Beas river floodplain Punjab land use land cover changes and flood risk

Abstract

This research work was positioned within the geographical tenet that advocates geography as study of human-environment relationship and its dynamic manifestations. The floodplain of Punjab, India was examined for its geomorphic character, river channel morphology, land use changes and flood risk. The study offers insight to physical landscape of River Beas floodplain with its unique tangible and intangible specificities that humans have altered to create a human-cultural landscape. In doing so the floodplain witnessed physical modifications, removal of natural surfaces, and imposition of human dominated land use. Consequently, several issues emerged. One of these relates to translation of natural process of floodplain inundation into flood disaster. Although, flood frequency in response to human created embankments has decreased but potential magnitude of impacts has increased manifold. It is concluded that a comprehensive information on floodplain dynamics, spatial distribution of land use, land transformation, and knowledge on flood risk must be incorporated in utilization and management of land resources to achieve sustainable development in River Beas floodplain. newline