21st IGI Conference & National Seminar on Geomorphic Hazards :Issues & Challenges 21st Indian Institute of Geomorphologists (IGI) Conference and National Seminar on GEOMORPHIC HAZARDS : ISSUES AND CHALLENGES (28th - 30th November, 2008) Souvenir & Abstract Volume organized by Department of Geography and Disaster Management Tripura University ( A Central University) Suryamaninagar - 799130, Tripura West sponsored by Department of Science & Technology (SERC Division), New Delhi ; Indian Council of Social Science Research, NE Region; Department of Revenue, Govt. of Tripura; National Atlas and Thematic Mapping Organization, Kolkata; Geological Survey of India 1 21st IGI Conference & National Seminar on Geomorphic Hazards :Issues & Challenges YOUNG GEOMORPHOLOGISTS COMPTETTITION, 2008 21st Indian Institute of Geomorphologists' (IGI) Conference Tripura University 28th - 30th November, 2008 THE BEST YOUNG GEOMORHOLOGIST AWARD is sponsored by Dr. Sudip Dey Lecturer, Department of Geography and Disaster Management , Tripura University in memory of his grandfather Late Kalipada Dey 2 21st IGI Conference & National Seminar on Geomorphic Hazards :Issues & Challenges RAJ BHAVAN AGARTALA – 799 001 0381-232 4091, 232 5756 October 18, 2008 GOVERNOR OF TRIPURA MESSAGE I am glad to know that the Department of Geography and Disaster Management, Tripura University, Agartala is organizing a seminar on “Geomorphic Hazards: Issues and Challenges” on the occasion of 21st Indian Institute of Geomorphologists’ from 28th to 30th November, 2008. India is considered as hazard vulnerable and its 60% of landmass is prone to earthquakes, 229 districts in 29 states and U.Ts fall in seismic zones V (very high risk) and zone IV ( high risk). Hilly regions are vulnerable to avalanches, landslides, hailstorms, cloudbursts and low and medium rainfall region which constitute 60% of the total area. Forty million hectares (8% of landmass) is prone to floods – the most vulnerable States to floods are Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, parts of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Orissa. 8000 km long coast line is as well vulnerable. The North Eastern Region lies in high risk (seismic zone V) and high vulnerability to flood (Brahmaputra and Barak valley in particular) with 20% of the region affected. Landslides, flash flood could burst and cyclone takes in its fold 62% of the region. Multiple and holistic disaster mitigation management strategies and formulations embracing management modules have to be put in place coupled with historical focus on disaster from relief and rehabilitation. The need of the hour is to chalk out multi-pronged strategy for a comprehensive and composite disaster management comprising prevention, preparedness, response, recovery and relief on the one hand and development strategies aimed at risk reduction and mitigation on the other. Only then we can look forward for a sustained disaster management. Civil society ought to be incorporated into the dynamics of disaster management and preparedness. The community has to be the first responder to any disaster at the micro point and therefore, there is a greater need of community level people-centric initiatives in managing disasters. Civil society must be mobilized and sensitized to cope with disasters. Time has now come to look at disasters from a developmental perspective and bring into play scientific and technological advances and psycho-social interventions towards the mitigation of human tragedy and economic losses from natural and man-made disasters. We must, therefore, demonstrate harmonized, synergized and integrated approach to disaster reduction and focus on research on disasters, pre-disaster planning, engineering preparedness, general preparedness and mass sensitization on disaster prevention coupled with sustained post-disaster relief capabilities . I am sure that the seminar on disaster management will have productive deliberations and present cross fertilization of ideas to achieve the desired objectives. 3 21st IGI Conference & National Seminar on Geomorphic Hazards :Issues & Challenges Tripura University Prof. A. Saha (A Central University) Vice Chancellor P.O. Suryamaninagar, Tripura -799130, INDIA Ph. 0381-237 4801, 0381 2514824(R) Fax: 0381 237 4802 E-mail: [email protected] MESSAGE I am happy to know that a National Seminar on Geomorphic Hazards: Issues and Challenges is going to be organised by the Department of Geography and Disaster Management, Tripura University on the occasion of 21st Indian Institute of Geomorphologists Annual Conference during 28th – 30th November, 2008. In order to commemorate the occasion, a Souvenir cum Abstract Volume is also being published. With increasing pressure of population, overall environment of each and