ASSAM ELECTRICITY GRID CORPORATION LIMITED RESETTLEMENT PLAN TRANSMISSION LINE - 132 kV Double Circuit LILO at Rupai from 132 kV Double Circuit Tinsukia – Margherita line ASSAM POWER SECTOR ENHANCEMENT PROJECT List of Acronyms ADB Asian Development Bank AEGCL Assam State Electricity Grid Corporation Ltd APs Affected Persons ASEB Assam State Electricity Board DC Deputy Commissioner DDP Desert Development Program DSM Demand Side Management EA Executing Agency ESMU Environment and Social Management Unit FGD Focus Group Discussions
    [Show full text]