Chamoli District Research Articles

Geomorphic Evaluation of Valley of Flower Region Bhyunder Ganga Catchment, Chamoli District, Uttarakhand Using: Remote Sensing & GIS Technology

Geomorphology is the science of evolution of landforms in terms of its lithology, structures, basin geometry and other morphometric factors. In this small study, various gemorphological parameters are covering the Bhyunder Ganga Catchment. The main object is to map the land system into further various Landform unit and features through geomorphic approach in Bhyunder Ganga Catchment. Geomorphologic maps were prepared using Satellite images (Landsat ETM+, TM, MSS, ASTER, SRTM) and digital SOI topographic sheet of the region; this was further updated during post field work. Digital Elevation Model (DEM) generation based on topographical sheet was prepared for creating relief map, slope map, aspect map and 3D visualization in addition to drainage map with the help of topographical sheets, the generation of various thematic layers has also been developed. Land Use/Cover over the study area has been analyzed for the time periods of 2008 .The major proportion in land use is the snow cover (53.20%). Other landuse are barren land (22%), dense forest, open forest, built up and water bodies occupy only 24.8% area of catchment. Various theme maps (erosion intensity, LST) were generated for GIS study analysis is done to analyze the instability and morphology of the catchment area.

First Ordovician chitinozoans from Indian Gondwana — New evidence from the Shiala Formation

The Shiala Formation of the Garhwal-Kumaon subbasin of the Tethyan Himalaya, has been sampled for chitinozoans in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, India. The greenish gray colored silty shale at the lower horizon of Shiala Formation yielded a relatively rich though poorly diverse assemblage of chitinozoans. The chitinozoans are mostly acceptably well-preserved. The assemblage is dominated by two species, i.e. Belonechitina capitata and Belonechitina micracantha with rare specimens of Conochitina chydaea. These microfossils are very poorly documented from the low-latitudinal part of Gondwana and this is the first time that they are reported from this part of globe. The chitinozoan data are from below the Ordovician–Silurian boundary as indicated by an acritarch study from the same section, which is in agreement with our identification of the species that suggest a Mid to Late Ordovician age.

A study on BMI among the Bhotia of Uttaranchal, India

Objective To investigate the nutritional status of the males and females in two subgroups of the Bhotia tribe (Marcha and Tolcha) inhabiting in three different altitudes in Uttaranchal, India. Methods Data were collected from the Tolcha and Marcha, two sub-groups of the Bhotia, inhabiting in Chamoli district of Uttaranchal. Bhotia adults of both sexes were considered. Field investigation was conducted in three ecological zones (high, middle and low altitude) of the district during April-August, in the years 2002-2004. Anthropometric measurements were obtained in accordance with the techniques recommended by Weiner and Lourie (1981). The variables like height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-hip ratio and blood pressure were studied in relation to BMI. Results Relatively higher value of mean BMI is recorded among the females than that of the males, which is true for different altitudes, in both subgroups. The BMI also indicates an inverse relationship with altitude, except for the Tolcha males in high altitude. Lowest mean BMI is recorded in middle altitude among the Tolcha subgroup. Chronic energy deficient (CED) individuals are much more than twice the number among the males of both the subgroups inhabiting in different altitudes. Interestingly, the percentage of CED individuals increases with the altitude. Conclusions Regression analysis indicates that height, weight, hip circumference and waist circumference are dependent on body mass index in the studied populations. Probable reason for poor nutrition status among the Tolcha and Marcha of high altitude might be due to the fact that the Tolcha and Marcha of high altitude consume lesser amount of proteins, fat, milk and milk products in general than their counterpart inhabit in lower and middle altitude.

The fern flora of Ghat and adjoining localities in Chamoli district (Garhwal Himalaya)

The paper deals with the fern flora of Ghat, a botanically rich area of Chamoli district in Garhwal Himalaya. A total of 86 species belonging to 36 genera and 22 families from the area are being reported in this communication.

Volatile Constituents of Artemisia maritima Linn. Grown in Garhwal Himalaya

The volatile constituents of the aerial parts of Artemisia maritima growing wild in Chamoli district of Garhwal Himalayas (Uttarakhand) India, have been examined by GC and GC-MS. 41 compounds were identified, representing approximately 94.8 % of the total oil. The main constituents of the essential oil were chrysanthenone (25.7 %), 1,8-cineole (23.6 %), germacrene-D (6.7 %) and isoborneol (4.3 %), which have been observed different from earlier report.

