International Journal of Advance

and Applied Research (IJAAR)

Peer Reviewed

Bi-Monthly

ISSN 2347-7075
Impact Factor 0.899
Vol.1No.6 July- Aug 2014

IMPACT OF RIVER CONFLUENCE AND FLOOD LOSS IN

BAMBULI AND ANAV VILLAGES OF SINDHUDURG
DISTRICT, MAHARASHTRA
Jagdish B. Sapkale
Assistant Professor,
Dept. of Geography
Shivaji University, Kolhapur

Vidya A. Chougule
Assistant Professor,
Dept. of Geography
Shivaji University, Kolhapur

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ABSTRACT:
Two confluence sites of river Hatteri-Bhansal and river
Pithdhaval Karli in Kudal tehsil of Sindhudurg were studied to
determine the effects of river confluences on flooding areas of
Bambuli and Anav villages. In Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra,
riverine and estuarine floods are the most widespread hydrometeorological disaster. Besides climatic and hydrological
parameters i.e. rainfall and river discharges, River patterns and
river morphology also one of the important parameters which
influences on flood intensity. Therefore the present study attempts to
understand the causes of flood and its severe impact on settlements
and agricultural lands in the study area. The study reveals that
confluence of river Hatteri-Bhansal and confluence of river
Pithdhaval Karli are one of the reasons for inundation of water
during flood periods. The affected area is more prone to flooding
every year due to locational characteristics of river junctions.
INTRODUCTION:
Flood is a natural and repetitive occurrence of rivers and streams, which
is responsible for erosion of river bed and bank, also led to deposition of sediment
load in river bed and along the river banks. Confluences of rivers are probably
the zones of floods and called to be the zones of flood hazards. Hazard is defined
as a potentially damaging physical phenomenon or human activity that may
cause the loss of life or injury, property damage, social and economic disruption
or environmental degradation (Damayanti, 2011 and Daffi et.al 2014).
According to Miller (1958) and Best (1986) the rapid meeting of two
channels each having independent flow and sediment discharge regimes creates
unique erosional and depositional environments with consequent changes in
channel morphology at confluences (Benda et.al 2004). Confluences of rivers are
also responsible for piling up of river water in terms of slack water due to uneven

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size of discharges from two different streams (Sapkale, 2007). Naturally, rivers
are powerful agent of erosion, deposition and transportation processes which are
most active when the river is in flood. This flooding occurs when the capacity of
the channel to carry the discharge exceeded the channel or in bankfull stage. It
has to be considered that floods are the most environmentally different and
destructive of all natural hazards. Inundation of surface water in terms of flood
becomes disaster when it damages the property and agricultural lands.

Figure 1 : Study Area Based on SRTM data

THE STUDY REGION:
The study area forms the confluence sites of river Hatteri-Bhansal and
river Pithdhaval Karli in Kudal tehsil of Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra
(fig. 1). The impact of these sites on villages Anav and Bambuli of Kudal tehsil
have been studied. The region selected for study under consideration is a part of
the South West corner of Maharashtra state. Kudal Tahsil of Sindhudurg
District is among the tehsil which is mostly covered by hilly region. Amount of
rainfall have shown yearly variations. Rainfall was observed 3187 mm in 2008 to
2009 where as it is increased by 4461 in 2010 to 2011 and again decreased to
3327.43 mm in the year 2012.
DATABASE AND METHODOLOGY:
The present study was based on the field visits and primary data
collection. Questionnaires survey has carried out in two villages of Kudal tehsil
i.e. Anav and Bambuli. Confluence sites of river Hatteri-Bhansal and river
Pithdhaval Karli were surveyed and detailed observations have carried out by
conducting various field visits. Secondary data was collected from the revenue
departments of Sindhudurg district. The topographical maps and images from
Dr. J.B. Sapkale & Vidya A. Chougule

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Google earth have also used. Cross sections of rivers under consideration were
also prepared by using SRTM data and global mapper software.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS:
Present study reveals that overall damage and financial losses towards
settlements and other infrastructure due to flood and torrential rain in Kudal
Tehsil has accounted for Rs. 4.88 crores during the year 2011 (Report-disaster
plan 2014). The present study also reveals that confluence of river Pithdhaval
Karli and confluence of river Hatteri-Bhansal are one of the reasons for
inundation of water during monsoon season (fig. 2). Therefore the present study
attempts to understand the causes of flood and its severe impact on settlements
and agricultural lands in the study area.
Figure 3 and 4 shows the cross section at the mouth of the river
confluences. The water depth/thalweg of Hatteri is more or less 6 metres from
mean sea level at its confluence. The river bed thalweg of Pithdhaval is 4-5
metres from msl.

Figure 2 : River Confluences and Angle of Junction

Most of the years, study area receives heavy rains and led extensive flood.
During the flood in village Anav and Bambuli some houses were evacuated.
River water flooded in agricultural fields along the river banks. During heavy
rainfall and heavy discharges, flood water reached upto a height of 2-3 metres in
the agricultural fields of village Anav .

