Geography

Flood frequency analysis is an important mathematical modelling technique in determining the return period of the probability of witnessing a particular discharge in a river, especially a peak discharge. Floods as periodic events in a river basin are associated with high discharge. In flood frequency analysis the annual peak discharge in a river is fitted in different probability distributions. Three important statistical methods, most commonly used in flood frequency analysis, are - Gumbel’s Extreme Value Distribution, Log Pearson Type III Distribution and Log Normal Distribution. In this paper, 40 years’ (i.e., 1973 to 2012) annual peak discharge series of the Jiya Dhol river has been tried to fit in the above mentioned frequency distribution models and the best distribution model(s) for the basin has been identified with the help of D-Index test. The Jiya Dhol river basin is one of the most flooded river basins in the Brahmaputra valley of Assam (India). Floods cause heavy loss of life and property in the flood seasons (i.e., usually the monsoon season) in Lakhimpur and Dhemaji Districts of the north bank of the Brahmaputra valley in Assam. The selection of best probability distribution method in the studied river basin with the recent available records will definitely help the planners and administrators to estimate the major flood events and save life and property accordingly.

Basin morphometry is an important means of understanding a drainage basin using mathematically derived parameters. In the present study basin morphometry has been analyzed under three broad aspects and they are the linear, areal and relief aspects. Within these aspects there are many parameters which are being determined by using mathematical formula on data derived from Toposheets of the study area. It is covering an area of 1094.93 sq. km. The drainage pattern of the upper section of the basin is trellis pattern and the lower section is anabranching. Floods are common phenomena of the lower section of this basin. This paper explains the role of basin morphometry specially the linear and relief aspect in providing condition for occurrence of flash floods in the lower section of Jiya Dhol River basin.

Jiadhol river system is one of the most dynamic rivers flowing out of the foothills of Himalaya in Arunachal Pradesh and joining mighty Brahmaputra in Dhemaji district of Assam. This river has created flood havoc in the District of Dhemaji due to frequent avulsion over the decades. The focus of this study is to understand the pattern of channel avulsion in the Jiadhol River. For the analysis the data on river planform are collected from the survey of India toposheets and a number of satellite imageries. The time series of river planform is used to analyze the pattern of channel avulsion. The analysis shows that before 1973, the Jiadhol River had tendency to shift from west to east, from 1973 to 1993 the shift was from east to west and after 1993 till present time the channel avulsions are from west to east. The distance between the new and the old course has reduced over time. INTRODUCTION Channel avulsion is rapid abandonment of a river channel and formation of new river channel. According to Grade (2006), it is a sudden abandonment of part or whole of the stream for a new course at a lower level of floodplain. It occurs as a result of reduction in channel gradient of the existing channel due to aggradations. The mechanism of evolution of the present day avulsive systems includes (i) aggradation of channel and flood-plain by the accumulation of bed-load and suspended load, (ii) increasing but never the less subtle topographic differences and flood overspills; and (iii) avulsion due to over spilling and stream capture (Richards et al. 1993). Most of the avulsion activities are associated with those rivers which have high sediment load and lesser gradient (Jones and Schumm 1999). Many of the Himalayan Rivers, which have very high sediment load and witness drastic decrease in the gradient on crossing the Himalayas show rapid avulsion of channels in the lower catchments. According to Mitra et al. (2005) channel aggradations causes reduction of the channel gradient and reduced water carrying capacity of the channel, hence reduction in the velocity and sediment transporting capacity of the stream, which further enhances the silting up of the channel. The above sequence of events results in the abandonment of the existing course by the stream to seek a new course where it would get a greater hydraulic advantage. The stream initially becomes quite stable in its new path, as it is flowing along a topographically low area. However, with time the process of aggradations will proceed along this route also, making it vulnerable to avulsion. Eventually it will become a topographic high and a new avulsion will become progressively more likely. These alternate periods of stability and instability may last from a few tens of years to a few hundred years. The location and timing of avulsions are highly unpredictable. Similar concepts are also available in the works of Brizga and Finlayson (1990) on Channel avulsion the Thomp-son River and Mc Carthy and others (1992) on Okavango.

