Geomorphic studies of middle Yamuna Valley

"GEOMORPHIC STUDIES OF MIDDLE YAMUNA VALLEY"

BY AJA1 MISRA

Department of Civil Engineering Eng. Geology Section

THESIS SUBMITTED

IN FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE DEGREE OF

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

to the

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, DELHI

DECEMBER, 1990

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the thesis entitled "Geomorphic Studies of Middle Yamuna Valley" being submitted by Mr. Ajai Misra to the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, for the award of the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY is a record of the bonafide. research work carried out by him.

Mr. Ajai Misra has worked under my guidance for the submission of this thesis which to my knowledge has reached the requisite standard.

The thesis or any part thereof has not been submitted to any other University or Institution for the award of any degree or diploma.

(Dr. P. Kumar) Professor Department of Civil Engineering Indian Institute of Technology New Delhi 110016

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The author is highly indebted to Professor P. Kumar, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi for his constant encouragement, invaluable guidance and supervision in the present work.

My grateful thanks are due to the Head, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi for providing necessary research facilities.

I am grateful to Professor P.K. Das of the Department of Ocean Development, New Delhi for fruitful discussions in connection with the Land use and Environmental analysis.

The author expresses his sincere indebtedness to Professor A.K. Ray, Head, Geo-Science Division, Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS), Dehradun, for providing the aerial photographs, satellite data

and the necessary help during the interpretation.

The computer analysis work has been carried out at Regional Remote Sensing Service Center (RRSSC), Dehradun on VAX II/780, VIPS 32/PERICOLOUR computer facilities. The help rendered by Mr. P.G. Diwakar and Mr. T.P.S. Vohra, Scientists RRSSC, is thankfully acknowledged.

The outstanding help rendered by Dr. Abdol Hadi Ghazvinian and Dr. Jagdeep Singh during the completion of this research work, is deeply acknowledged.

My sincere thanks are also due to Mr. D. Biswas, S.L.A. and Mr. Suraj Bhan, of Engineering Geology Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, for rendering all possible laboratory help.

A word of great obligation is due to my friends, colleagues and research scholars of Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, for their valuable help during this work.

This work is dedicated to my parents with a deep sense of regard.

(AJAI MISRA)

PREFACE

Himalayas offer a very vanned topography and geomorphology. Nature has provided vast human resources and consequentlyLnumber of important townShas come up during the past decade. Further development is envisaged which needs a proper planning obviously a detailed information about the geology, geomorphology and tectonic is unavoidable.

In past these areas have been either left out or surveyed based on manual surveys. Areas covered by snow or ice, dense forest, water logged areas and many more features did not allow detailed investigations.

Now with the advent of Remote Sensing techniques, it has been possible to produce informations in a more comprehensive and authentic basis. Based on this technique and then confirmed by field survey,the present studies haweelucidated for the first time the lineament tectonics of the area.

The area has been classified into six geomorphic units. The land forms have been analyzed for the purpose of proper development of water resources. Landuse map has been prepared from the landsat Thematic Mapper (TM), False Colour Composite (FCC). It gives more information about the different land practices in the valley.

The studies, I hope will provide useful detailed informations about, landuse, water resources, agriculture, forest wealth and all the aspects of future urban and rural development of the area.

The work has been incorporated into six chapters. Chapter one deals with the location of the area, review of previous literature, aims and objectives of the present investigation.

Chapter two embraces the methods and materials used for the present study.

Chapter three deals with regional geology, geology of study area and tectonics of the area.

Chapter four presents the geomorphic sub divisions of the area, analysis of land forms and Hydromorphology,d the area.

Chapter five is devoted to the statistical analysis of the morphometric drainage basin parameters.

Chapter six includes the present and future land use plan.

ii

ABSTRACT

This work on "Geomorphic Studies of Middle Yamuna Valley" is based on data obtained by Remote Sensing techniques and field studies. These studies have been divided into six chapters.

