Drainage of North Gujarat: Present and Past

The area bound by the rivers Sabarmati and Luni forming a part of North Gujarat and Southwest Rajasthan alluvial plains has preserved in its sediments and landscape various changes which have occurred in the drainage systems during the Upper Quaternary times. The present day drainage mainly cuts across the material deposited by a set of older rivers which now stand disrupted. The present day rivers are observed to have been superimposed over older river channels and dominantly follow numerous tectonic lineaments and faults of a later date. The new channels reveal and have preserved relicts of the earlier fluvial system. Geomorphic and drainage studies reveal existence of two ancient major river systems, the remnants of which are now represented by the Banas and Rupen rivers. The Banas, along with its major tributary Sipu is the sole survivor of the older fluvial system. whereas Rupen has been partially destroyed.