Assessment of availability and patterns in collection of Timroo (Zanthoxylum armatumDC.): A case study of Uttarakhand Himalaya

The population density, patterns in collection and indigenous uses of Timroo, an important medicinal, aromatic and religious plant, were studied in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand state in India. Structured questionnaire surveys were conducted in selected villages for gathering information, followed by quadrat sampling for assessment of population density of Timroo in the surrounding village forests. Timroo had high cultural, medicinal and aromatic values, and considered as sacred species by the local people as it was offered to the Lord Shiva, Rudra, Vairaun, Narshingh, and Guru Gorakh Nath. Timroo was used frequently for curing toothache, pyria and allergy. In the study villages, the density of Timroo was highest around the Naurakh village (841 individuals/ha), followed by Nauti (366 individuals/ha) and Bhimtalla (260 individuals/ha). Besides Ficus palmata, Principia utilis and Pyricantha crenulata, 25 major woody species associated with Timroo in the study area. The presence of associated species of Timroo varies with localities. The unsustainable harvesting of aboveground plant parts of Timroo before setting even flowers, in the study area, has mounted tremendous pressure on its existing populations and regeneration in the wild. The study discusses various other social and economic dimensions of Timroo collection in view of developing strategies for its long-term conservation.

Forest Resource Use Patterns in Relation to Socioeconomic Status

Abstract This case study explored forest resource-use patterns to understand villagers' dependency on forests in four temperate villages situated in two forested sites in Garhwal Himalaya: Mandal and Khalla in the Mandal area, Chamoli District, and Chaundiyar and Dikholi in the Chaurangikhal area, Uttarkashi District. Although the literacy rate in the villages was quite high, due to lack of employment opportunities people still invariably depend on forests for their livelihood. In all the study villages more than 75% of fodder and fuelwood were extracted from the forest. The pressure exerted by human and bovine populations, coupled with unsustainable management policies, has resulted in the destruction of forest cover and ecological degradation. Agriculture (which is 70% rainfed in the Mandal area and 90% rainfed in Chaurangikhal) and employment as laborers were the main occupations of people in the study areas; in addition, remittance income (8.6% in the Mandal area and 21.3% in Chaurangikhal) and dairy ...

Seismic hazard scenario and attenuation model of the Garhwal Himalaya using near-field synthesis from weak motion seismometry

In this paper, we present a seismic hazard scenario for the Garhwal region of the north-western Himalayan range, in terms of the horizontal Peak Ground Acceleration. The scenario earthquake of moment magnitude Mw 8.5 has a 10% exceedance probability over the next 50 years. These estimates, the first for the region, were calculated through a stepwise process based on: An estimation of the Maximum Credible Earthquake from the seismicity of the region and Global Seismic Hazard Assessment Program considerations, and four seismotectonic parameters abstracted from near field weak-motion data recorded at five stations installed in Chamoli District of the Garhwal region in the aftermath of the 1999 Chamoli earthquake. The latter include The frequency dependent power law for the shear wave quality factor, QS the site amplification at each station using horizontal-to-vertical-spectral ratio and generalized inversion technique source parameters of various events recorded by the array and application of the resulting relations between the scalar seismic moment M0 (dyne-cm) and moment magnitude Mw and the corner frequency, ƒc (Hz) and moment magnitude Mw to simulate spectral acceleration due to higher magnitude events corresponding to the estimated Maximum Credible Earthquake, and regional and site specific local spectral attenuation relations at different geometrically central frequencies in the low, moderate and high frequency bands.

Indian Mucosal Leishmaniasis Due toLeishmania donovaniInfection

To the Editor: A 62-year-old man from Chamoli District of Uttaranchal, north India, had a 2-year history of a fleshy, polypoid swelling with superficial ulceration on the mucosal aspect of the lower lip, lower gum, floor of the mouth, and palate, without involvement of the skin (Figure 1A and 1B). He did not have a history of kala-azar. Repeated biopsy of the lip and alveolar mucosa showed an infiltrate composed of lymphocytes, histiocytes, and many plasma cells. Staining for kappa and lambda light chains revealed polyclonal plasma cells. No M band was found on serum immunoelectrophoresis, but there was polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia. Urinalysis . . .

Achieving meaningful public participation in the environmental assessment of hydro development: case studies from Chamoli District, Uttarakhand, India

Uttarakhand, India has great potential for hydro development because of its mountainous environment and fast flowing rivers. While growth in the hydro sector could facilitate industrial development and improve social well-being in the state, it could also have severe negative impacts on social-ecological systems. Using a qualitative methodology involving a review of documents, field observations, and over 100 interviews with government, industry officials and community members, the research investigated two large hydro projects in the Chamoli District. The results show that public participation in project planning and implementation did not exemplify characteristics of meaningful involvement. The participation processes would have been improved with greater opportunities for advanced, decentralised, and more active local involvement. The conclusion is that the central and state governments should play a more assertive role in regulating large-scale hydro development in Uttarakhand, to facilitate meaningful public participation and to protect local environmental, economic and social interests.

