NEOTECTONIC CONTROL ON DRAINAGE SYSTEM IN GANGETIC PLAIN, UTTAR-PRADESH

Study of remotely sensed data and SOI topographical maps with some fie ld observations has helped in the identification of lineaments control ling the drainages, using various indications like displacement of Siw alik hills, skewness of fan surfaces, preferential alignment of river channel, knick points, distorted meanders, abrupt change in river cour ses, escarpments and asymmetrical terraces. The northern part of the G angetic plain, the Piedmont zone shows two major lineaments, i.e. NNE- SSW and NW-SE, developed as conjugate strike slip features, with some evidences of gravity component. The NW-SE direction of the conjugate s ystem is very prominent in Central Alluvial Plain and has controlled t he major drainages. These lineaments have caused abrupt change in flow directions of many streams; and in parts, have behaved as gravity fau lt with NE blocks as downthrown side. The drainage in the Marginal All uvial Plain (southern part) is essentially controlled by the reactivat ed basement lineaments of predominantly SW-NE direction. The drainage of northern and central part of Gangetic plain is controlled by newly developed lineaments formed due to compressional stresses of the Himal aya while drainage in southern part is controlled by reactivated basem ent lineaments.