The effect of liberalization on the Indian economy is very much debated about. It was introduced in 1990 to the country's economy with the objectives of bringing economic growth and to bring micro stabilization and structural adjustment in the economy. Liberalization and privatization has limited the state's control in the economy and gave the private player much of the power. Also that the regional disparity in economic growth in India has substantially increased over time. This paper tests the convergence and divergence of regional disparity in economic growth after liberalization. This paper also validates the Inverted-U relationship between economic growth and interregional inequality given by Kuznets. The convergence test suggest of increasing divergence after liberalization. And the Kuznets's Inverted-U hypothesis is not applicable in India after liberalization.

Jiadhol River is one of the most frequently flooded north bank tributaries of Brahmaputra. There are many factors responsible for the intensification of floods in this basin. Flood management is very important in this river. Flood hazard zonation of the basin helps in proper management and adaptation of the foods in the basin. This paper aims to develop a simple method for flood hazard zonation of the basin by using GIS. The method used here is multi-criteria weighed overlay analysis of GIS. This method includes many factors such as geomorphology, elevation, slope, drainage density, drainage network, flow accumulation, soil, ground water table and land cover/land cover, lithology and also proximity to drainage, confluence and embankment breaching point for flood hazard zonation. All factors are weighted according to their role in the occurrence of floods. Using the mentioned method, four hazard zones are derived, they are the severely flood prone zone, moderately flood prone zone, less flood-prone zone and flood free zones. Most of the upper basin comes under flood free zone except the river valleys. There are two distinct severely flood-prone zones in the lower part of the basin. Introduction Flood is the most common hazard witness by the world today. The area effect by floods every year covers a large portion of the human inhabited area. These areas are also the most densely populated ones, and that is why flood hazards throughout the world are responsible for causing heavy damage to the human kind. These are the natural phenomenon associated with the flood plains of the world. Floods are unavoidable, so we have to adapt to it and proper flood forecasting helps in better adaptation and management of floods. The scholars from different fields are continuously contributing lots of knowledge for improving the methods of forecasting flood as exactly as possible. India is a country in which large part of the country experiences the problem of flood every year. The concentration of 70% of the total annual rainfall within a period of just four months of monsoon makes the situation worst. The mighty Ganga-Brahmaputra flood plain along with other major floodplains experiences seasonal floods in the monsoon season in almost every year. Along with that the occurrence of flash floods in the Himalayas Rivers due to cloud burst. There are also tidal floods associated with cyclonal activities in the coastal area of the country. It is difficult to predict different floods with one method so different studies are necessary to understand the nature of different floods. Flood plain zonation is very significant in management and development of river basins (Jana, 1997). Its effectiveness increases by many folds with the use of more recent high resolution multi sensor satellite data (Prasad, et al., 2006), but due to lack of accessibility imageries with lower resolution are used. Singh, et al., (2013) has used Microwave Passive Remote Sensing (AMSR-R) in parts of Brahmaputra basin for monitoring floods. Jana (1997) used Survey of India toposheets of 1:50000 scale and IRS LISS-II for preparing flood hazard zones in North Bengal. Besides using the data from the satellite imageries, the basin morphometry, such as Digital Elevation Model, flow direction, flow

Most of the north bank tributaries of the Brahmaputra River brings heavy loads of sediments to the plains and heavy siltation of riverbed become a major problem in the region. Jiya Dhol River is one among those rivers. It is very notorious in causing frequent floods, siltation, and channel shifting in the region. This paper is an attempt to understand the pattern of change of sediment load in the river. A Sediment rating curve has also been derived to establish an empirical relationship between Discharge and Sediment load of the river. The channel cross-section has been observed over a period of two years to understand the pattern of siltation in different sections of the river. Field measurements and photography are used to understand the actual scenario. The study shows fast siltation occurs in the riverbed during the rainy season while the river is dry for half of the year.

The Jiya Dhol River is a small tributary of the Brahmaputra in Assam Valley of India. It causes devastating floods almost every year during monsoon season. This paper is an attempt to explore the impact of annual floods on the life of people in the basin and to study the tradition strategies for flood adaptation in the study area. The socioeconomic conditions of people living in different flood intensity areas within the basin are compared to understand the role of annual flood in framing the socioeconomic setup. For this purpose, various socioeconomic variables are selected based on available literature and a survey is conducted. Beside this secondary data are also collected for siltation, flood damage, and flood-related loss. The most important social implication of floods in the severely flood-affected villages has experienced an occupational shift from cultivators to wage laborers and higher out-migration of people as compared to another part of the basin. Although the government provided all the basic infrastructural facilities services are not available for a major period of a year. This study also concludes the traditional wisdom of flood management still plays a significant role in the management of flood in Jiya Dhol River basin.

