Dynamics of the Ganga in West Bengal, India (1764–2007): Implications for science–policy interaction

Rudra, Kalyan

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2009.10.043

Cited by 88 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…River Ganga, as we know has the tendency to shift the courses through time and former courses are left behind as moribund channels (Rudra, 2009). Many of the archaeological sites are found along these moribund (almost dead or inactive) channels.…”

Section: Alluvial Archaeologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential geoarchaeological sites for luminescence dating in the Ganga Bhagirathi-Hugli delta, west Bengal, India

et al. 2011

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Archaeological studies in the upper and lower part of the Ganga-Bhaghrathi-Hugli delta were taken up to understand the nature of site formation and human adaptation in a dynamic fluvial zone. This aspect has been neglected in Indian archaeology. However archaeological dating using typological information, has an error margin of a couple of centuries and hence, is of limited use. We suggest that high resolution chronology using Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) and radiocarbon dating can be quite effective in the study of archaeology and human environment relationship in the Ganga-Brahmaputra Delta (GBD).

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Section: Alluvial Archaeologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential geoarchaeological sites for luminescence dating in the Ganga Bhagirathi-Hugli delta, west Bengal, India

et al. 2011

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“…Furthermore, it is a neo-tectonic zone largely dominated by Holocene geology (Singh 1971;Benvenuti et al 2008). On the evolution of the Bhagirathi river there is an argumentative view that it was the prime channel of the Ganga and during Mid-Holocene earthquake in this region the channel shifted towards modern Padma whereas Bhagirathi remained as the secondary channel (Rudra 1999;Tandon et al 2008;Rudra 2010;Gupta et al 2014). In the mid-16th century, a major earthquake occurred which further helped to change the tectonic setting of underlying plates and due to the eastward tilting of the plates, the river shifted from Bhagirathi to the present Padma (Gupta et al 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bank vulnerability and avulsion modeling of the Bhagirathi-Hugli river between Ajay and Jalangi confluences in lower Ganga Plain, India

Pal

Biswas

Pramanik

et al. 2016

Model. Earth Syst. Environ.

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The emergence of the study of fluvial dynamics of the alluvial monsoon rivers especially in India is being enriched through the application of remote sensing and GIS techniques. To study fluvial dynamics over time, channel avulsion no doubt is one of the most considerable phenomena. The study section (*75 km) in between the two confluences of the Bhagirathi River i.e., Ajay (Katwa) and Jalangi River (Nabadwip) confluence in Lower Ganga Plain of West Bengal is highly oscillatory in nature. Several satellite images and toposheets of different time periods (1955, 1973, 1990 and 2011) have been used in order to analyse the avulsive nature in this section of the river. These fluvial features (cut offs, ox-bow lakes, point bars etc.) form as a result of channel avulsion and have been identified with the help of Landsat satellite images. The decadal differences in sinuosity ratio in different parts of the studied section, channel migration rate and avulsion model explain the dynamic nature and crucial portions of high bank erosion rate of the channel in the mentioned time period. For both the reaches (R1 and R2), meander loop cut offs are dominant rather than lateral avulsion in the context of aggregate channel migration that also reflects the instability and erosional vulnerability at different meander bends.

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“…Several reaches around Narora, Kanpur (both in Class IV), and Farakka (Class X) barrages along the Ganga river have seen significant modifications in terms of channel morphology both upstream and downstream of the barrage (Rudra, ; Sinha & Ghosh, ). The engineering assumption that jacketing the river would increase the velocity leading to scouring has instead resulted in silting of river beds and increased water logging and soil salinity in the adjoining floodplains.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geomorphic diversity as a river management tool and its application to the Ganga River, India

Sinha

Mohanta

Jain

et al. 2017

River Research & Apps

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Understanding of geomorphic processes and the determination of geomorphic diversity in catchments are prerequisites for the sustainable rehabilitation of river systems and for reach-scale assessment of river health. The Ganga River system in India is a large, complex system consisting of several long tributaries, some >1,000 km, originating from 2 distinct hinterlands-the Himalaya to the north and the cratons to the south. Traversing through a diverse climatic regime across the Plain and through precipitation zones ranging from 600 mm/year near Delhi to 1,200 mm/year in the eastern plains, the Ganga River system has formed very diverse landform assemblages in 3 major geomorphic domains. We have recognized 10 different river classes for the trunk river from Gangotri (source) to Farakka (upstream of its confluence with the Brahmaputra) based on (a) landscape setting, (b) channel and active floodplain properties, and (c) channel planform parameters.The mountainous stretch is characterized by steep valleys and bedrock channels and is dominated by large-scale sediment production and transport through hill slope processes. The alluvial part of the river is characterized by 8 different river classes of varying reach lengths (60-300 km) many of which show sharp transitions in landscape setting. We have highlighted the application of this approach for the assessment of habitat suitability, environmental flows, and flood risk all of which have been significantly modified during the last few decades due to large-scale anthropogenic disturbances. We suggest that the diversity embedded in this geomorphic framework can be useful for developing a sustainable river management programme to "work with" the contemporary character and behaviour of rivers.

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Dynamics of the Ganga in West Bengal, India (1764–2007): Implications for science–policy interaction

Cited by 88 publications

References 2 publications

Potential geoarchaeological sites for luminescence dating in the Ganga Bhagirathi-Hugli delta, west Bengal, India

Potential geoarchaeological sites for luminescence dating in the Ganga Bhagirathi-Hugli delta, west Bengal, India

Bank vulnerability and avulsion modeling of the Bhagirathi-Hugli river between Ajay and Jalangi confluences in lower Ganga Plain, India

Geomorphic diversity as a river management tool and its application to the Ganga River, India

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