<p>Upstream Terraces are the most striking erosional landform in a fluvial regime. It preserves geological history and act as evidence of tectonic upliftment. River incision is the predominant factor for the terrace development. At the youth stage of a river, vertical erosion is prevailing. Upstream terraces of the Teesta River have been found at the transition stage of youth to maturity of the river. From the Makha Bazar in South Sikkim to Meili town, total ten terraces have been noticed from the collected data from Geological Survey of India, in which eight are unpaired in nature. Two terraces have been found as paired with the uneven distribution of tiers in both banks. This could be the reason of differential erosion in both banks. The terraces have been utilized by the locals and commercial activities has been introduced in these terraces. Small towns like Singtam, Rangpo, Meili have been evolved in these extended terraces. Farming practices have been observed and market, school, college, small-scale manufacturing companies have been established in these terraces. Tourism development also increases the economic value of the terraces. Sikkim lies in a neotectonic belt and the position of these terraces has been affected by some natural adversities and human interventions. Therefore, the stability of these terraces is questionable. This study presents morphological analysis of these terraces and stability assessment through AHP process which reveals larger terraces with economic activities are not only in danger, rather small terraces with high risk geological and geomorphological settings are also vulnerable.</p>

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Morphological analysis and stability assessment of upstream terraces: a case study from Teesta river, covering parts of Sikkim and Darjeeling district of West Bengal, India

  • Rima Roy,
  • Bhabani Prasad Mukhopadhyay,
  • Susanta Chaudhuri

摘要

Upstream Terraces are the most striking erosional landform in a fluvial regime. It preserves geological history and act as evidence of tectonic upliftment. River incision is the predominant factor for the terrace development. At the youth stage of a river, vertical erosion is prevailing. Upstream terraces of the Teesta River have been found at the transition stage of youth to maturity of the river. From the Makha Bazar in South Sikkim to Meili town, total ten terraces have been noticed from the collected data from Geological Survey of India, in which eight are unpaired in nature. Two terraces have been found as paired with the uneven distribution of tiers in both banks. This could be the reason of differential erosion in both banks. The terraces have been utilized by the locals and commercial activities has been introduced in these terraces. Small towns like Singtam, Rangpo, Meili have been evolved in these extended terraces. Farming practices have been observed and market, school, college, small-scale manufacturing companies have been established in these terraces. Tourism development also increases the economic value of the terraces. Sikkim lies in a neotectonic belt and the position of these terraces has been affected by some natural adversities and human interventions. Therefore, the stability of these terraces is questionable. This study presents morphological analysis of these terraces and stability assessment through AHP process which reveals larger terraces with economic activities are not only in danger, rather small terraces with high risk geological and geomorphological settings are also vulnerable.