Abstract: Climate change is now one of the greatest Issues facing the mankind and also future generations to come. Although developed countries are most responsible for the emissions that causes global warming, but the poor countries like India have suffered a lot due to adverse health effects associated with climate change. West Bengal is one of such states in India which is vulnerable to the climate change. Accelerating climate change impacts on emergence and transmission of various vector-borne diseases. Our present study is focused on the fact that how climate change impacts on the emergence and transmission of various vector-borne diseases in West Bengal. Here we reviewed on the growing evidences about the climate change and vector-borne diseases. In this paper we also analyse spatio-temporal variations of various vector-borne diseases and the paper concludes with some comments about some strategies aimed at controlling the climate change impacts on human health.
Keywords: Climate change, vector-borne disease, Surveillance, adaptation, geospatial technology, environmental monitoring

Abstract: In this paper we have presented geomorphological map by using remote sensing and GIS techniques. The main objective of this paper is to recognize and delineate landscape into different landform categories. We have selected some parts of Son river basin as study area which lies between Sonbhadra(U.P) and Sidhi(M.P) districts. The complex of geological structures of the study area is exemplified by proterozoic era. The rocks in the region belong to Bijawar and Vindhyan group. The morphology of this part of Son river basin is largely determined by geologic and tectonic history. Seven landform units have been identified in the study area. We used supervised classification to delineate landforms and prepare map in GIS software ERDAS. Land form units extracted from satellite imagery not only represented the homogeneous morphological characteristics but also similar surface material, its formation and processes. The present paper argues that GIS version of geomorphological map can be easily processed or combined with other spatially related data. It also offers promising possibilities for application in various types of land use/land cover management and other developmental or planning purposes.
Key Words: Remote sensing, GIS, geomorphology, landform, map.

Abstract: Dengue, also known as break bone fever, is one of the most prevalent vector-borne diseases in the world, it is now considered as pandemic. West Bengal is one of those states of India recognised to be most vulnerable to Dengue. In the past as well as recently, we have witnessed a dramatic increase in the incidence of dengue and its severe manifestation like Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF) and Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS) in West Bengal. Kolkata, North and South 24 Parganas, considered as endemic dengue affected districts. From 2005 to September2012, 9765 people of West Bengal have been affected by dengue. It depicts how fast dengue is spreading in West Bengal now a day. It has been observed that aged, children, urban population and poor people are most vulnerable to dengue.
In the present paper, we have examined spatial and temporal distribution as well as current situation of dengue. The paper concludes with some possible solutions to fight against such types of epidemic.
Keywords:  Dengue Fever, Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever, health infrastructure, surveillance system, geospatial technology.

Abstract: Poverty is the state of necessity where freedom is absent. Poverty, especially rural poverty has been persisting in India since the time immemorial. India is the country of the villages. But in every sphere of life the rural people get nothing but deprivation. In the present paper we have examined the incidence of rural poverty in India and its trends of growth. On the basis of some popular poverty estimates (headcount ratio, poverty gap, squared poverty gap (FGT index), and Gini-coefficient), we have measured and analysed the variation (spatial and Temporal) in poverty level in rural India. Our study also seeks to focus on the explanation of differences of rural poverty across the states and detail has been given about the poverty amelioration programme of GOI.

Abstract: Groundwater constitutes an important source of water for various purposes like domestic needs, supply for industries and for agriculture etc. The conventional approaches for groundwater investigation are ground based surveys and exploratory drilling which are time consuming and uneconomical. Keeping this in view, the present work accentuated the expediency of remote sensing, geographic information system (GIS) applications & attempts to demarcate groundwater potential zones. Geologically the area comprises of upper & lower Vindhyan and Bijwar formation. The area is both geologically and for groundwater exploration complicated area.  Ground  water in the study  area  inferred based on geomorphological ,lithological,  structural  & slope characteristics .Our present study has been attempted to bring out the relationship between various geomorphic units  & ground water potentiality & prepare a map  of groundwater potential  zones through GIS .

