CHAPTER- II

PHYSIOGRAPHIC DIVISIONS

2.1 INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT

The Indo-Gangetic Divide is the region lying between the Ganga and the

Indus river systems in the north-western part of India. The water divide is actually

between the Yam una and the Sutlej rivers. The region is transitional in nature. To

the north-east lies the Siwalik range, stretching in the northwest-southeast direction.

The region chosen for this study is bounded by the Yam una in the east and the

Sutlej in the west, north-west. The broken Aravalli range lies in the south (Spate

et. a!., 1967).

The plains of North India differ geologically from the geologically recent

Himalayan ranges and the geologically old stable landmass of the Peninsula. The

North Indian Plain is one of the macro physical divisions of India. The basement

surface configuration has been explored through the seismic surveys and deep

borings. The surface depth increases towards the Siwaliks. The sedimentary deposit

belong to the Pleistocene and the sub-Recent time (Gupta, 1980).

2.2 REGIONALISATION

Apart from the scattered and broken Aravalli range in the south and the

Si waliks in the north, the terrain is characterised by the usual alluvial monotony.

There exists a broad physical homogeneity with some exceptions. There have been

a number of attempts to divide India into economic regions for planning. Adhering

to State boundaries, plotted on a physical map, these attempts do not, however,

seem to produce a satisfactory pattern for economic regions, even when district

breakdowns are used (Thorner, 1962). The pioneering work of regional divisions

of India was produced in 1928 (Bakar, 1928; and Stamp, 1928). Although both

independently drawn, the two schemes of regionalisation are in close agreement on

the broad regional divisions and also, in most cases, on the regional boundaries

41

(Stamp, 1967). Despite the physical homogeneity, areal differentiations exist m

terms of the drainage, soil, geology and natural relief and other physical constramts

as a whole. The influence of drainage in creating physical differences has been

overwhelming (Ahmad, 1965). While taking into consideration the physical factors

for regionalisation into geographical regions, such drainage factors can not be

overlooked.

For Indo-Gangetic Divide and the adjoining region, divisions adopted here

are, then, in the empirical tradition (Baker, 1928; and Stamp, 1928). Landforms is

the first factor to be taken into consideration, but climate and position can never

be ignored. Although the most constantly recurring factor will be the structure, the

division cannot be based on any one touch-stone- 'understanding is more important

than classification'. Region is the areal interpretation of the elemental complexes

with different degree of relationship among them. "The main attribute of a region

as a mental construct or landscape is its homogeneity to at least one criterion

distinct from its surrounding" (Mamtamyee, 1989). Drainage system shows

remarkable influence in creating physical differentiations in the Indo-Gangetic

Divide and the adjoining region. However, the drainage factor alone becomes

rational criterion of the plains classification into geographical regions. The

insignificant river Ghaggar becomes a major natural factor in differentiation of the

region from the area lying on its either side up to the point where the river itself

gets lost in the thirsty sands of the Thar. Thus, the regional scheme is tentative,

with two regions of the first order, five of the second order and fifteen sub­

divisions of the third order. However, the regionalisation scheme has been worked

out on the basis of the empirically valid rational premises for the Indo-Gangetic

Divide and the adjoining region as shown on the Fig. 2.1 as well as schematically

presented in Table 2.1.

42

Tah!e N<'. 2.1

REGIONALISATION SCHEME Indo-Gangetic Dtvtde and the Adjoining Region

FIRST ORDER REGION

I. Plain Region

II. Hilly Region

SECmm ORDER REGION

i. Sub-montane Belt

II.

Ill.

IV.

v.