The Yamuna is the most prominent tributary of the Ganga river system, It has it s origin on the Yamunotri (Bander Punch glacier 30°

58'N-78°27'E) in Uttar Kashi. This is a part of the Garhwal and Kumaon Himalayas. The valley is bounded by the region 30°20'N to 31°20'N and 77°15'E to 78°30'E. Its path from the source to Tajewala(in northern Uttar Pradesh mountains) up to the Indo-Gangetic alluvial plains.

The present study is concerned with the middle sector of the Yamuna valley before, it emerges into the plains. This area is broadly delineated by the region from 30° 10'N to 30° 30'N and 77°25'Eto77°45'E.

It encompasses an area of approximately 1100 km2 .

This area is full of rugged topography and many unapproachable regions. To cover a large area of this nature Remote Sensing techniques have been used. Satellite and their imageries have been studied on different scales from 1:1m to 1:25000, with the Survey of India toposheets.

The tonal and textural variations observed on landsat images as well as aerial photographs for different objects have helped us to prepare a geological map. The area was mainly dominated by tertiary sequences of the Siwalik formations. In Chapter 3, on geo-tectonics, the area has been divided into nine units on the basis of photo- geological characters, and by tonal and textural contracts. These units

i

were designed as Al, A2, A3 (middle Siwalik), B1, B2, B3 (upper Siwalik) D (doonfan gravels), C (old doon gravels) and E (alluvium). The observations were confirmed subsequently by field studies. New features, such as, the Kalesar fault and Bagp:At syncline have been identified and mapped by studying the ground truth. The regional stratigraphical set- up in the valley has been studied and explored. The valley provides a complete succession from pre-tertiary to present day alluvium.

The lineaments were analyzed by image interpretation. They were divided into two major and minor groups. The percentage of azimuthal distribution, and the corresponding percentage of cumulative lengths of all lineaments were plotted on rose diagrams at 10° intervals. For the study of structural trends and an understanding of tectonic disturbances, the prominent trends were identified. The important trends had a NW-SE, NE-SW, E-W and N-S orientation. The NW-SE and E-W trends were the most dominant, but the North - South structure trends were also significant. The analysis provided evidence of a number of tectonic activities (F1,F2,F3 and F4) can be correlated with the Himalayan orogenic movements.

Chapter 4 deals with regional geomorphic studies, which forms the basis for further analysis of landforms. The area was divided into six

flood Piaida

major units, namely,A rugged hilly terrain, piedmont zones,young alluvial plains, old alluvial plains and an interpiedmont zone. Investigations by the interpretation of aerial photographs and related ground truth have been made to ascertain the characteristics of individual units. Six terrace levels were found on the basis of clasts and their height from thalweg. Apart from the terraces, a few isolated farvs were discerned on

iv

landsat imageries. As an outcome of high dissection activity, these fans could not be identified on the field. Such primitive fans have generated the piedmont zone. The piedmont zones are of considerable importance for ground water exploration. Mature and young flood plains have been also recognized on landsat images.

The structurally controlled, dendritic, parallel, radial and barbed drainage patterns were noted on landsat images. The radial pattern was outcome of intrusion by chaur granite in the northern part of the area.

The southern foot hills showed a barbed pattern.

Chapter 5 deals with a quantitative analysis of morphometric drainage basin parameters. The area under study was divided into five (A,B,C,D and E) regions, depending on the variations in lithology and structures. The variations of morphometric parameters of a region were compared with the others. Twenty linear aerial and relief parameters of drainage attributes have been measured for different regions.

Statistical methods involving correlations and factor analysis were used. Most of the parameters were related to each other. The frequency of second order stream (F2 ) showed good correlation with the frequency of first order streams (F1) and length of first order streams(L1).

The drainage density (DD) and stream frequency (SF) were highly correlated with each other in all regions. The measured parameters, such as, F1, F2, L1, L2, L3, BA,

a,

Factor analysis provided the parameters that were independent of geomorphic units. Parameters, such as, DD, (Drainage density) SF (Stream frequency), RN (Ruggedness number) DT (Drainage textre), BF].

(Bifurcation Ratio) and length ratio (BL1) were the important parameters in this context.

Chapter 6 deals with an application of Remote Sensing techniques for land use plans and forestry. A land use plan was prepared for the study area, with the help ofkandsat images and topographic maps of the Survey of India.

