Applied Geomorphology- A Study

Applied Geomorphology has come up as a very important branch of earth sciences particularly with the advancement in its techniques to evaluate and tackle problems associated with man's occupancy of earth space. Of late, it has acquired enormous significance with the application of geomorphic understanding to the analysis and solution of myriad problems concerning land occupancy, resource utilisation environmental management and planning or problems of similar nature. In the beginning, the landforms studies were carried out mostly with aid of qualitative techniques but lately various quantitative techniques have been introduced alongside the use of aerial photographs and satellite imageries for identifying morphological characteristics of landforms and evaluation of terrain which have further enhanced the value of this branch of geography. In this Book Applied Geomorphology: A study an attempt has been made to evaluate the morphometric aspects of terrain both quantitatively and qualitatively. The study-area has been delineated into morphometric units of different orders. In the process of terrain categorization as well as in identification of geomorphic units remote sensing techniques have also been made use of. The geomorphic attributes have been correlated with the distribution of settlements and arable land in the study area. And the problem of soil erosion in various terrains have been examined along with impact analysis of ground water condition on distribution of rural settlements and arable land. The present work is a pioneer attempt to peruse terrain features and associated problems of resource rich region. It provides adequate references, data base and methodology to those interested in analysis terrain evaluation and its influence on settlement and landuse. The inferences drawn herein may prove to be helpful to planners and users equally. It is hoped that the scholars working in the field of applied geomorphology, geology, settlement and landuse planning, environmental management, civil engineering and other allied disciplines will benefit from this work and will be quick to follow the methods and techniques used therein to achieve their objectives.

Dr. Chandra Prakash Singh (b. 1962) is a Lecturer in Geography, Udai Pratap (Autonomous) College, Varanasi, affiliated to Purvanchal University. He has a brilliant academic career and obtained his graduate, postgraduate (Gold Medalist) and Ph.D. degrees from Banaras Hindu University. His major fields of interest are Physical Geography especially Geomorphology and Settlement Geography. He has to his credit over one dozen research papers published in various geographical journals. Apart from his participation in more than a dozen national and international conferences in India and abroad, he visited kenya (Nairobi) to attend COMTAG Workshop (1991).Dr. Singh worked as a junior as well as Senior Fellow under Special Assistance Programme of U.G.C. in the Department of Geography, B.H.U., Varanasi during March, 1988 to 1991. Subsequently, he received Senior Research Fellowship from C.S.I.R., New Delhi. He is a life member of I.I.G., I.G.I., Geo-Sciences and Purvanchal Bhoogol Parishad.

I am deeply beholden to my teacher and supervisor Prof. N.K.P. Sinha, Ph.D., McGill, formerly Professor of Geography, Banaras Hindu University for his guidance, inspiration and valuable suggestions at every stage of the present work. I am extremely thankful to Prof. Onkar Singh, Head, Department of Geography, Banaras Hindu University for providing all sorts of facilities during the course of this research work. I very sincerely record my deep gratitude to my esteemed teachers Prof. K.N.Singh and Prof. H.H. Singh for their encouragements and helpful suggestions in completing the present work. I am also thankful to Prof. V.R. Singh, Dr. K.K. Dubey, Dr. R.Y. Singh, Dr. D.N. Singh, Dr. R.B. Singh, Dr. S.B. Singh, Dr. M.B. Singh, and Dr. B.N. Singh for their help and critical comments. I feel highly obliged to my teacher Dr. V.K. Kumra who always remained available to me whenever I required any assistance for this work. I am also thankful to Dr. Satyendra Singh, Department of Geology, B.H.U., for his help in understanding geology of the study-area. I sincerely record my gratefulness to Dr. Kailash Nath Singh, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, Dr. P. Nag, NATMO, Calcutta, Dr. H. Prasad, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, and Dr. V.C. Jha, Department of Geography, Vishva-Bharati, Shanti Niketan, for their time to time help and creative suggestions. Thanks are also due to Dr. S.R.S. Yadava, and Dr. C.S. Jha, NRSA, Hyderabad, Dr. A. Bhattacharya, Head, Geoscience Division, Hyderabad and Dr. Alok Singh who helped me in one way or other. I am obliged to Shri O.P. Srivastava, Shri A.K. Karanjai, Dr. R.S. Chandel, and Dr. C.S. Kumar for giving final shape to maps and iv diagrams. Shri S.P. Singh deserves my sincere thanks for typing the final manuscript of the present work. I am grateful to the various officials of the study-area for providing requisite data and records. I sincerely acknowledge the help received from NRSA, Hyderabad in providing the Hydromorphological map of Mirzapur District. The Support received from SAP, Department of Geography, B.H.U. and CSIR, New Delhi in form of Fellowships is highly acknowledged with thanks. I must thank to my esteemed friends Dr. S.P. Singh, Dr. Hausila Tiwari, Dr. A.B. Pandey, Dr. Yashveer Singh, Dr. R.C. Singh, Mr. R.K. Singh, Mr. S.P. Singh, Mr. A.S. Srinet, Mr. Kailash Singh and others for their cooperation in various ways. Last but not the least, I am very much obliged to my elder brothers Dr. Jagdish Singh and Shri L.S. Singh, and other family members for providing motivation and all sorts of help towards completing this work. I am highly indebted to my mother Smt.Devi, bhabhi Mrs. S. Singh, Mrs. A. Singh, Mrs. N. Kumra for their affection and help at every stage of the present work. Pankaj, Ruchi, Shuchi, Sanu and Golu deserve my special thanks for being always with me.

**Contents and Sample Pages**