East Ghaggar Plain

West Ghaggar Plain

Bagar or Sand Dunes Belt

Aravalli Outlier Zone

2.3 RELIEF FEATURES

I - PLAIN REGION

THIRD ORDER REGION

a. Sub-Siwalik Belt b. Bhaber c. Teri

a. Khadar b. Bangar c. East of Ghaggar Plain

a. Sutlcj Bet b. Upland Plain c. Ghaggar Tributary Plain

a. Lower Ghaggar and Naival River Valley

b. Bagar Tract

a. Aravalli Hills b. Aravalli Upland

Plain c. Delhi Ridge d. Yamuna Khadar

Strip (South)

The entire Indo-Gangetic Divide and the adjoining region is a plain, except

the Siwaliks in the north; and the Aravalli Hills in the south. Siwaliks are sharply

defined in the north. The alluvial plain distinguishes itself from the adjacent areas

in terms of physical constraints like high rainfall and high water-table. In the east

of alluvial plain, the Yamuna khadar tract is lying all along the right bank of the

river Yamuna. The river has been shifting its banks at will since long. The Yamuna

khadar is quite narrow in north but broadens out to about 16 kilometres in the

43

Kamal and Rohtak districts. In addition, a broad belt averaging 30 kilometres in

width is of the Bangar tract iying on the eastern and western Kurukshetra plain.

The north-western part of the alluvial plain is extensively being formed by the river

Sutlej. This plain flat land is entirely drained by the perennial river Sutlej. A Bagar

belt stretches all along the region's southern boundary from the southeast towards

the southwest.

i. Sub-montane Belt

The sub-montane belt is situated in the extreme north to the northeastern

side of the Indo-Gangetic Divide. The siwaliks stretch through the districts of

Rupnagar (Punjab) and Ambala (Haryana) and the Chandigarh (Union Territory).

A number of seasonal streams or 'chos' dot the sub-montane belt. Each 'chos' is

a broad river of sand, with a shallow ever-shifting bed (Hamilton, 1935 and Gorrie,

1948). The Morni hills and Kalesar forest are located in the north of the sub­

montane belt. The belt is comprised by the low hills of the Siwalik system. The

belt consists of the form of a broad table-land which is composed of sand, silt, clay

and conglomerates. Geologically, the rocks range in age from the Middle Eocene

to the Lower Pleistocene. The elevation of hills varies ranging between 400 to 600

metres above mean sea level (MSL) in the sub-montane belt. These hills have

steeper slopes. The slope direction is generally from the north-east to the south­

west. In such a direction, most of the rivers flow. A large number of rainfed

torrents flow down the outer slopes of the sub-montane belt which spread much

gravels and pebbles in their beds (Mukerji, 1975b). Among these streams, the

Ghaggar, the Markanda, the Chautang and the Saraswati are the important ones.

The two major perennial rivers, the Sutlej and the Yam una, pass by flowing

through the sub-montane belt. Both the rivers are providing irrigation facilities all

along the northern and western axes and the eastern side of the Indo-Gangetic

Divide and the adjoining region.

44

., i

1

./ 30(

Physiogmphic Regions lndo-<;angl'lic ()jyjd,· and lhl· Adjoining Hl'gion

q__~__.?O l".ms

Ill b

·----­----·

REGIONAL D!V I SON

F.rst Ordf'r Rcg,on S•tond Or ckr Rc9n.)(1 Th1rd Order ~Ct;JIO"I

Fig. 2.1

45

ii

c b

76

a. Sub-Siwalik Belt

The Sub-Siwalik belt is bordering the northern side of the region. Sub­

Siwalik ranges are by and large running parallel to the sub-Himalayan ranges in

west-northwest to east direction. Sub-Siwalik belt is delimited by the 300-metre

contour line. It indicates an imperceptible surface rise from the northeast to the

Siwaliks. They form a narrow belt of hills. Moreover, upto a height of about 450

metres (MSL), the plain extends without any perceptible change in slope, while

towards deep interior in sub-Siwalik belt, the height increases successively. A

contour line 450 metres high (MSL) is running almost parallel to the region's

border. Thereafter, a number of contour lines of varying height represent a sudden

increase in the sub-Siwalik ranges in the form of hillocks. These ranges are

elevated approximately from 600 metres to 1200 metres (MSL) in the middle of

Sub-Siwaliks. A contour line of 1200 metres (MSL) designates the highest

elevation of some areas in the region's bordering limit as shown in the Fig. 2.2.

