Current Science

Anand K. Pandey ¹, Prabha Pandey ¹, Guru Dayal Singh ², Navin Juyal ³

Affiliations
1 CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, Uppal Road, Hyderabad 500 007, IN
2 Geological Survey of India, Gandhinagar 382 010, IN
3 Geosciences Division, Physical Research Laboratory, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad 380 009, IN

Abstract

The Himalayan mountain front is characterized by front parallel longitudinal valleys called Dun, that occupy the synformal troughs. The perennial glacialfed rivers Ganga and Yamuna experience first major gradient loss along the valley floor of Dehra Dun and produce characteristic landforms and deposits by the gradational processes of streams that are often controlled by climate fluctuation. In Dun valley, barring an isolated patch of ∼26 and 20-ka-old terrace, no strath terrace older than the Holocene is observed along the Ganga and Yamuna rivers. A large stretch of the Dun valley is being filled by piedmont deposits that started aggradation since >40 ka until the beginning of the Holocene and have since been undergoing incision. A similar trend is observed in upper Ganga valley, where multiple Late Quaternary aggradational terraces are observed. We analyse these landforms and associated deposits in the Dun valley to unde rstand the role of Late Quaternary-Holocene climate fluctuations and their effect on associated gradational processes.

Keywords

Climate Change, Geomorphic Landforms and Deposits, Gradational Processes.

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S. P. Sati ¹, Navin Juyal ²

Affiliations
1 HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar (Garhwal) 246 174, IN
2 Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad 380 009, IN

Abstract

Uttarakhand has witnessed one of the worst forest fires in the recent times. As expected, majority of fire incidents are reported from the pine forests. Till 30 April 2016, around 20,000 hectare of the forest was engulfed by the fire and 10 people lost their lives. In fact entire system looked helpless in front of the towering inferno in the Uttarakhand jungle. The fire was unprecedented as it virtually swept the entire Uttarakhand and part of Himachal. The disaster mitigation machinery and the forest department should discuss ways and means and evolve methodologies for preventing such incidences of fire in future.

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S. P. Sati ¹, Shubhra Sharma ², Naresh Rana ³, Harsh Dobhal ⁴, Navin Juyal ⁵

Affiliations
1 Department of Environment Science, VCSG University of Horticulture and Forestry, Bharsar, Uttarakhand 246 123, IN
2 Department of Earth and Environmental Science, IISER-Mohali, Mohali 140 306, IN
3 National Centre for Seismology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110 003, IN
4 School of Media and Communication Studies, Doon University, Dehradun 248 001, IN
5 Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad 380 009, IN

Abstract

The present study outlines major concerns and potential environmental consequences of the proposed Pancheshwar high dam in Uttarakhand (Central Himalaya), India. We evaluate the risks associated with the project in the light of environmental impact observed for the Tehri project in the region and the geological understanding developed over the years. Three major factors and their likely impacts analysed relate to (i) sediment mobilization from glacial–paraglacial zones and unstable slopes, (ii) infrastructure development, and (iii) seismicity. We highlight the need to reassess geo-environmental implications of the project in the ecologically sensitive Kaliganga valley.

Keywords

Environmental Impact, Pancheshwar, Reservoir Draw Down Effect, Sediment Flux, Seismicity.

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