Morphometric analysis using Geographic Information System (GIS) for sustainable development of hydropower projects in the lower Satluj river catchment in Himachal Pradesh, India

Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System techniques are effectively being used in recent times as an important tool in determining the quantitative description of morphometry of a basin. This technique characterizes very high accuracy of mapping and measurement of morphometric analysis. The aim of the present study is therefore to analyze the GIS based morphometric activities of the Lower River Satluj catchment including parts of Kinnaur, Shimla, Kullu, Mandi and Bilaspur districts in Himachal Pradesh, India. Morphometric analysis of drainage system requires delineation of all existing streams. Based on GIS morphometric assessment, buffer zone of 10 km either of the River Satluj was identified. This area is lying from northeast to southwest from Nathapa village in Kinnaur district to Bilaspur town in Bilaspur district. The total length of River Satluj included under present study was 165 km. The total length of stream segments is maximum under first order streams and this length decreases as the stream order increases. It is also observed that there is a decrease in stream frequency as the stream order increases. It is observed that low drainage density is in the lower Satluj catchment. With the help of GIS, it is observed that highest number of streams shows the maximum opportunities for the hydroelectric power projects in the middle Satluj catchment. While the lower drainage density indicates that the catchment has permeable sub-soil.