Fluvial geomorphology of the river Ganga around Farakka

In this paper an attempt has been made to briefly study the 'fluvial geomorphology' of the river Ganga between Rajmahal in Bihar and Jalangi Bazar in West Bengal, a length of about 190 km, before and after the Farakka barrage was built. The flow characteristics of the river in the reach with the tributaries on either side and the monsoon flow have been indicated mentioning the catchment behaviour and the annual rainfall. The geological characteristics and soil strata on either banks have been mentioned. Then the morphological characteristics of the river reach with changes between pre-barrage and post-barrage situation near Farakka have been briefly indicated. It has been stated by the author that the changed flow pattern in post-barrage situation in this mighty river invited a new morphological environment and the same will take considerable time for adjustment and for attaining a dynamic stability of the river reach as was prevailing in pre-barrage days.