Abstract: Drainage basin is a fundamental unit of geomorphometric study and relief constitutes its first essential element. In this study, part of Son river basin (24⁰30' N to 24⁰39'11'' N & 82⁰ 45' E to 83⁰E) was selected for detail morphometric analysis of relief. The morphometric analysis helps in characterization of drainage basin by revealing hydrological and geological, and topographical characteristics by employing the methods of quantification of drainage basin structure and geomorphic properties. The present study was carried out for determination of erosion surfaces, slopes, relative relief, nature of dissection, surface roughness, area height relationship and terrain characteristics of the Son river basin. Son  is 6th order stream in the study area. The morphology of the Son river basin has been largely determined by geologic and tectonic history.The morphometric attributes are closely correspond to relief features.The hypsometric curve reveals that the basin is associated with moderately eroded basin. Hypsometric integral value expresses occurrence of neotectonism, relief and gradient ratio indicate the presence of the resistant basement rocks of the basin and low degree of slope.
Keywords: morphology, morphometry, relief, hypsometry, neotectonism, geomorphic unit, hypsometric integral.

Abstract: The present paper reviews on some of the novel research contributions in the study of river channel dynamics. The body of available literature addresses ten major themes related to river channel dynamics. These include channel morphodynamics, channel planform dynamics, channel migration, chute channel dynamics, confluence dynamics, dynamics of river bed topography, bankline erosion and its migration, dynamics in river channel sediment transport, morphological response to river engineering, role of active tectonics in river channel dynamics. Research on channel dynamics has mainly attempted to explain the fluvial processes and channel morphodynamics, which results by the interaction among discharge, sediment transport, channel planform and bed morphology.
Key words: river channel dynamics, channel migration, planform dynamics, chute channel dynamics, confluence dynamics, river engineering, river restoration.

Abstract: Globalization refers to a process of expansion, deepening and speeding up of economic, political, social and cultural linkages across the political boundaries. In July 1991, globalization process was introduced in Indian economy at the behest of IMF and World Bank to overcome India’s fiscal and Balance of Payment crisis. Over the past 20 years, India experienced fast and strong economic growth and poverty rate has been steadily declined. Nevertheless, India still has long way to go before to eradicate poverty. Recently the debates swirling around globalization in India are on two basic perspectives. Its supporter argues that openness through the trade, FDI, markets (financial) make more prosperous, experienced and faster rate of progress of Indian economy, and anti-globalization protesters assert that the greater openness in economy affects more severely the poor households & their living standards and it deepens poverty and income inequality in India. In present paper, we analyze the present status of rural poverty in India, its regional as well as decadal variations. Main focus has been given to find out the fact that how much the globalization help or hurt the rural poor. Globalization-rural poverty nexus is very complex and context dependent. So in our present study we have tried to pick up some of the potent facts which have been emerged as the impact of globalization.
Key Words: Globalisation, Liberalization, Privatization, MNCs, FDI, BOP, Inequality, Rural Poverty

Abstract: India with its geo-climatic conditions is prone to the natural disasters .Floods, droughts, cyclones, earthquakes and landslides have been recurrent phenomena. About 60% of landmass is prone to earthquake of various intensities, over 40 million hectares is prone to the floods, about 8% of the total area is prone to cyclone and 68% area is susceptible to the droughts. Disasters occur with unfailing regularity despite better preparedness to meet all such condition in recent years, the loss in terms of private, community and public assets has been astronomical. In the decade from 1900-2014, 4583715 people lost their lives, about 30 million people were affected by disaster every year.
Natural disasters adversely affect the country’s economy and deter its development. Thus there is urgent need to take proper strategy for sustainable management of disasters, which aims to decrease the impact of disasters and increasing the quality of life of the people in disaster prone areas in India. Preparedness for disaster along with effective prevention and mitigation measures are imperatives for sustainable development of the developing country like India which is high in population density and dearth on infrastructural and financial resource. Central and State Governments, NGO, community based organization, indigenous people as well as co-operated and co-ordinated international action have a key role to play in achieving our goal of moving together, towards a safer India. In a nutshell it can be said that in order to achieving our goal move towards safer and sustainable national development, development projects should be sensitive towards disaster mitigation.
Key Words: Natural Disaster, disaster management, sustainable development.