Geo-environmental hazards around bhatwari area, district uttarkashi garhwal Himalaya Uttarakhand

The area of investigation lies in lesser and central Himalaya between Maneri and Gangnani area in the Bhagirathi valley, District Uttarkashi. Geologically the area is divided into two group of rocks viz. Garhwal group and Central crystallines separated by Main Central Thrust which is exposed near Sainj i.e. 20 kms from Uttarkashi along Uttarkashi Gangotri road. The rocks of Garhwal group are represented by quartzites, sericite quartzite’s and talc chlorite schist intruded by metabasics, whereas the Central crystallines are constituted by gneisses, schists, migmatites and amphibolites. Various geomorphological features like ridges, slopes.glacial lakes, hot springs, waterfalls, terraces and landslides were analyzed in the field and then plotted on the base map. These features are result of exogenetic forces formed mainly by fluvial, fluvio-glacial and glacial processes. Studies show that running water is responsible for erosion and denudation in low reaches in the valley side whereas the high land area and upper reaches in the valley side slope have been degraded by glacial or in part by fluvio-glacial. Geo-factor of human activities like construction of roads, tunnels, bridges and buildings and Geo –factors of environment like landslide soil erosion and rock fall are responsible for Geo-environmental hazards in the area. Attempt has been made to study three types of hazards viz. geomorphological, hydrological and anthropogenic hazards.