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Geomorphology and Its bearing on hater resource evaluation through Remote Sensing around Rajgarh district, M.P., India

Liaqat, A. K. Rao, Mohd. Asif
Geology Department, Aligarh Muslim University,
Aligarh, 202 002, India.


Abstract
Groundwater prospecting particularly in the hard rock areas is quite difficult, owing to geological and geomorphologic controls of subsurface conditions on the occurrences and movement of groundwater resources. Thus in such areas systematic investigation using remotely sensed data provide realistic information on the geomorphic features, drainage pattern and water resource evaluation etc. of any hard rock area.

Visual interpretation of aerial photographs on 1: 60,000 scale, and Landsat images on 1:250,000 and 1:50,000 scales were carried out covering an area of abort 6117 sq. km., to identify the drainage pattern, major geomorphic and litho logical units in order to evaluate the groundwater potential zones around Rajgarh district (latitude 23° 28' - 24° 18' N and longitude 76° 11' 77° 20' E) M.P., which constitute a part of huge Malwa Plateau. It was observed that flood plain along river, alluvial plain and in filled valleys posses high ground water potentiality while flood plains along the nalas, dissected plateaus ad flat of slightly undulating top surfaces of plateaus possess moderate groundwater potentiality. The prominent lineaments / fractured zone in the study area are located as they may control the groundwater regime of this area.

Introduction
Water resources play a vital role not only in the economic development but also in the welfare of a country and constitute one of the most valuable natural resources. During the past several years conventional field survey methods are followed for evaluating by hydrological and hydro geomorphological conditions of an area. These methods are difficult, time consuming an costly. Among all the latest available techniques, the aerial/satellite remote sensing techniques now provide accurate information for delineating the geological and geomorphological characteristics and allied significance, which are considered as controlling factor for the occurrence and movement of groundwater.

Based on these consideration an attempt has been made in parts of Rajgarh district of M.P. to delineate its geological structural and geomorphological characteristics for the groundwater point of view, using topographical maps, black and white aerial photographs Landsat (TM, FCC) image. This study was supplemented by additional data and limited field check to achieve a comprehensive water resource evaluation.

Study Area
The study area forms a part of Rajgarh district in M.P. , which constitutes a part of huge Malwa plateau. It is covered by the survey of India toposheet number 54 D/4 and 54 D/4 and bounded by Latitude 24° 2' 50" - 24° 10' 42"N Longitude 76° 11' 28" - 76° 25' 34" E.

Climate
The study area experiences semi-arid type of climate with minimum 9.7°C and maximum 43.1°C temperature. The average annual rainfall ranges from 796.6 mm to 1291.3 The maximum rainfall recorded during the months of June to September.

Physiography
The area is charcterised by rolling topography with flat valley plains. Flat to slightly undulating upland area can be seen on the top surfaces of Deccan Basalt.

Drainage
The study area s chiefly drained by river Kali Sindh with a few minor streams and also by their tributaries and seasonal nalas.

Materials and Methods
The Landsat MSS images (B.2 and 4) and Landsat TM false color composite generated by using a combination of band 2, 3 and 4 on 1; 250,000 and 1:50,000 scale, aerial photographs on 1:60,000 scale, topographical maps on 1:50,000 scale, magnifying glass, mirror stereoscope, light table and existing hydrological maps in the scale of 1:50,0000 were generated by using Landsat corresponding to March 1987 (Path and Row No. 146-043, Frame 28), aerial photographs (1970) and topographical maps. Ground truth traverse of the study area was carried out after preliminary interpretation. Corrections have been incorporated wherever necessary.

Geology
Geologically the area constitutes the extensive Deccan Trap Basalts (Upper Cretaceous to Lower Eocene in age), overlain by variable thickness of Alluvium of Recent origin. Basalts are massive, fractured/jointed and vesicular in nature. Most of the vesicles are filled with secondary minerals like quarts, calcite and zeolite. The uppermost unit of basaltic flow is highly weathered. Alluvium is confined mainly along the rivers and streams, consisting of sand silt and clay, brought by rivers, mixed with line kankar and material derived from near by hilly terrain.

The study area lacks of any major structure. However, Landsat 5,TM, FCC exhibits the presence of prominent lineaments/ fractures. These lineaments trending NESE and roughly N-S, E-W directions. It has also been observed that the density and degree of intersection of lineaments are more along and near the Kali Sindh ricer and on the rolling ground than those of upland areas. The joints in the trappean rocks are open in nature and their width range from few millimeters to several centimeters.

Hydrogeology
Groundwater occurs under water table conditions in all the formation, but deep bore wells and hand pumps indicate the presence of semi confined condition in the basaltic formations. Unconsolidated formations highly and permeable while in basalt porosity and permeability depend upon the intensity of fractures, joints and weathered mentle and vesicular zones. The movement of groundwater s governed mainly by the interconnected pore spaces in unconsolidated formations and through fracture system in case of trappean rocks. Depth to water level in confined aquifer varied from a minimum a 2.4 mbgl in village Armti to maximum 12-9 mbgl in Piplyakulmi village, as recorded during field check in premonsoon peiod.