Geological and geotechnical investigations of Tapovan-Vishnugad Hydroelectric Project, Chamoli District, Uttarakhand, India

The Tapovan- Vishnugad Hydroelectric Project is located in the Dhauliganga and Alaknanda valleys, where the Central Crystallines are composed mainly of medium- to high-grade metamorphics represented by augen gneisses, metabasics, fine­ grained quartz-mica gneisses, micaschists, quartzites, and coarse-grained garnet-biotite-kyanite gneisses. Towards the south, they are thrust over the Lesser Himalayan rocks of the Garhwal Group along the Main Central Thrust. The study aims at modelling the effects of geological structures for determining the potentially fractured or weak zones in underground excavations. For this purpose, Q and RMR values are obtained for each rock type. The in situ deformation modulus, cohesion, and friction angle are estimated to design support systems in unstable zones.

Radon variations in an active landslide zone along the Pindar River, in Chamoli District, Garhwal Lesser Himalaya, India

Radon measurements were made in the soil and spring/seepage water in and around an active landslide located along the Pindar river in the Chamoli District of Uttaranchal in Garhwal Lesser Himalaya, to understand the application of radon in geological disasters. The landslide is a compound slide i.e. a slump in the crown portion, and debris slide and fall in the lower part. The bedrock consists of gneisses and schists of the Saryu Formation of the Almora Group of Precambrian age. The presence of several small slump scars and debris slide/fall scars along the length of the slide indicates continuous downward movement. The radon concentrations in the present study are much lower in comparison to values reported from other regions. However, the present radon data show relative variation in the slide zone. The concentration of radon measured in landslide zones varies from 3.1 Bq/l to 18.4 Bq/l in spring water and from 2.3 kBq/m3 to 12.2 kBq/m3 in the soil gas of the debris. Along the section of the slide, the radon values in water and soil are slightly higher in the upper slopes i.e. toward the crown portion of the landslide as compared to the distal portion. The relatively low concentration of radon both in soil gas and water in the toe portion of the landslide may be due to the high porosity of the debris, which does not allow radon to accumulate in the soil and water, whereas, towards the crown portion, the high frequency of fractures increases the surface area due to particle size reduction, and the near absence of debris enhances the radon emanation in soil.

Fern flora of Mandal and adjoining localities in Chamoli district of Garhwal Himalaya

The paper deals with the Fern Flora of Mandal and adjoining localities in Chamoli District of Garhwal Himalaya. A total 109 species, 48 genera and 27 families from the area have been reported in the present communication. 4 species are new records for the area. Till date only 33 fern species under 26 genera belonging to 17 families were reported from the area under study.

Crop damage and livestock depredation by wildlife: a case study from Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, India

The success of conserving biological resources in any Biosphere Reserve or protected area depends on the extent of support and positive attitudes and perceptions of local people have towards such establishments. Ignoring the dependence of the local people for their subsistence needs on resources of such areas leads to conflicts between protected area managers and the local inhabitants. Crop yield losses and livestock depredation were serious problems observed in most buffer zone villages of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve. In the present study 10 villages situated in the buffer zone of Nanada Devi Biosphere Reserve (1612 km2 area) in Chamoli district of Uttaranchal, India were studied during 1996–97 using a questionnaire survey of each household (419=households; 2253=total population in 1991; 273 ha=cultivated area). Estimates of crop yield losses were made using paired plots technique in four representative villages for each crop species. The magnitude of crop yield losses varied significantly with the distance of agricultural field from forest boundary. The total crop yield losses were high for wheat and potato in all the villages. The spatial distribution of total crop yield losses in any village indicated that they were highest in the area near to forest and least in the area near to village for all crops. Losses from areas near to forest contributed to more than 50% of total losses for each crop in all villages. However, in Lata, Peng and Tolma villages, the losses are high for kidney bean and chemmi (local variety of kidney bean) which varied between 18·5% to 30% of total losses in those villages. Potato alone represents 43·6% of total crop yield loss due to wildlife in Dronagiri village in monetary terms. Among the crops, the monetary value of yield losses are least for amaranth and highest for kidney bean. The projected total value of crop yield losses due to wildlife damage for buffer zone villages located in Garhwal Himalaya is about Rs. 5 38 620 (US$ 15 389). Besides food grains, horticultural crops i.e. apple, also suffered maximum damage. Major wildlife agents responsible for crop damage were wild boar, bear, porcupine, monkey, musk deer and partridge (chokor). Monkey and wild boar alone accounted for about 50% to 60% of total crop damage in the study villages. Goat and sheep are the major livestock killed by leopard. The total value of livestock losses at prevailing market rates is about Rs. 10 24 520 (US$ 29 272) in the study villages. Due to existing conservation policies and laxity in implementation of preventive measures, the problems for local inhabitants are increasing. Potential solutions discussed emphasize the need to undertake suitable and appropriate protective measures to minimize the crop losses. Change in cropping and crop composition, particularly cultivation of medicinal plants (high value low volume crops), were also suggested. Besides, fair and quick disbursement of compensation for crop loss and livestock killing need to be adopted. Local people of the buffer zone area already have a negative attitude towards park/reserve establishment due to socio-political changes inducing major economic losses and this attitude may lead to clashes and confrontations if proper ameliorative measures are not taken immediately.