The Kalesar area covers about 49 square kilometres in the eastern corner of

Y amunanagar district, whereas the Morni hills tract includes about 65 square

kilometres of low hills tract in the Sub-Siwalik formation. However, these hills

serve as a connecting link between the Sub-Siwalik belt and the plains. Morni hills

tract lies in northern part of the Ambala district. These hills are elevated to the

average height of 1065 metres (MSL). Morni tract contains a cluster of low hills

in the south whereas towards the north, the hills are much higher and are in the

shape of two ridges. These ridges are running from north-west to south-west with

many spurs branching out in different directions. The Karoh peak signifies the

highest place which is as much high as 1499 metres on the Nahan border in the

Morni hills tract (Singh, 1991 ). The southern slopes of Sub-Siwaliks have been

indented by a large number of hills torrent that flow down from the sub-montane

tract. In all these featureless alluvial expanses, micro-regional differences of slope

and undulations surface character are perceptible there. These are tracts or facets.

46

Relief Features lndo-Gan~:ctic Divid~ and th~ Adjoinin~: Rl'l(iun

o_~10~20 K.ms

REFERENCE

.A.ll1lude- 1n mctr~~

Contourl 11'\let¥1.1 1!>0 metres

Fi~:. ~-2

.,~·

47

30.

They may be associated with soil or water-table variations. They have no

agricultural significance. But broadly speaking, there are two important variations

from the norm: bhabar, terai; and their physical significance is described as

follows:

b. Bhabar

The Bhabar meaning 'porous' is simply the great detrital piedmont. In other

words, it is a pebble-studded zone of porous beds all along the Sub-Siwalik belt.

In Bhabar streams profile suddenly flattens out by the coarse detritus deposits. So,

the Bhabar is being formed by the deposits of pebbles, gravels and other such

coarse material. The Bhabar is generally a narrow belt, only 8 to 16 kilometres in

width (Singh, 1991). Its form looks like a talus cone. The nature of its slope is

steep. The Bhabar is fringing the outer margins of Sub-Siwalik belt. It is similar

to the alluvial fans or dry deltas. Rivers lose themselves while crossing them. The

water of rivers abundantly percolates in the absorbent gravels bed. 'All but the

larger streams lose themselves in the Bhabar, seeping out lower down in the

marshy, jungly and naturally terai strip'.

c. Terai

Terai is a broad longitudinal zone lying south of the Bhabar plain. The Terai

covers a great zone perhaps 20 to 30 kilometres in width (Singh, 1991 ). It is

characterised by the growth of dense forest cover. A large content of finer

sediments are being deposited by the emergent and ill-defined water channels. Terai

is a marshy zone below the Bhabar. The water of Bhabar slopes reappears in these

tracts. In Terai, water channels have low gradients but have high water-table

(ranging from a few metres to about five metres below the ground). Such

conditions gave birth to the permanently swampy and marshy areas in the Terai

tract. However, the sub-montane belt has a close tectonic relationship with the

48

Himalayas. During the latter phase of Himalayan orogeny, some of the Siwalik

folds were inverted. The middle limbs of Siwaliks were converted mto highly

inclined reversed faults or thrust-planes. Thus, by the process of thrusting, the older

Pre-Siwalik rocks of the inner Siwalik ranges are lying over the younger rocks of

the outer Siwalik ranges.

Consequently, the sub-montane belt - the Siwalik deposit is composed of

alluvial detritus of sub-aerial waste of the mountains. The unconsolidated material

was swept down by the numerous rivers and streams and deposited at the mountain

foot. Such process of denudation and deposition was very much similar in nature

to the existing river systems of the Himalayas. The sediments deposition process

resulted in the emergence of the plain. A notable difference between these alluvial

deposits is that the former made up the Siwalik system. It has been directly

involved in the latest upliftment of the Himalayan system. Siwaliks have been

folded and elevated into outermost foot-hills of the Himalayas, although the oldest

alluvium of many parts of northern region serves to bridge a gap between the

newest Siwalik and the present alluvium.