The land use cover was divided into six broad categories. They were (i) urban or developed land (ii) Agriculture and cultivated land (iii) Forests (iv) Range land (v) Water bodies (vi) Permanent and seasonal snow. Four types of forests were noted in the area. They were (i) Sal, (ii) Chirpine, (iii) Oak and (iv) Deodar. A land use map was prepared from the TM, False Colour Composite(FCC) This will be useful for future landuse and agricultural practices in the valley.

A visual interpretation of landsat images in the piedmont zone and alluvial plains helped us to observe the rich subsurface water zones and its recharge zones. A hydromorphological map was prepared for this purpose. Further water exploration programmes have been suggested on the basis of these locations.

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CONTENTS

Page No.

Certificate Acknowledgements

Preface i-ii

Abstract iii-iv

List of Illustrations xi-xiii

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 1.2

Introduction

Historical

Pe r s p ec t i le

1 3

CHAPTER 2 METHODS 11

2.1 Qualitative Methods

11

2.2 Quantitative Methods

16

2.3 Field Survey

18

2.4 Preparation of Final Maps

19

CHAPTER 3 GEO-TECTONICS

20

3.1 Introduction

20

3.2 Regional Settling

20

3.3 Geology of Study Area

25

3.4 Lithostratigraphy

26

3.4.1 Middle Siwalik

27

30

3.4.3 Unit D

32

3.4.4 Unit E

32

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3.5 Correlation of Present Lithounits

with Previous Works

3

3.6 Structure 37

3.6.1 Folded Features 38

3.6.2 Joints and Fractures 39

3.6.3 Faults 39

3.6.4 Yamuna Tear 41

3.7 Tectonics 42

3.7.1 Regional Tectonics of Himalayas 42 3.7.2 Lineaments and Tectonics of the Area 44

CHAPTER 4 GEOMORPHOLOGY 47

4.1 Introduction 48

4.2 Regional Analysis 48

4.3 Geomorphology of the Study Area 50

4.3.1 Flood Plains 51

4.3.2 Young Alluvial Plains 52 4.3.3 Old Alluvial Plains 52 4.3.4 Intermontane Piedmont Zone 52 4.3.5 Southern Piedmont. Zone 52

4.3.6 Structural Hills 53

4.4 Landform Analysis 55

4.4.1 Glacial Deposits 55

4.4.2 Alluvial Fans 55

4.4.3 Terraces 56

vi ii

4.4.4 Landslides

4.4.5 Engineering Construction in Valley, Responsible for Influencing Landslides 4.4.6 Flood Plains

58 the

59 60

4.5 Morphostratigraphy 62

4.5.1 Terrace T6 62

4.5.2 Terrace T5 62

4.5.3 Terrace T4 62

4.5.4 Terrace T3 62

4.5.5 Fans 63

4.5.6 Terrace T2 and Ti 63

4.5.7 Talus Cones 63

4.5.8 Meander Loop 63

4.5.9 River Bars 63

4.6 Hydromorphology 64

4.7 Drainage Pattern 65

CHAPTER 5 GEOMORPHO-STATISTICAL ANALYSIS 69

5.1 Introduction 69

5.2 General Statistics 71

5.3 Correlation Coefficients 79

5.4 Factor Analysis 85

CHAPTER 6 LANDUSE ANALYSIS 96

6.1 Urban and Developed Land 99

6.2 Agricultural Land 99

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CHAPTER 7

6.3 Forests 6.4 Range Land 6.5 Water Bodies

6.6 Permanent and Seasonal Snow 6.7 Feasible Potential

6.8 Hydrocarbon Prospects

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

7.1 Geology and Tectonics

7.1.1 Regional Geology 7.1.2 Geology of Study Area

7.2 Lineament and Tectonics 7.3 Geomorphology

7.4 Statistical Analysis

7.4.1 General Statistics 7.4.2 Correlations

7.5 Factor Analysis 7.6 Landuse Analysis

100 104 104 104 104 105

107

107

107 108

109 109 110

110 111

112 113

REFERENCES 115-118

Annexure A

119-128

Annexure B

129-134

Annexure C

135-144