Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

DYNAMICS OF THE MANIYARI RIVER AND ITS MEANDERING NATURE IN THE ACHANAKMAR TIGER RESERVE AREA, CHHATTISGARH, INDIA: A GEOSPATIAL ANALYSIS

Anupama Mahato

Abstract

The Achanakmar Tiger Reserve (ATR) is an integral part of the Achanakmar Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve (AABR) with a total area of 914.017 sq. km. The Maniyari River, which flows through the reserve, is known as its life line. It originates from the core zone (Sihawal sagar) of ATR and merges in the Seonath River of the Mahanadi Basin. It flows about 105 km through Mungeli and Bilaspur districts. This river supplies its catchment area with water seasonally (6-8 months) and flows more than half of its length (about 60 km) within the protected area. Its catchment area has a rich biodiversity of tree species such as Shorea robusta, Terminalia tomentosa, Diospyros melanoxylon, Adina cordifolia, Pterocarpus marsupium, Madhuca indica, Anogeissus latifolia, Dendrocalamus strictus etc. A geospatial analysis was performed to understand the course of the Maniyari River within the ATR area over a fourteen year period between 2000 and 2013. Imagery from Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellite 1D and P6 for years 2000, 2004, 2008, 2010 and 2013 and Survey of India toposheets were analyzed to examine the changes in planform characteristics of the Maniyari River. The meander shift of the river was delineated considering the R1 (11.61 km), R2 (11.19 km), R3 (5.33 km) and R4 (5.02 km) reach’s respectively. Sinuosity Index (SI) for different reaches was calculated and evaluated. The SI ranged from 1.40 to 1.63, 1.20 to 1.29, 1.17 to 1.37, and 1.20 to 1.49 in R1, R2, R3 and R4 respectively and the magnitude of the shift was analyzed with the year 2000 as the base year. The overall SI for all the reach’s ranges between 1.30 and 1.36. The present study will be helpful in understanding the river dynamics as well as to maintaining the flow of the Maniyari River and preventing bank line erosion. The study will be helpful for the conservation of river flow and its tributaries in the ATR area in Central India.