Geomorphology of

Narmada and Tapi River

(Central India)

Tushar Todkar
1626
Topics
Narmada River
Narmada Area
Geological setting in Narmada Area
Geomorphological processes (Narmada River)

Tapi River
Tapi Area
Geological Settings in Tapi Area
Geomorphological processes (Tapi River)
Introduction
The Tapi and
Narmada are the two
largest west flowing
rivers in India.
Both basins are
elongated in shape
the Narmada basin is
relatively hilly
compare to tapi.
Narmada river

The Narmada rises near

Amarkantak in the state of
Madhya Pradesh at an
elevation of 1057 m and
has a length of 1312 km
and a total drainage area
of 98,796 km. The river
flows through three narrow
gorges -- Marble Canyon,
Punasa Gorge and
Dhadgoan Gorge.
Tapi river
The Tapi rises near Multai in
Madhya Pradesh at an
elevation of 730 m. The
total length of the river is
724 km and its catchment
area is 65,145 km ~. Except
in the source region, for a
major part of its course the
Tapi flows over thick
alluvial deposits. About 35
km from its source, the
Tapi enters the 60 km long
Bhainsadehi Gorge.
Chandora Dam is located
26 km upstream of the
gorge.
Rainfall

The average rainfall in the Narmada and Tapi basins is 1250 mm and
830 mm, respectively.
About 90% of the annual rainfall falls during the monsoon months,
i.e., mid-June to early October.
MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS of Narmada River
Hortons analysis of the drainage net work was carried out on
toposheet Nos. 46C/10 and 14 m scale1:63,360, In this part Narmada
forms a 6th order basin, itself being 6th order stream, Morphometric
details are given as below;-

Stream Order No. of Bifurcation Channel Total area Represen

Streams ratio length tative
(km) Stream
1 221 4.3 238.40
2 51 5.6 112.80
3 9 9.0 58.40 445 sq. km. Narmada
4 1 1.0 24.00
5 - - -
6 1 - 11.20
Total 288 Ave. = 3.4 444.80
MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS of Narmada River

Average distance between two Adjacent channels will be 1.0 km.

1.0 km of average distance between two streams indicates a low
degree of distraction or an open texture.
Length of overlaid flow is half of the average distance between two
streams = 0.5 km,
CHANNEL FORM AND PROCESSES
1. Narmada Channel
Narmada and its tributaries exhibit sinuoua, braided and
meandering channel pattern.
The length between Gora and shuklatirth is occupied by sinuous or
straight and meandering channels.
CHANNEL FORM AND PROCESSES
1. Narmada Channel
Narmada and its tributaries exhibit sinuoua, braided and
meandering channel pattern.
The length between Gora and shuklatirth is occupied by sinuous or
straight and meandering channels.
At Shulkatirth (14 km, Nr. valley, upstream. of Broach) braided
channel starts and goes up to Bharbhn where it splits in to two major
distributaries surrounding Alia bet before joining the Gulf of Cambay.
CHANNEL FORM AND PROCESSES
2. Drainage pattern
Various drainage patterns developed in an Area substantiate the
interpretation of geomorphology and understanding of land from
evolution under the control of lithological and structural factors.
a)Recrangulate pattern: These are very conspicuous in their outline
west of Bharbhut and south-west of Diva.
b)Off-set drainage North-east of Ankleshwar a stream flowing south
to north shows left lateral off-set for a fiarly long distance before
assuming its original direction of flow to north.
CHANNEL FORM AND PROCESSES
2. Drainage pattern
b)Off-set
drainage North-
east of
Ankleshwar a
stream flowing
south to north
shows left lateral
off-set for a fiarly
long distance
before assuming
its original
direction of flow
to north.
CHANNEL FORM AND PROCESSES
2. Drainage pattern
c) Anastomotic drainage: North of Shakarpur-bhata 0.75 km wide
Narmada braid anabranche has been abandoned leaving two
narrow channel sears in its place.
d)Captured and nearly developed drainage: Between Pungam
and Haripura strew: with southerly flow into Amlaknadi has been
captured near Shakarpur-Bhata and part of it now flows into a
newly developed stream channel north of Shakarpur Bhata. Similarly
a few more new streams hive developed north-west of Diva.
e)Yazoo stream ; Atatla Ahadi in south and three major streams in
north flow parallel to Narmada before joining it or some other
stream, between Pungam and west of Haripura, Amla Ahadi exhibits
a marked similarity in channel configuration to Narmada channel,
MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS of Tapi River
Morphometric analysis was carried out an drainage not work in area between Ukai and Dumas-
Hazira, an toposheet Nos. 46G/3, 4, 7, 8, 11, 12 and 46C/12, 15 and 16 on scale 1:63,360. The
area is bound by 2114 and 2128 and longitudes 7238 and 7337 Hortons analysis shows
Tapti as 7th order stream foiling a seventh order basin in this area. The morphemetric details are
given below:

Stream Order No. of Bifurcation Channel Total area

Streams ratio length
1 3055 4.5 1914.40
2 671 4.0 681.20
3 166 4.5 349.60
4 37 3.3 184.80 2290 Sq. km.
5 11 11.0 103.20
6 1 1.0 11.20
7 1 - 62.40
Total 3942 4.7 3306.80 km.
MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS of Tapi River

Drainage density: 3306.80/2290.00 = 1.4 km of stream per sq.km of

area.
Sream frequency: 3942/2290 = 1.72
Average distance between two channels (Ad/EL) - 2290.0/3306.80 =
0.7 km.
the average distance of 0.7 km between two streams indicates a low
degree of dissection.
Length of overland flow (Ad/EL) =0.35 km.
CHANNEL FORM AND PROCESSES
Tapi Channel
Tapti and its lower order tributaries have got well indeed channels
exhibiting various types of drainage and channel Patterns.
From Ukai to Dumas, tapti traverses a straight down valley distance
of 96 km by 135 kin of channel length. Within this 135 km of channel
it forms three major channel patterns - straight or sinuous,
mearidering and braided. The last type merges into deltaic zone.
CHANNEL FORM AND PROCESSES
Tapi Channel
Braided Channel: From
Surat downstream to
Magdala, Tapti has got a
braided channel where it
has formed one big island
and several braid bars. The
braid bars are composed of
sand and are confined to
band of the river.
CHANNEL FORM AND PROCESSES
Tapi Channel
The 8.0 km of straight down
valley length is traversed by
9.5 km of braided channel ,
(to both hanks there are
narrow strips of tidal mud
flat a juxtaposing low water
level end whose width
increases downstream.
References

Geomorphic and hydrologic aspects of monsoon floods on the

Narmada and Tapi Rivers in central India. Vishwas S. Kale a, Lisa L.
Ely b, Yehouda Enzel c, Victor R. Baker d
STUDY OF GEOMORPHOLOGY, FLUVIAL PROCESSES AND
QUATERNARY TECTONICS IN THE AREA AROUND NARMADA AND
TAPTI RIVER IN PARTS OF BROACH AND SURAT DISTRICTS.GUJARAT
(Progress Report for field season 1973-74) BY NARESH BEDI.