every corner of our country is at stake, which in turn results in severe natural calamities. The geomorphic hazards claim the highest percentage of destruction. Flood, landslide, tsunami, earthquake, river bank and coastal erosion, soil erosion are such hazards which often turn into major disasters. The theme of seminar is very much relevant to the present day situation of the country in general and North-East India in particular. The deliberation of the Seminar will bring positive remedial measures to solve the aforesaid problems. The publication, I believe will be educative and informative. It will be immensely useful to the researchers in this frontier of studies. I convey my best wishes to the Organisers and wish the National Seminar a grand success. PROF. A. SAHA Vice Chancellor 4 21st IGI Conference & National Seminar on Geomorphic Hazards :Issues & Challenges Preface Occurrence of Geomorphic Hazards throughout the globle shows a sharp trend of increase in frequency and duration along with the increasing pressure of population on earth. Human beings try to impede the spontane- ous rhythm of nature in view to resource utilization for making their life more hospitable. Lack of awareness among man often creates a disbalance and obstructs the natural ways of geomorphic processes thereby inducing hazard occurrences, e.g. improper construction of roads and buildings along vulnerable hill slopes generates the precondition for hazards like landslides; unscientific construction of dams and barrages, interlinking of rivers, often trigger devastating floods along the river basins and so on. Nature always tries to balance itself but in the process of man's interaction, it ends up in forming some process of hazards which comes as disasters to the human society. To discuss on various issues related to such hazards by different academicians and scientists from different field, the Department of Geography and Disaster Management, Tripura University is hosting this particular Seminar on "Geomorphic Hazards: Issues and Challenges", on the occasion of 21st Annual Conference of the Indian Institute Geomorphologists (IGI) during 28th - 30th November, 2008. I, on behalf of the Organizing Committee, thank all the Members of the Executive Committee of the Indian Institute of Geomoprhologists to give us the chance to hold this Conference. The volume has been designed with great care by arranging the abstracts according to the relevant sub- themes so that the participants can easily go through the pages of their interest. …..abstracts have been included in ….subthemes. Some of the abstracts are so generalized that their subthemes could not be deter- mined properly for which they have been placed in theie close subthems. A separate section has been made for the abstracts of the Young Geomorphologists competition which, I believe, is going to be a special attraction of the Conference. This Souvenir and Abstract volume is the outcome of sincere efforts of all my colleagues, scholars and students. No word is enough to thank them all. I am also thankful to PCI Geomatics, Aimil India Ltd., Grantha Bharati, Tata Motors, Ruth & Co, B.S. Syndicate, Tyco electronics, Passion furnishings, Lucknath Bhander, Hotel Raj Palace, Little Heart, Berhampore Xerox and others, who have accorded their kind help both in cash and kind in bringing out this volume. I gratefully acknowledge the financial support rendered by DST (SERC Division), ICSSR (North Eastern Region), Department of Revenue (Govt. of Tripura), NATMO and GSI to organize this Seminar and 21st IGI Meet. Last but not the least, hats off to those personalities, who have encouraged, mentally accompanied and helped me from different dots of the country to materialize the event smoothly. Dr. Sunil Kumar De Convener 21st IGI Conference & National Seminar Department of Geography & Disaster Management, Tripura University 5 21st IGI Conference & National Seminar on Geomorphic Hazards :Issues & Challenges NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE of the INDIAN INSTITUTE OF GEOMORPHOLOGISTS (IGI) PRESIDENT Prof. D.C.Goswami, Guwahati VICE- PRESIDENTS 1. Prof. Kumkum Roy,Allahabad 2. Prof. R.K.Ganjoo,Jammu 3. Brig. R.C.Pathak, Pune SECRETARY Prof. Savindra Singh, Allahabad JOINT SECRETARIES 1. Dr. A.R.Siddiqui,Allahabad 2. Dr. Veena Joshi, Pune 3. Dr. M.S.Singh,Allahabad TREASURER Prof. Alok Dubey, Allahabad MEMBERS 1.Prof. M.N.Kaul ,Jammu 2. Prof. S.R.Basu, Kolkata 3.Prof. S.C.Mukhopadhyay, Kolkata 4. Prof. K.N.P.Raju,Varanasi 6.Prof. B.N.Singh, Allahabad 6. Dr. Devi Dutta Chauniyal, Gahrwal -Srinagar 7.Mr. Ashwajeet Chaudhary,Allahabad 8. Dr. S.P.Agnihotri, Kalakankar 9. Dr. D.P.Upadhyay, Jaunpur 10. Dr. P.K.Singh,Kalakankar CO-OPTED MEMBERS 1. Dr. S.N.Sharma, Guwahati 2. Dr. A.K.Bora, Guwahati 3. Dr.