From the lithological point of view, a great richness of detrital rocks formed

the Sub-Siwalik belt. It consists of coarsely-bedded sandstones, sand rocks, clays

and conglomerates. The Sub-Siwaliks are entirely composed of Tertiary and

principally of Upper-Tertiary sedimentary river deposits or alluvial detritus. The

lower parts of Sub-Siwalik consist of fine-grained micaceous sandstones. The upper

part of the sub-Siwalik is by and large made up of an extremely coarse boulder­

conglomerates, which consist of large rounded boulders of siliceous rocks (Wadia,

1976). The most notable characteristics of Sub-Siwalik belt or Siwalik system

deposits hold the highest biological interest. Obviously, there were many factors

which have helped and associated in the development and differentiation of this

fauna. Notable among the favourable conditions were the abundance of food

supply; the presence of suitable environments as a congenial climate and water

provided by many rivers and lakes.

49

ii. East Ghaggar Plain

There is a broad alluvial plain to the east of the Ghaggar river. The alluvial

plan is mainly lying in Haryana State over a number of districts. For example,

Kurukshetra. Jind, Kamal. Sonipat and Rohtak. Alluvial plains distinguish

themselves at micro-level in terms of the geological deposition. Broadly,

geologically the alluvial plains deposition existed more or less uniformly. Even the

deposits do not resemble a single distinguishing mark of the stages of deposition.

The alluvial deposits are continuous and conformable series of accumulation of

deposits is still in progress. So, on the basis of physiography and geological age,

the east Ghaggar plain is rationally divisible into Khadar, Bangar and East Ghaggar

Plain.

a. Khadar

The Yam una Khadar lies between the present water course and old bank of

the river. The old bank runs parallel to the river throughout its greater length in the

plain. The Khadar is slightly narrow in Y amunanagar district but broadens out to

about 16 kilometres in Kamal and Rohtak districts. Though the Khadar is not very

well-marked in the south of Delhi, it broadens out somewhat in Gurgaon but

narrows down rather quickly in the South. The Khadar or newer alluvium are the

recent deposits of plains in terms of geological age, though Khadar is newer in age.

It occupies a lower level as compared to the Bangar. The formation process of

khadar tract could be rationalised on the basis of fluvial cycle. For instance, the

river becomes older in age over a period of time whereas the discharged material

becomes progressively younger in age. If the bed of river is continuously sinking

downwards, the later deposits occupy a lower position along its basin in

comparison to the former which existed at the upper position. The khadar also

distinguishes itself from the Bangar in terms of organic matters. A number of

fossils are found in the khadar, chiefly of the living species, including relics of

man.

50

b. Bangar

The Bangar, or old alluvium, belongs to the Middle Pleistocene of geological

age. The Bangar is older in geological age as compared to the Khadar. Bangar

occupies higher ground in comparison to the recent Khadar. So, this area stands

above the level of flood plain. The soils of Bangar are a composition of the

irregular limy calcareous Kankar and of a fairly stiff clayey contents. At places,

there may be as much as 30 per cent of calcareous matter in the alluvium. The

Bangar is locally termed by the word "Dhaia" (Spate et. al., 1967).

c. East Ghaggar Plain

A broad belt of alluvial plain lies to the east of Ghaggar river. This alluvial

flat plain is located in-between the Bagar and the Bangar alluvial tracts. It is

mainly drained by non-perennial river Ghaggar during monsoon season only and

rest of the year by the river Yam una. The water-table is deep seated in comparison

to the Khadar and Bangar tracts and the northern part of the region. Semi-arid type

of climate prevails in the east of Ghaggar alluvial plains. However, the alluvial

plain to the east of Ghaggar, with a comparatively higher rainfall and higher water­

table is quite distinct from much of the sub-montane belt and the western Ghaggar

plain.

iii. West Ghaggar Plain

To the west of Ghaggar river, there exists another broader alluvial plain tract

in the region. The western Ghaggar alluvial plain is mainly lying in the south of

