THE DYNAMICS IN CHANNEL SHIFT OF THE BRAHMPUTRA ALONG THE AGYATHURISUALKUCHI AREA OF KAMRUP DISTRICT, ASSAM

Abstract

Since ages people and rivers have been closely associated with and a slight change in behavior in any aspect has serious repercussions upon the other. Brahmaputra-the lifeline of about 264 lakh population of Assam, has been intrinsically related with the way of life of the inhabitants within its domain and has both positively and negatively affected them. Bank line migration and consequent channel shift is a common phenomena of the mighty river due to its high braided condition and host of other geological as well as other hydrological factors. The study incorporates the Agyathuri- Sualkuchi stretch of Kamrup district, within 5 kms downstream of the Saraighat bridge (the first bridge over Brahmaputra), where the river shows strong northward migrating tendency. Major changes and displacements have been taking place in the region due to channel shift. Keeping in view all these aspects, the paper tries to examine the extent of area encroached by the river since 1911 to 2005 and thereby analyse the causes responsible for channel shift. The specified objectives have been fulfilled based on the utilization of toposheets and google maps in GIS environment including personal field visit. Necessary maps and diagrams have been prepared for exposition of the problem.