BASIN MORPHOLOGY AND LAND USEWITH SPECIAL REFFERENCE TO PANCHANOI RIVER BASIN, A MICRO WATERSHED OF
Micro watershed is defined as a small watershed, in which a certain number of
families live, make use and manage the resources of the area, mainly the soil, water,
vegetation,including crops and native vegetation, and fauna,
including domestic and wild animals. From the operational
point of view, the micro watershed has an area that may be
planned by a technician counting on local resources and/or a
number of families that may be treated as a social nucleus
that shares some common interests and here the use of land is
very much associated with the local physiography and that is
why the study about land use should give emphasis on the
relief characteristics. The present paper is based on a small
river basin and its changing land use. So here it is very
important to study about the drainage morphology as a
whole or especially on that particular area where the
changing tendency of land use has already been recognized. At the same time it is also to
be noticed that the land use pattern may also be affected by the anthropogenic effect. So it
is also very necessary to give stress on the anthropogenic factors associated with the
basin area The main objective of this study is to find the morphological status of the
river basin and the general land of that area. Not only that the stress is also given to the
changing land use pattern and its probable cause after it. At the same time the study will
try to find out the future problem that may occur due unscientific anthropogenic activity.
STUDYAREA
The study has been made in the area of Panchanoi river basin, Sukna, Terai region, North Bengal
(25.50 sq. mile area). It is located at the Darjeeling Himalayan foothill region. Siliguri is the nearest town of
the studied basin.
BASIN MORPHOLOGYAND FLOWOFWATER
Morphology of a river basin can be analized on the basis of different aspects. It has several linear
and areal aspects. Some of those criteria can be analyzed on the basis of Panchanoi drainage basin. If we give stress on the shape of the basin, we find that it is an elongated
shaped or leafy shaped drainage basin. On the basis of elevation, it can be said that the relative relief of the
drainage basin is greater than 2100 m. The minimum value of contour in the basin area starts from 400 m. and the highest value of the contour is observed
2500m.The break of slope value is nearer to 550 m. On the basis of slope it can be said that steep slope is
only observed in the upstream of the Panchanoi river basin. After getting down the mountainous terrain the
river profile becomes very flat and the stream becomes braided.
On the basis of the broad observation of the entire drainage basin the emphasis is given to a certain
reach of the downstream of the Panchanoi river. Afew number of cross profile have been drawn, as well as a
long profile along the stream of a particular reach is also prepared to study the micro relief variation,
channel configuration of the studied basin.
This experiment and its result is nothing but the replica of the entire drainage basin. Thus we can
easily get a basic conception over all the morphological characteristics of the drainage basin. At the same
time it can be seen that the long profile denotes a specific notch which is nothing but the break of slope. In
the upstream portion the intermediate distance between two contour lines is not very wide but in the portion of downstream, followed
by the break of slope point the intermediate distance gradually increases.If we give stress on the specific
cross profile, drawn in the particular downstream area shows some specific relief variation across the river
bed also. At the same time it has to be considered that the streams show the tendency of oscillation here. A
map has also prepared to show the tendency of oscillation as well as temporal change of stream network of
the studied area as well as basin.availability of rain. In the rainy season the total volume of this type of land use gradually increases.
On the other hand two significant type of land use can be identified in that downstream area, one of those is
settlement and the second one and significant one is tea garden. At the same time it can be said that the
settlement density is not so significant in most of the basin. Asmall settlement patch is found near the Sukna
rail station. The main settlement area is located near the Siliguri and its surroundings. But the main
anthropogenic activity in this river basin is plantation agriculture. Ahuge number of tea gardens are located
here. Not only that the number of tea garden gradually increases with time to time to solve the economic
purpose of the inhabitants.
families live, make use and manage the resources of the area, mainly the soil, water,
vegetation,including crops and native vegetation, and fauna,
including domestic and wild animals. From the operational
point of view, the micro watershed has an area that may be
planned by a technician counting on local resources and/or a
number of families that may be treated as a social nucleus
that shares some common interests and here the use of land is
very much associated with the local physiography and that is
why the study about land use should give emphasis on the
relief characteristics. The present paper is based on a small
river basin and its changing land use. So here it is very
important to study about the drainage morphology as a
whole or especially on that particular area where the
changing tendency of land use has already been recognized. At the same time it is also to
be noticed that the land use pattern may also be affected by the anthropogenic effect. So it
is also very necessary to give stress on the anthropogenic factors associated with the
basin area The main objective of this study is to find the morphological status of the
river basin and the general land of that area. Not only that the stress is also given to the
changing land use pattern and its probable cause after it. At the same time the study will
try to find out the future problem that may occur due unscientific anthropogenic activity.
STUDYAREA
The study has been made in the area of Panchanoi river basin, Sukna, Terai region, North Bengal
(25.50 sq. mile area). It is located at the Darjeeling Himalayan foothill region. Siliguri is the nearest town of
the studied basin.
BASIN MORPHOLOGYAND FLOWOFWATER
Morphology of a river basin can be analized on the basis of different aspects. It has several linear
and areal aspects. Some of those criteria can be analyzed on the basis of Panchanoi drainage basin. If we give stress on the shape of the basin, we find that it is an elongated
shaped or leafy shaped drainage basin. On the basis of elevation, it can be said that the relative relief of the
drainage basin is greater than 2100 m. The minimum value of contour in the basin area starts from 400 m. and the highest value of the contour is observed
2500m.The break of slope value is nearer to 550 m. On the basis of slope it can be said that steep slope is
only observed in the upstream of the Panchanoi river basin. After getting down the mountainous terrain the
river profile becomes very flat and the stream becomes braided.
On the basis of the broad observation of the entire drainage basin the emphasis is given to a certain
reach of the downstream of the Panchanoi river. Afew number of cross profile have been drawn, as well as a
long profile along the stream of a particular reach is also prepared to study the micro relief variation,
channel configuration of the studied basin.
This experiment and its result is nothing but the replica of the entire drainage basin. Thus we can
easily get a basic conception over all the morphological characteristics of the drainage basin. At the same
time it can be seen that the long profile denotes a specific notch which is nothing but the break of slope. In
the upstream portion the intermediate distance between two contour lines is not very wide but in the portion of downstream, followed
by the break of slope point the intermediate distance gradually increases.If we give stress on the specific
cross profile, drawn in the particular downstream area shows some specific relief variation across the river
bed also. At the same time it has to be considered that the streams show the tendency of oscillation here. A
map has also prepared to show the tendency of oscillation as well as temporal change of stream network of
the studied area as well as basin.availability of rain. In the rainy season the total volume of this type of land use gradually increases.
On the other hand two significant type of land use can be identified in that downstream area, one of those is
settlement and the second one and significant one is tea garden. At the same time it can be said that the
settlement density is not so significant in most of the basin. Asmall settlement patch is found near the Sukna
rail station. The main settlement area is located near the Siliguri and its surroundings. But the main
anthropogenic activity in this river basin is plantation agriculture. Ahuge number of tea gardens are located
here. Not only that the number of tea garden gradually increases with time to time to solve the economic
purpose of the inhabitants.