Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 4.1
Geographical location, stream order and land-use patterns of the streams in the subbasins of the Ganga and
Yamuna river systems in the Kumaon and Garhwal regions of Uttarakhand
Number of stream sampled
in different land uses in the
subbasins
F
Basins/streams
Altitude (m)
Latitude (N)
Stream order
F-A
A
Yamuna/R, S, T, N
800-2,000
30° N
II-V
7
-
-
Ganga
450-3,000
29° N
II-IV
4
2
1
Bhagirathi/H, K, D, B
450-2,620
30° N
II-VI
9
-
Bhilangana/Bh, N
817-1,000
30° N
II-V
2
-
Alaknanda/BG, AG, Ba,
Ta, M
450-1,900
30° N
II-VI
2
7
-
Nandakini
880-1,000
30° N
II-V
2
2
-
Mandakini/Da, Ka, Si,
Ku, L, SG
620-2,440
30° N
II-V
7
11
-
Pindar/A, PN, PS 750-1,000 30° N II-V 7 -
Ramganga/R1, R2 >1,000 29°-30° N II-V 5 2 -
Saryu >1,000 29°-30° N II-IV 4 3 -
Acronyms:
A
agriculture,
F
forest,
R
Rupin,
S
Supin,
T
Tons
N
Naitwar (Rupin, Supin are parent rivers forming Tons),
H
Harsil Gad,
K
Kaldi Gad,
D
Dharasu Gad,
B
Bhagirathi (Dharasu),
Bh
Bhilangana,
N
Nailchami,
BG
Birahi Ganga,
AG
Amrit Ganga,
Ba
Balasuti,
Ta
Tapovan,
M
Mana,
Da
Damar,
Ka
Kaidung,
Si
Sitapur,
Ku
Kunja,
L
Laster,
SG
Saraswati Ganga,
A
Atta Gad,
PN
Pindar Narayanbagdh,
PS
Pindar (Simli),
R1
Chaukhutia,
R2
Dwarahat
characterised by
Rhododendron campanulatum
D. Don and
Juniperus squamata
Buch.-Ham.,
while the high montane by
Quercus
semicarpifolia
Sm.,
Betula utilis
D. Don and
Rhododendron arboretum
Sm.; montane by
Quercus incana, Cedrus deodara
Loud. and
Pinus wallichiana
Jacks; and submontane by
Quercus incana
and
Myrica nagi
D. Don
(Sundriyal
1995
). The upper catchment of the
Ganga river system below the snowline is
forested, and the middle catchment/lower
catchment is devoid of dense forests due to a
wide variety of anthropogenic activities in the
Alaknanda basin.
apricot, citrus, peach and walnut orchard,
constitute the other major form of land use. The
crops depend on rain in the terraced fi elds along
the high mountain slopes and on irrigation in
the valleys. The region lacks major industries.
A 30-year-old dam exists at Maneri on the
Bhagirathi, and a 8-year-old dam at Tehri after
confl uence with the Bhilangana. A dam has
recently (year 2007) come up on the Alaknanda
at Vishnuprayag. Human settlements of larger
magnitude (district headquarters) exist around
1,000 m elevation. As the mountain climate and
terrain becomes increasingly hospitable below
this elevation, subsistence agriculture and a
number of small settlements also enhance. One
major human settlement exists along the
Alaknanda River and two along the Bhagirathi.
Industrial and municipal discharges join the
river, human settlements become larger and
agriculture becomes commercial as habitation
increased in the foothills. The industries include
distilleries, glass factories, heavy engineering
and pharmacy. Run-of-the-river projects are
proposed/under construction on the Alaknanda,
Bhagirathi and the Ganga downstream of
Devprayag. The Ganga has been extensively
Land Use
Forest is the major land use in
the Himalaya. Scattered small settlements
surrounded by agricultural fi elds, primarily for
subsistence
1
except for pockets of apple,
1
Paddy, millets, maize and pulses (leguminous) are the
major traditional
kharif
(April-October) crops while
wheat, barley, mustard, lentils and peas are
rabi
crops
(October-March) [Semwal R. L., Maikhuri R. K. and Rao
K. S. 2001. In: Eds Kandari, O. P. and Gusain O. P.,
Garhwal Himalaya: Nature, Culture and Society.
p. 259-276].
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