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International Journal of Geology, Earth & Environmental Sciences ISSN: 2277-2081 (Online)

An Open Access, Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/jgee.htm

2014 Vol. 4 (3) September-December, pp. 231-243/Soumen

Research Article

© Copyright 2014 | Centre for Info Bio Technology (CIBTech) 231

ASSESSMENT OF CHANNEL WIDTH DISPARITY AT DIFFERENT

STRETCHES OF REGULATED RIVER DAMODAR USING

REMOTE SENSING AND GIS

*Soumen Dey

Department of Geography, Visva Bharati, Santiniketan

*Author for Correspondence

ABSTRACT

Remote sensing images can be effective medium to determine river bank shifting at different time phase.

The paper aims to understand asymmetric pattern of channel width distribution at different stretches of

river Damodar from Damodar Barakar confluence to Paikpara. Three time phase data i.e. AMS toposheet

1943, SOI toposheet 1969- 70, LANDSAT 8 satellite 2014 data are used in this study. The observation

shows that average width of river has been decrease from source to mouth. Strong human intervention is

largely responsible for asymmetric pattern of channel width of river Damodar.

Keywords: Channel Width, River Bank, Erosion, Deposition, Bar, Char

INTRODUCTION

River width depends on slope, discharge, bank material, velocity etc. Moriswa (1985) has explained that

the morphology of river channels is function of discharge, width, depth and velocity. But now a day’s

Man induced factor is one of the key component which stress on River morphology.

Bridge construction across river without providing enough space for through passing, regulated

discharges from barrages and dam, river bank cultivation and bank failure etc. are some human cultivated

causes of site and river specific change of river width (Pal et al., 2012).

W.M. Davis has established the fact that the width of a river gradually increases downstream due to

increase volume of water. Many studies has documented extraordinary stream channel enlargement as a

result of increase discharge (Moriswa, 1985).

In spite of such stage wise rhythm of width, due to local causes there may be some variations in width

pattern from source to mouth (Moriswa, 1968). Temporal variation of width pattern provides a brief idea

about velocity, discharge status (Richards, 1973), shifting of river course and status of bank erosion or in

a word the stability of river course.

The Damodar River is a subsystem of Ganges River system of India and the river has its own

morphological character, trend and evolution. The river is a present drainage of state of Jharkhand and

West Bengal.

Study Area

The River Damodar originates in the Chotanagpur water shed approximately at 23◦37’N and 84

◦41’E and

the geographical boundary of the basin lies between 22◦15’ to 24

◦30’N latitude and 84

◦30’ to 88

◦15’E

longitude. The entire drainage basin resembles a tadpole in shape with the head to the west. The main

tributaries are the Barakar, Tilaiya, and Konar.

Below the confluence of the Barakar and Damodar there are a few insignificant tributaries such as the

Nunia and Sali. Once the main distributaries were the Khari, Banka, Behula, and Gangur, but now they

look more like independent rivers.

Near Palla the river takes a sharp southerly bend (Bhattacharyya, 2011). Its funnel shape basin area is

about 23,370.98 km2, spreading in the states of Jharkhand (73.7 per cent) and West Bengal (26.3 per

cent) (Majumder et al., 2010).




Research Article


Figure 1: FCC image of LANDSAT 8 of study area

Various researchers divide river Damodar in several sections depending on relevant factors. In this paper

the study deals with four sections from the Damodar Barakar confluence to Paikpara (Figure1). Selection

of sections is done depending on human intervention through dams, barrage, weir and embankments on

the Damodar River. The sections are (1) Damodar Barakar confluence to Durgapur barrage (Section 1),

(2) Durgapur barrage to Rhondia weir (Section 2), (3) Rhondia wire to Palla (Section 3), and (4) Palla to

Paikpara (Section 4).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Width related data has been collected from various time phase topographical sheets and Landsat 8 data.

Topographical sheet used in this study are mainly two time series data i.e. NF 45-2/3/7 (1943) and Survay

of India topographical sheets 73I/14, M/7, M/11, M/12, M/15, M/16, N/13 and 79A/4 (1969- 1974).

Satellite data used in this study are Landsat 8 data acquired on May, 2014 and ASTER GDEM 30 metres

resolution data of 2011.

The main aim of this work is to assess the river bank stability using temporal data to understand the effect

of river regulation through dam, barrage and embankment. To achieve that goal all data are converted to

Universal Transverse Mercator Projection (UTM) with WGS 84 datum. For that Geomatica 10.0 software

has been used and total digitization process done in the ARC GIS 10.1 software platform.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Results The entire stretch from Damodar- Barakar confluence to the Paikpara has been digitized in three time

phase i.e. 1943, 1970, and 2014. 27 Cross section has been randomly selected to understand the impact of

river regulation on river channel width.