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Figure 3 : Cross section at confluence mouth of River Hatteri

Figure 4 : Cross section at confluence mouth of River Pithdhaval

As per perceptions of villagers, flooding in the study area particularly in
the agricultural fields occurs when there is a continuous rain for number of days.
This also increases the river water volume and discharges; poured out from both
banks of the river channel. The infiltration of surface water reduced at some
extent and tends to increase the surface water and inundation. At the confluence
sites the river flow interrupted due to uneven volume of water and influenced on
the river velocities also. River water inundated in the lower leveled sites for
longer period of times and damage maximum standing crops.
Villages in Kudal tehsil are affected by flooding of Karli River in rainy
season. Villagers are affected by such catastrophic event therefore attempt has
been made to understand these damages by means of questionnaire. Perceptions
of villagers are negative towards the facilities provided during the floods of 2005
and 2009. More than 90% villagers are agreed that the main causes of flood in
the study area are torrential rain during monsoon period, and the river
confluences. On the other hand sudden release of water from dam also causes for
damage during flood.
Houses which are 500 metres away from river were inundated with 1 to1.5
metres. Wetness remains for 7 to 8 days. Houses, those made up of stones,
bricks, timber were severely damaged. In Bambuli during flood in 2010, water
got saturated around houses for 7 to 8 days. During spring tide the water of
river becomes salty; it becomes saline, not used for drinking and agriculture
purpose. (Madiwal, 2012).
Gram panchayat helps villagers to migrate to safe places/other villages,
sometimes they were also migrated in schools of the village. Numbers of partly
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damaged houses were more in 2009 to 2010. Government has given more
compensation of Rs. 28, 87,895/-. It was less in 2008 to 2009 and little bit more
in 2010 to 2011. Government compensation is given only when rainfall is above
65 mm. Number of totally and partially damaged houses in 2008 and 2009 were
5 and 327 respectively. In 2009 and 2010 it was 57 and 527 (Report Kudal tehsil
and Madiwal, 2012).
River Bhansal & Hatteri strikes face to face at the confluence .The flood water
with heavy discharge of both rivers entered in the agricultural lands of Bav and
Bambuli that extends for a distance of 500-600 m. at left bank. Hatteri River is
quite straight and narrow than Bhansal at the junction point; there it strikes
with high velocity, at confluence zone. Downstream to these both rivers, the river
is known as Karli river of Sindhudurg District.
At Anav village, River Pithdhaval meets River Karli, making an angle of
90 to the convex side of Karli River and leads to spread the flood water in the
agricultural area of the Anav village. At this location Pithdhaval river tries to
push the heavy discharge toward its left side and Karli flood water encroached
towards the right side in the agriculture fields for a distance of 700 to 800 metres
with a height of 10 to 11 metres. Left bank of Karli River is protected due to the
presence of elevated portion of hill.
CONCLUSION:
A locational characteristic leads to flood in the study area. River Bhansal
& Hatteri strikes face to face at the confluence. Generally, when two rivers
meets at any place then the discharge of river also increased due to clubbing of
two different river discharges. Angle of junctions also considered to be an
important factor. River confluences are one of the major causes of flood in the
study area. Approximately 123.48 hectares area is affected by flood. Temporary
accommodation should be provided during flood period to vulnerable people.
REFERENCES:
1. Benda, L., K. Andras, D. Miller, and P. Bigelow (2004), Confluence effects
in rivers: Interactions of basin scale, network geometry, and disturbance
regimes, Water Resour. Res., 40, W05402, doi:10.1029/2003WR002583.
2. Best, J. L. (1986), The morphology of river channel confluences, Prog.
Phys. Geogr., 10, 157174.
3. Daffi, R. E., Otun, J. A. and Ismail, Abubakar., (2014). Flood hazard
assessment of River Dep floodplains in North-Central Nigeria,
International Journal of Water Resources and Environmental
Engineering,
Vol.
6(2),
pp.
67-72,
February,
2014
DOI:
10.5897/IJWREE2013.0457
Dr. J.B. Sapkale & Vidya A. Chougule

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4. Damayanti F (2011). Hydrodynamic Modeling for Flood Hazard

Assessment
inTelemoyo
Catchment
Central
Java,
Indonesia.
Unpublished. M.Sc Thesis. Gadjah Mada University and University of
Twente. The Netherlands.
5. District Disaster Management Plan, Sindhudurg (2013-2014). Disaster
Management Programme Govt. of Maharashtra
6. Madiwal, V. R. (2012) . Study of Disastrous Flood In Kudal Tehsil of
Sindhudurg District, Maharashtra, un-published M.A./M.Sc. Research
Project submitted to the Department of Geography, Shivaji University,
Kolhapur
7. Miller, J. P. (1958), High mountain streams: Effects of geology on channel
characteristics and bed material, Mem. N. M. Bur. Mines Miner. Resour.,
4.
8. Sapkale, J. B. (2007)- Shifts in tarali river channel, a tributary of Krishna
in post monsoon low flow condition, Transactions. Inst. Indian
Geographers.Vol.29,No.1, 2007. Pp 43-54.

Web References:
http:/sindhudurg.nic in /htm/does/location.htm/
http://iwawterwiki:org/xwiki/bin/view/Articles/flood control and disaster
management
http//sindhudurg nic.in/htm/does/pdf/disaster.pdf

Dr. J.B. Sapkale & Vidya A. Chougule

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