Crop damage and livestock depredation by wildlife: a case study from Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, India

The success of conserving biological resources in any Biosphere Reserve or protected area depends on the extent of support and positive attitudes and perceptions of local people have towards such establishments. Ignoring the dependence of the local people for their subsistence needs on resources of such areas leads to conflicts between protected area managers and the local inhabitants. Crop yield losses and livestock depredation were serious problems observed in most buffer zone villages of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve. In the present study 10 villages situated in the buffer zone of Nanada Devi Biosphere Reserve (1612 km 2 area) in Chamoli district of Uttaranchal, India were studied during 1996–97 using a questionnaire survey of each household (419=households; 2253=total population in 1991; 273 ha=cultivated area). Estimates of crop yield losses were made using paired plots technique in four representative villages for each crop species. The magnitude of crop yield losses varied significantly with the distance of agricultural field from forest boundary. The total crop yield losses were high for wheat and potato in all the villages. The spatial distribution of total crop yield losses in any village indicated that they were highest in the area near to forest and least in the area near to village for all crops. Losses from areas near to forest contributed to more than 50% of total losses for each crop in all villages. However, in Lata, Peng and Tolma villages, the losses are high for kidney bean and chemmi (local variety of kidney bean) which varied between 18·5% to 30% of total losses in those villages. Potato alone represents 43·6% of total crop yield loss due to wildlife in Dronagiri village in monetary terms. Among the crops, the monetary value of yield losses are least for amaranth and highest for kidney bean. The projected total value of crop yield losses due to wildlife damage for buffer zone villages located in Garhwal Himalaya is about Rs. 5 38 620 (US$ 15 389). Besides food grains, horticultural crops i.e. apple, also suffered maximum damage. Major wildlife agents responsible for crop damage were wild boar, bear, porcupine, monkey, musk deer and partridge (chokor). Monkey and wild boar alone accounted for about 50% to 60% of total crop damage in the study villages. Goat and sheep are the major livestock killed by leopard. The total value of livestock losses at prevailing market rates is about Rs. 10 24 520 (US$ 29 272) in the study villages. Due to existing conservation policies and laxity in implementation of preventive measures, the problems for local inhabitants are increasing. Potential solutions discussed emphasize the need to undertake suitable and appropriate protective measures to minimize the crop losses. Change in cropping and crop composition, particularly cultivation of medicinal plants (high value low volume crops), were also suggested. Besides, fair and quick disbursement of compensation for crop loss and livestock killing need to be adopted. Local people of the buffer zone area already have a negative attitude towards park/reserve establishment due to socio-political changes inducing major economic losses and this attitude may lead to clashes and confrontations if proper ameliorative measures are not taken immediately.