Research Article


Damodar Barakar Confluence to Durgapur Barrage

In this section (section 1) nine locations are established to identify the change in river during the last 70

years. The total length of this section is nearly 59 km (Figure 2, 3). The dam construction by DVC

(Damodar Valley Corporation) was completed in 1957. It is observed that river bank shifting is more

occurred in the first phase of study i.e. 1943 to 1970 than 1970 to 2014 (Second Phase). The major

shifting of river occurred in the first phase at Dishergarh nearly 20 metres per year where negative erosion

observed in the second phase (Table 1).

Table 1: Width Distribution of Damodar River (Section 1)

Loca

tion

ID

Site

Distance in

km

(From

Damodar

Barakar

Confluence)

Distance in

km

From

Damodar

Barakar

Confluence

River Width in

Metres

Rate of

Widening (metre

/year)

1943 1970 2014

1943

to

1970

1970

to

2014

1 Near Dishergarh 0 0 927 1446 689 19.96 -17.20

2 Near Radhanagar 5 5 732 783 629 1.96 -3.5

3

Near Dihika(after

the South eastern

railway Bridge)

12 12 775 718 534 -2.19 -4.18

4 Near Apisgram 18 18 871 824 771 -1.80 -1.20

5 Near Bakulia

Village 25 25 646 897 656 9.65 -5.47

6 Near Damalia

Village 31 31 694 751 689 2.19 -1.40

7 Near Gangajalghati

Protected Forest 38 38 1395 1351 1474 -1.69 2.79

8 Near Parsha

Market 52 52 1644 1459 1522 -7.11 1.43

9 Durgapur Barrage 58.5 58.5 1812 1832 1832 0.76 0

(-)Negative signs indicate Deposition or Aggradation of river Bank

Data Source: Toposheet (AMS & SOI) 1943, 1969-70 and LANDSAT 8 satellite data




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Figure 2: Damodar Barakar confluence to Durgapur barrage (Part A).




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Figure 3: Damodar Barakar confluence to Durgapur barrage (Part B).




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Durgapur Barrage to Rhondia Weir

The length of this section is nearly 19 km (Figure 4). Near Keneti Mana only where prominent positive

erosion takes place during the first phase of the study find out from the 5 observation station. Stagnation

of river water between Durgapur barrage and Rhondia weir were caused this types deposition.

Bara Mana (Figure 5) and Chhota Mana are one the major example of negative erosion caused due to

Anderson Weir or Rhondia Weir. The major deposition rate is observed just below the Durgapur barrage

at the first phase (Table 2).


Loca

tion

ID

Site

Distance in km

(From

Damodar

Barakar

Confluence)

Distance in

km

From

Durgapur

barrage

River Width in

Metres

Rate of Widening

(metre /year)

1943 1970 2014

1943

to

1970

1970

to

2014

10 Down Stream from

Durgapur Barrage 62 3.5 2320 1191 798 -43.42 -8.93

11 Chota Manna start

point 67.5 5.5 2626 2060 930 -21.76 -25.68

12 Near Radhakantapur 73.5 11.5 2704 2580 1207 -4.76 -31.20

13 Silampur 76.5 14.5 1854 1861 1810 0.26 -1.15

14 Keneti Mana 80.5 18.5 1449 2455 1776 38.6 -15.41



Rhondia Weir to Palla (Figure 6)

At this section (section 3) where major river bank shift occurred to the right bank as left bank of river

Damodar is protected trough embankment. Out of 9 stations positive erosion of bank shifting are very

much prominent in the later phase (1970 -2014). It is observed that near Dadpur village where negative

rate of erosion at first phase (36metre/ year) but at the second phase positive erosion at a rate of 18 metres

/ year. Same type of erosion also very dominates at near Fakirpur Village (Table 3). The total length of

this section is nearly 58 km. Figure 7 shows how stabilization of Satyanandapur, Simultala and Kamalpur

char takes place since 1969 to 2014.


Loca

tion

ID

Site

Distance in km

(From

Damodar

Barakar

Confluence)

Distance in

km

From

Rhoindia

Weir

River Width in

Metres

Rate of Widening

(metre /year)

1943 1970 2014

1943

to

1970

1970

to

2014

15 Near Fatepur Mana 84.5 2 1728 1674 1254 -2.07 -9.54

16 Near kasba Mana 90.5 6 841 1113 1421 10.46 7

17 Near Silla Village 97.5 13 834 1778 1794 36.30 0.36

18 At Sali Nadi

Junction 105.5 21 819 695 1387 -4.76 15.72

19 Near Dadpur Village 114.5 30 1751 799 1611 -36.61 18.45

20 Near Kalimahanpur/

Satyanandapur 118.5 34 1672 1655 705 -0.65 -21.59

21 Fakirpur Village 125.5 41 1280 424 1095 -32.92 15.25

22 Kalinagar Village 138.5 54 758 398 639 -13.84 5.47

23 Near Palla 142.5 58 631 908 844 10.65 -1.45






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Figure 4: Damodar River at Durgapur barrage to Rhondia weir




