Neotectonically controlled catchment capture: An example from the Banasand Chambal drainage basins, Rajasthan

摘要

The Banas drainage basin in central Rajasthan is asymmetric in nature with respect to the 6th order Hortonian Banas river channel. The minimum distance of the channel from the watershed in the SE segment of the Banas catchment, adjoining the Mej river sub-basin of the Chambal catchment, is only 7 km. This feature is interpreted as having been caused by 25-30 km migration of the Banas watershed from its initial position along the Vindhyan hills to the present position, due to superposition of the Mej river system and its headward erosion in the Banas system in response to neotectonism. A part of the Banas catchment has been captured in this process by the Chambal river system. Since the Mej river system is very active, it is likely to pirate and behead a large segment of the Banas river in the future.