A drainage morphological approach for water resources development of the sur catchment, Vidarbha region

Abstract

Drainage channels as represented over the topographical maps of the Survey of India on scale 1:50,000 and depicted over the IRS-IB imageries (May 1993) and limited photographs are characterized in view of its areal, linear and abstract properties associated with the Archean gneissic plate of the Sur catchment spread over 983 km². Morphological characteristics of the drainage lines as appear in shape, size, number and order, length, Dd, Sf, Rb, Is, II, Re, It and infiltration number are derived to trace its usefulness for surface water development. Chiefly dendritic, sub-dendritic and sub-parallel drainage patterns evolved out of the dissected hills, undulating plateau, pediplain and the gently sloping plain persisting under dry sub-humid climatic conditions at an elevation ranging from 246 to 580 m above MSL have given rise to situations suitable for good bunding sites mostly occurring at 3^rd and 4^th orders of streams for water resource development. Detailed analysis of dominant V order segments (Total 7) suggests high intensity of flood occurrence at a time at the outlet point of the streams indicated along the increased values of Dd, Sf, Rb and Re thereby cautioning proper bunding structure at sites marked on the map for irrigation of crops beyond rainy season.