Geomorphology
Based on the visual interpretation of Landsat data, various interpretation data, various fluvial and denudation land forms have been identified are illustrated in Fig 3 and their photo characters are discussed as follows.

Fluvial Landforms
Fluvial landforms dominating along the rivers and streams and include in filled valleys, flood plains (along the rivers and nalas) and alluvial plains.
  1. Infilled valleys : The infilled valleys appear as reddish color and characterized by dendritic pattern, mottled texture, vary in size, linear to curvilinear in shape, almost narrow and occupies topographically depressed areas associated with plateau and streams.

  2. Flood Plains : Flood plains also appear as reddish in color and occur associates rivers having smooth to mottled texture, narrow and variable in size, located mainly to the topographically low lying areas.

  3. Alluvial Plains : Reddish to pinkish in color, irregular pattern, variable in size, mottled texture, associated with fluvial dynamics, occupies mainly the topographically lo lying areas. Two convex shaped meander scrolls are also identified along the Kali Sindh river (in the SW part of the study area).
Denudatiional Landforms
Denunational landforms are the result of denuational processes like weathering, erosion and transportation include dissected plateaus and flat to slightly undulating top surfaces of plateau.

Dissected Plateau
Dissected plateau in Landsat images identified by their red to reddish and dark to medium grey tone, dissected pattern,smooth to mottled texture, rough texture is also noticed at some places, irregular shaped, occurs mainly at the topographically high areas, associated with margins of flat surfaces of plateaus.

Flat to slightly undulating top surfaces of plateau: identified by their dark to light grey tone, mottled texture, irregular to intersected pattern at margins, cast in size and irregular in shape, located at topographically high flat surfaces.

Result and discussion
Water resources, of the study area can be grouped into two distinct classes viz., surface and sub-surface water resources. The surface water resources include situated around Machalpur town, Kali Sindh and Chappi rivers draining the area. In order to evaluated the groundwater resources, the integrated infromations were generated and hydrogeology. Groundwater potential zones were marked after superimposing an overlay having geomorphic details on to the geological lineament map. Taking all the parameters into account the ground water potentially of geomorphic units was assessed and presented in table 1. It was observed that the infilled valleys align along the fracture/lineament possesses high groundwater potential zone than those which are not align along an fracture/lineament etc.

Conclusion
The study and analysis of aerial photographs and satellite data played a significant role in delineating the water resources of drought affected area around district Rajgarh, Madhya Pradesh. The approach was mainly hydrogemorphological. From the foregoing study, the following conclusions are arrived.
  1. A reliable information can be obtained in regard to geology, geomorphology and hydrology.

  2. Flood plain and alluvial plain areas along the perennial rivers ad infilled valley can be exploited for groundwater, since they posses high ground water potentiality. The site for the construction of bore wells and dug wells can be recommended.

  3. The top surfaces of plateau areas and flood plain areas along the nalas (remain dry in summer) can be developed through hand pumps and dug wells in the zone of lineament / fracture and at the intersection.

  4. The regional of dissected plateau are unsuitable for groundwater development owing to high run-off and high drainage density.

  5. Small check dams can be constructed across the infilled valleys, in the vicinity of settlements, in order to store the surface run-off, which enables the conversation of water resources of the area fro optimum utilization.
Table.1: Integrated information in relation to Ground water potentially of the area.
Sr. No. Geomorphic unit Lithology Structure Description Hydrologic characters Groundwater potentially
1 Infilled valleys Alluvium Linear to curvilinear to mostly lineament controlled Fluvial landforms, unconsolidated, poorly sourced material supporting good cultivation. Most of the infilled valleys align along the lineament. Highly porous and permeable zone, suitable of ground water recharge. High
2 Flood plains (along the rivers) Alluvium Flat Fluvial landform, unconsolidated sandy material, characterize by the presence of thick soil, supporting good cultivation. Highly porous and permeable zone suitable of ground water recharge. High
3 Flood plains (along the nalas) Alluvium Narrow linear Fluvial landform, unconsolidated sediments remain dry in summer season, most of ht cultivation is restricted to this unit. Porous and permeable with less water bearing aquifers. Moderate
4 Alluvial plain Alluvium Flat Fluvial landform, gently sloping, formed by the deposition of sand, silt and along with eroded material from the nearby hilly terrain, supporting good cultivation . Highly porous and permtable zone, god aquifers, good discharging zone. High
5 Dissected flateau Deccan trap Basalt Jointed and fractured Denudational landform, highly undulating terrain with toung like structures projecting towards alluvium cerrated margin sparse vegetation. Runoff zone Moderate to low
6 Flat to slightly undulating top surface of plateau Deccan trap Basalt Jointed and fractured Denudational landform, rolling topography, thin cover of black cotton soil developers a result of weathering of underlying trappan rocks, supporting sparse cultivation. Porosity and permeability depends upon via. Intensity of weathering, intensity of fracturing and jointing and vesicular zone at depth. Moderate



Fig.1 Location map of the study area


Fig.2 Hydrogeomorphic map of the study area based on Landsat TM FCC images