Research Projects

The conception of the proposed research work is coined from our previous research work under the Ministry of Earth Science (MoES) funded research project on Active fault mapping of Soan Dun northwestern between Bias and Satluj River in NW Himachal Himalaya (COMPONENT-III) reference no “MoES/P.O.(Seismo)/ 1(271)/AFM/2015” which allow us to hunt strong possibilities of structurally induced landform deformation and preparation of geohazard potential zones within “the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) zone NW of Dehradun”. The MBT zone of the northwestern part of sub-Himalaya provides a unique example of a structurally controlled and tectonically active landscape mainly from Uttarakhand (Dehradun) towards the west till the Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh (Figure 1). The proposed area comprises the presence of Siwalik and outer lesser Himalayan metasediments rocks (Valdiya 1980). These rocks are highly shared and fractured owing to active deformation caused by the Sirmauri Tal Fault (STF) and Malgi Fault (MF) within the MBT zone. Although the Himalayas is a unique and juvenile geological feature on the earth's surface, still due to quick mountain-building activity and deformational processes, different parts/ zones are vulnerable to Geohazards. Integrated work on tectonic geomorphology and geospatial techniques has been done by (Patidar et al., 2007; 2008; Maurya et al., 2021; Prabhuti et al., 2021; Kothyari et al., 2020; 2021, 2022; Sinha and Sinha, 2016) in various basins of India. The active deformation in the region is not only deforming and displacing the first order of topography but because of sheared and crushed nature of rocks the hill slope instability within the wide zone of MBT is another strong evidence of active deformation in the area. Tectonic geomorphology, morphotectonic investigation and active fault studies have been a focus of research owing to the catastrophic earthquakes known to mankind. However, the current state of research is about identifying variations in nature and stress regimes in complexly faulted regions between the MBT & the Himalayan Frontal Thrust (HFT). The present project is aimed at documenting such signatures within the MBT zone, where a wide deformation zone is available and studying the structural, geomorphic, morphotectonic and palaeoseismic history of the STF and MF and MBT. This region has several splays of MBT. The morphological expression SFT in the study area is marked based on satellite data investigation by various researchers (Phyllip et al., 2009). This study will largely help us better assess the vulnerability of geohazard and will highlight the seismic potential of the Sirmauri Tal Fault and MBT zone. The MBT and associate thrust are playing an important role in co-seismic deformation in this region. The study of landform deformation patterns will help future urban planning and sustainability development in the adjoining region of Dehradun.