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Figure 5: Stabilization of south of Baramana is very prominent in last 11 years. Fig. B and C, the

SPOT image represents the Bar condition in 11/11/2003 and 18/04/2014 respectively. The channel of

southern side has gradually obsolete due to bar encroachment to the bank. Topographical Map of

1969 has shows prominent channel (Fig. A)




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Palla to Paikpara

Palla is a very important location in case of Damodar River. From where the river takes a right angle bent

to southward. The tributaries of Damodar River i.e. Behula Nadi, Kana Nadi, Kunti Nadi were mainly

originate in this section. The tributary rivers are now totally regulated through left- bank embankment.

Major change in river bank is observed at Paikpara (Table 4).

Figure 6: Damodar River at Rhondia wire to Palla




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Figure 7: The width of river Damodar decreases at rapid rate at Satyanandapur, Kalimahanpur,

Simultala and Kamalpur char area where these bar are united to form a single Bar. Figure B and C

was taken on 15/11/2001 and 30/03/2014 respectively (SPOT image). Some rivers cut off are totally

stabilized due to sedimentation. Red Circle indicates the stabilized portion of the bar occurred

during last 44 years




Research Article



Loca

tion

ID

Site

Distance in

km

(From

Damodar

Barakar

Confluence)

Distance in

km

From Palla

River Width in

Metres

Rate of

Widening (metre

/year)

1943 1970 2014

1943

to

1970

1970

to

2014

24 5 km from Palla 147.5 5 466 432 692 -1.30 5.90

25 Near Selimabad 155.5 13 753 657 665 -3.69 0.18

26 Near

Haragobindapur 163.5 21 431 514 727 3.19 4.84

27 At Paikpara 165.5 23 1587 1729 816 5.46 -20.75



Figure 8: Damodar River at Palla to Paikpara




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Figure 9: Cross section of Damodar at Pre Dam period (1888 and 1956) at Jamalpur

Figure 10: Profile showing present situation of Damodar at Jamalpur, 2011

Figure 11: Longitudinal Profile of Damodar River (Data source ASTER GDEM, 2011)




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Conclusion

From very ancient time Damodar River interact with control structures to protect the intense flood. Since

the agricultural prosperity in the region continued for centuries, the Damodar flood plain populated even

in the distance historical past. The paper aims to study of last 60 years, how river were adjusted through

the recent intervention. It’s observed that maximum deposition on bank is located in the second section

and maximum erosion occurred at third section of river. Several mana or river bars are formed due to lack

of water. In those areas, rigorous sand quarrying and agricultural activities (i.e. bars and islands) are

aggravated bank erosion problem (Bhattacharyya, 2011).It is also observed that the wetted perimeter of

river gets decreases at several stretches of the river. Figure 9 & 10 represents the cross section of several

time phases. Year 1888 and 1956 represents prominent erosion but recent profile of 2011 (ASTER

GDEM) represents narrow profile. The trend line of Damodar at selected cross section represents positive

relationship with R2 =0.9946 (Figure 11).

REFERENCES

Bhattacharyya K (2011). The Lower Damodar River, India: Understanding the Human Role in

Changing Fluvial Environment (Springer, New York).

Pal S, Let S and Das P (2012). Assessment of channel width disparity of the major rivers within

Mayurakshi River basin. International Journal of Geology, Earth and Environmental Science 2(3) 1-10.

Morisawa ME (1968). Streams Their Dynamics and Morphology (McGraw-Hill Book Company New

York) 175.

Morisawa M (1985). Rivers (Forms and Processes) (Longman London, New York).

Ghosh S (2012). Identification of fluvial aggradation and degradation using Remote Sensing and GIS: a

case study of Damodar River west Bengal India. International Journal of Geology, Earth and

Environmental Science 2(3) 57-74.

Ghosh S (2013). Flood Hydrology and Risk Assessment- Flood study in a Dam- Controlled River of India

(Lambert, Germany) 137.

Richards KS (1973). Hydraulic geometry and channel roughness – a non-linear system. American

Journal of Science 273 877-896.

Sen PK (1985). The Genesis of Floods in the Lower Damodar Catchment. In: The Concepts and Methods

in Geography, edited by Sen PK (The University of Burdwan, Burdwan) 71-85.

Sen PK (1991). Flood hazards and river bank erosion in the lower Damodar Basin. In: Indian

Geomorphology, edited by Sharma HS (Concept Publishing Company, New Delhi) 95-108.

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