Morphotectonics Study of Dhamani River Basin in Kolhapur District, Maharashtra, India

Abstract

The Geomorphic Indices of Active Tectonics (GIAT) or morphotectonic parameters are applied for assessment of influence of tectonic setting in the Dhamani River and its thirty three watersheds. Dhamani River is a tributary of river Kumbhi (it covers 38.3% area of Kumbhi River) and Kumbhi is the main tributary of river Bhogavati (Panchaganga). The trend of Dhamani River is SW-NE and occupies an area of about 196.4 sq km. This river originates from Western ghat on its eastern slope. Geologically, it flows over three formations viz. ‘aa’ type of Deccan Volcanic Basalt (DVB), plateau Lateritic and Quaterna ry formation. To reveal the tectonic activity in the basin, diffe rent morphotectonic parameters are studied, such as: Drainage analysis, Bifurcation ratio (Rb), Basin Elongation ratio (Re), Drainage Basin Asymmetry Factor (AF), Hypsometric Integral (HI), Stream Length Gradient Index (SL), Standard Sinuosity Index (SI), lineament analysis and anomalous behaviour of streams. Finally, correlate the nature and depositional condition of the Quaternary deposits observed during the fieldwork with the morphotectonic indices and found that th e Dhamani river is flowing through a NE -SW trending lineament (23.24 km) which reflects some tectonic activity in the upper and middle reaches in Tertia ry- Quaternary age.