Punjab State and spreads over a number of districts, namely, the Ferozpur,

Faridkot, Ludhiana, Patila, Sangrur and Bhatinda. A number of physical and

geological attributes, distinguishingly mark micro-level variation in the western

Ghaggar plains. The major part of the alluvial plain to the west of Ghaggar suffers

from lack of surface drainage except in the east where the river Ghaggar and its

51

I

seasonal tributaries i.e. the Dangri. Markanda and Saraswati etc. drain the area. So,

there is a plain of tributaries of the Ghaggar river. The west Ghaggar alluvial plain

receives little rainfall in comparison to the adjoining east Ghaggar alluvial plain.

However. south of the Sutlej. the inter-fluvial zone between the Ghaggar and the

Sutlej is a broad physiographic region.

a. Sutlej Bet

The Sutlej bet runs throughout along the left bank of the river Sutlej. On an

average, it is about 10 kilometres wide. At many places, the Sutlej bet widen to as

much as 20 kilometres, whereas it narrows down to a few kilometres to the west

of Ludhiana City. The Sutlej bet is characterised by lower water-table.

b. Upland Plain

The Upland plain is a broad physiographic division of the west Ghaggar

alluvial plain. Along the river Sutlej, there is a low-lying broad belt known as the

Sutlej bet. The Sutlej bet junction with the upland plain is marked by a steep bank

varying in height from 2 to 4 metres. The Upland plain is marked by the semi-arid

climate alongwith high depth of ground water.

c. Ghaggar Tributary Plain

The major part of the alluvial plain to the west of Ghaggar suffers from lack

of surface drainage except in the east where the river Ghaggar and its seasonal

tributaries drain the area. However there is a plain of the tributaries of the Ghaggar

river. All the seasonal rivers like Dangri, Markanda and Saraswati etc, submerge

while flowing down in the non-perennial river Ghaggar.

iv. Bagar or Sand Dunes Belt

The Bagar or Sand dunes belt physiography is widely characterised by an

extensive expansion of undulating plain. Bagar is a transitional zone between the

52

semi-arid plain of the region and the adjoining arid desert in its south. So, the

hagar belt in terms of climatic attributes is defined as an semi-arid zone. The Eagar

belt is primarily stretching over southern part of the Haryana State and the areas

lying adjacent to it as is shown by the Fig. 2.3. Alongwith three districts viz. the

Bhiwani, Hisar and Sirsa of Haryana State and northern and western Mahendragarh

is covered by Bagar belt. There are districts particularly covered by sand dunes

such as the southern Firozpur, Faridkot and Bhatinda of Punjab State. Only little

rainfall occurs throughout the year in the Eagar belt.

a. Lower Ghaggar and Naival River Valley

Both the lower Ghaggar and Naival river valleys are lying in the western

part of the Bagar belt. It is also termed as Sirsa tract. The lower Ghaggar and

Naival river valleys have sandy loam soil. The climate remains drier throughout the

year. A very low water-table exists in both the areas with the exception of the

Ghaggar valley where it is found somewhat at a higher level. There are flood plains

along both the rivers which submerge in water during rainy season only. Both the

rivers are seasonal.

b. Bagar Tract

The Bagar tract is one of the noteworthy consequences of alluvial deposits

of the rivers that existed there during the geological past. These deposits comprise

alternate beds of clay and sand which are very fertile from the agriculture point of

view. It is noteworthy to mention that the western part is different from the eastern

part of the Bagar in terms of presence of a number of sand dunes of varying

heights and magnitudes. Wind erosion is active and water-table is deep seated.

Thus, it is known as Bagar. In addition to this, much of the southern part of Hisar

district is sandy and characterised by shifting sand hills interrupted in places by

firmer and in parts loamy bottoms. In this part of the Bagar tract, the depth of

water is well over 30 metres. The water is frequently brackish.

53

76.