Cross-taxon surrogacy of biodiversity in the Indian Garhwal Himalaya

Biodiversity surveys were conducted in 13, 10×50 m 2 plots located between 1400 to 3700 m above mean sea level in a range of habitats in temperate mixed Oak and Coniferous forests through sub-alpine to the alpine grasslands in Chamoli district of Uttaranchal state in the Indian Garhwal Himalaya. Cross-taxon congruence in biodiversity (α-diversity and β-diversity) across macrolichens, mosses, liverworts, woody plants (shrubs and trees) and ants was investigated, so as to examine the extent to which these groups of organisms can function as surrogates for each other. Although woody plants provided a major substrate for macrolichens and mosses, there was no species-specific association between them. Woody plant species richness was highly positively correlated with mosses ( r 2=0.63, P<0.001), but the relationship was not particularly very strong with lichens and liverworts. While there was a significant correlation in the species turnover (β-diversity) of macrolichens with mosses ( r 2=0.21, P<0.005), the relationship was relatively poor with the woody plants. On the other hand, negative correlations emerged in the species richness of ants with those of macrolichens, mosses and woody plants ( r 2=−0.44, P<0.05), but most of the complementarity (turnover) relationships among them were positive. Since diversity between taxonomic hierarchies within the group was consistently significantly positively correlated in all these taxa, the higher taxonomic categories such as genus and family may be employed as surrogates for rapid assessment and monitoring of species diversity. Although no single group other than macrolichens has emerged as a good indicator of changes in species richness in all other groups, some concordant relationships between them conform to the hypothesis that species assemblages of certain taxonomic groups could still be used as surrogates for efficient monitoring of species diversity in other groups whose distribution may further predict the importance of conserving overall biodiversity in landscapes such as the Garhwal Himalaya.

Environmental impact assessment of a few selected watersheds of the Chamoli district (Central Himalaya) using remotely sensed data

Abstract Multi-temporal satellite data along with other collateral information have been used to assess and monitor the environmental changes experienced by the three severely degraded watersheds of the Chamoli district (Central Himalaya) after the 1970s Alaknanda flood. We find that the popular Chipko movement launched in 1973 by Chandi Prasad Bhatt helped significantly in regenerating the denuded forest cover in these watersheds. Monitoring studies carried out from 1972 to 1991 suggest that there is a steady growth of the forests on the denuded slopes which show a quantum jump from 1980 onwards. The 1991 IRS-LISS-II satellite data suggest that the forest loss of pre-1972 has nearly been regained indicating for the first time that a deforested area will require at least 20 years to rejuvenate in the Central Himalaya provided the area is protected from outside interference. There is a linear correlation with the magnitude of landslides and the forest cover. However, the stabilization process of active lan...

Rosefuran Epoxide fromElsholtzia densaBenth.

ABSTRACT An essential oil of Elsholtzia densa Benth. collected in the Chamoli district of Indian Himalaya was found to be rich in a single component (86%). Using 13C-NMR and 1H-NMR the isolated compound was shown to be rosefuran epoxide.

Haemaphysalis (Allophysalis) garhwalensis sp. n. (Acarina: Ixodidae) Parasitizing Sheep and Goats in Garhwal Region, Uttar Pradesh, India

Four previously described species included in the subgenus Allophysalis of the genus Haemaphysalis occur in high altitudes of Eurasia. A fifth species, H. (A.) garhwalensis sp. n., here described from adults from the Himalayan mountain range in Garhwal region, Uttar Pradesh, India, is structurally intermediate between H. (A.) pospelovashtromae Hoogstraal and H. (A.) tibetensis Hoogstraal. Hoogstraal (1966) included in the subgenus Allophysalis of the genus Haemaphysalis four species from high elevations in mountainous regions of Asia and southeastern Europe. These were H. (A.) kopetdaghicus Karbabayev from Turkmen SSR; H. (A.) pospelovashtromae Hoogstraal from Georgia SSR, Tadzhik SSR, Kirgiz SSR, and Chulyshman River valley, eastern Altai in RSFSR; H. (A.) tibetensis Hoogstraal from Tsela Dzong, Tsangpo valley, southeastern Tibet, and Yatung, at the mouth of Chumbi valley, southwestern Tibet; and H. (A.) warbtlrtoni Nuttall from Szechwan Province, China, and the Himalayan region of Uttar Pradesh, India. The discovery of a fifth species, H. (A.) garhwalensis sp. n., from Garhwal region in the Himalayan range of Uttar Pradesh, about 100 miles east of a collecting locality of H. warburtoni, is of considerable interest because it throws further light on distribution and on stepwise evolution within the genus Haemaphysalis. The following description is based on material collected by one of us (H.R.B.) during a field trip to areas adjoining Tibet in the Himalayan region of Uttar Pradesh, India. Haemaphysalis (Allophysalis) garhwalensis sp. n. The Garhwal Haemaphysalid (Figs. 1-12) Holotype Male, VRC No. A74807-1, from domestic sheep, Mana (altitude approximately 3,200 m), near Received for publication 16 April 1968. * The Virus Research Centre is jointly maintained by the Indian Council of Medical Research and The Rockefeller Foundation. The Centre also receives a grant (3x4307) of the PL 480 Funds from the NIH, USPHS, through the Indian Council of Medical Research. Badrinath, Chamoli District, Garhwal, Uttar Pradesh, India, 3 June 1967, H. R. Bhat. Deposited in the Virus Research Centre, Poona, tick collection.