FACTORS AFFECTING THE STREAM BANK EROSION VULNERABILITY OF RIVER BRAHMAPUTRA

Abstract

River bank erosion is a very complex and an acute natural hazard all over the world. Every year tremendous multi-dimensional loss has been faced by human beings due to river bank erosion. The river Brahmaputra which is believed to be the identity of Assam is one of the major rivers of the world. This mighty river Brahmaputra along with its numerous tributaries have extreme potential in producing seasonal flood and erosion all over the state. Every year, the river erodes its both banks here and there, causing great negative impact on the human living along the bank sides. It has been observed that the degree of erosional tendency of river Brahmaputra is not
same in all locations along its 700 km journey throughout the state. This is obvious as the extent of erosion depends on many factors like river morphology and geometry, physical properties of soil, hydrodynamic characteristics etc. This particular study is carried out to find out the factors responsible for accelerating or retarding the degree of river bank erosion in terms of river morphology and river bank soil characteristics.