Landform characterizations and water resource management -A case study of Mohand in the foothills of Siwaliks

The present study presents an understanding of landforms and its characteristics for water resource management in the Foothills of siwaliks, study area forming a mountain ecosystem of the lesser Himalayas represents a part of the Siwaliks extending between 30° 19′ Nand 77° 35′ E from the Badshahibagh Rao and 30° 11′ Nand 77° 55′ E the Mohand Rao rivers. The study focuses on various landforms found in the study area and its relation with the water resource. The fluvial landforms were the main source of potable water for the local population, which has dried up at the upper levels. Thus, the study of classification of water resource potential areas in the Siwaliks is of paramount significance. Water table information is inferred from the various thematic layer like geomorphology, drainage patterns, vegetation characteristics, land use patterns, linear and curvilinear features (geological importance), and image tones and textures. The total areas covered for study was 970.47 km². The piedmont zone is found most suitable for the water resource management which covers an area of 544.74 km², the lower piedmont covers an area of 167.67 km² and found most suitable with almost flat on gentle sloping land with less drainage density, intensive agricultural and composed of alluvial fan materials like gravels, sand, clay, silt, pebbles etc. as underlying lithology acting as discharge zone with shallow to moderate water table. In piedmont regions, vegetation characteristics indicate various groundwater depth and quality which can be further used for the decision makers and policy issues.