Temporal changes of Fluvio-Morphological scenario and its impact on Settlement: A GIS based study for Mandia block, Barpeta District, Assam

The Mandia Block of Barpeta District Assam undergoes episodes of changing geomorphology due to change in Manas-Beki-Brahmaputra River System. Significant amount of Geographical area within the block is covered by this river system. Temporal change in River System leads to change in sandbars which are being used by thousands of people as their settlement and agriculture. Geospatial Technology is used to study temporal change within the Block between 1972 and 2013. Within 41 years significant change has been observed in fluvial scenario and settlement pattern in this area. The Beki river shows significant shift in its channel pattern and confluence; River Brahmaputra tend to widen towards north causing major erosion in 1972 Northern bank line. Nearly thirteen settlements got severely affected by this change. Present day directions of Remote Sensing are identification, mapping, inventory, monitoring and surveillance. Hence it is found to be an effective tool for attempting this problem of temporal behavior of the river system.