Bagar Tract lndo-(;an~:ctk Di,·idc und llw Adjoining Kt•gion

INDEX

Fig. 2.J

54

II - HILLY REGION

The Hilly region is more distinct in comparison to the rest of plains because

of physical attributes like a reversal of slope, hilly character, presence of sandy soil

etc. The Hilly region is situated in the southern part of the Indo-Gangetic Divide

and the adjoining region. The Hills are located in an area shaped'S' tract and some

of them lying scattered in the region. Broadly, the hilly region differs from the

plain's region because of the presence of Aravalli off-shoots and its slope towards

the north and undulating character. The hills form ridges stretching into southern

part of the region. They are lying nearly 90 kilometres far away in the southwest

to northeast direction in the region. These ranges are at no place higher than 525

metres above mean sea level (MSL) as is evidenced by the Fig. 2.3. Yet, this

region is generally unfavourable to habitation due to its rocky nature. A number of

small rivulets are drained to this hilly region. Among them, the Sahibi, the

Krishnawati, the Indories, the Dohan and the Landoha are worth mentioning here

as is evidenced by the Fig. 2.4.

i. Aravalli Outlier Zone

The Aravalli outlier zone is truly a cluster of ranges alternated with hills and

sand deposits. A semi-arid climate prevails in the region throughout the year. The

Aravalli outliers are stretching over southern Haryana State mainly in the

Mahendragarh, Gurgaon, Faridabad districts and Delhi. There exists a number of

distinguishing physical conditions such as the hillocks and their associated Gap­

lands and depression in the Jhajjar and northern Gurgaon-Mahendragarh tract. The

low-lying depression areas are flood-prone during the rainy season. It is associated

with the rainfall in the hills and sudden increase of water in the north-flowing

streams such as the Krishnawati, Dohan etc. In eastern Gurgaon, a narrow flood

plain lies along the river Yam una which is though broader in the north becomes

extremely narrow in the south.

55

,l 30{

\ i i I

I

·--·-

79.

Dr.1inagc s ·t lndo-Cangrtk tr ··d • ys CID I\ 1 ~ and lhl' o\d · · · JOIIIIIIg H<·gion

~ JOKm>

Fig. 2.4

75

~ .

...... \ ......

\ . ..... , .~.

/

56

~(

a. Aravalli Hills

The Aravalli Hills constitute a distinguishing physiographic unit in the

Aravalli outlier zone itself. Aravalli Hills are merely a cluster of scattered hillocks.

These are elevated with varying heights above mean sea level. On the southern

extremity of the Mahendragarh district, a contour line shows an elevai:ior. of land

upto 300 metres above mean sea level. Similarly, in the Gurgaon district, a number

of dissected hills are situated in which each one is elevated upto a height of 300

metres above mean sea level. Partially in the Bhiwani district, hills are

comparatively much higher with varying heights between the range of 300 to 600

metres above mean sea level.

Almost entire Aravalli Hills out-cropped since long back. The Aravalli Hills

belong to the most ancient mountain chain not only in India but in the world as

well (Wadia, 1976). It came into existence at the close of the Dharwar Era. During

this period, the deposited sediments in the sea were up-lifted in the form of an up­

ridge. It is formed by an upheaval of an orogenic nature. The Aravalli Hills uplifted

alongwith the Aravalli mountain-chain during the early Palaeozoic period. It is

proven by the existing evidences. In the past times, Aravallis was far greater in

proportions. It stretched from the Decan to perhaps beyond the limits of the

Himalayas.

The Aravalli range occupies as one of the oldest geo-synclines of the world.

During the Tertiary Period, the Arvalli range was peneplained. Arvalli Hills are

comprised by basal, quartzite, conglomerates, shales, slates, phyllities and the

composite gneisses. It rests with a great erosional unconformity on the schistose

and banded gneisses. Its metamorphism is variable. Such high metamorphosed

rocks are hornblende - schists and schistose conglomerates in another. There are

exposures of almost unaltered Archaean shales in one part of the outcrop. The

schists include numerous secondary aluminous and calcareous silicates e.g.

anadalusite, sillimanite, staurolite and a great many garnets. At a few localities, the

Aravalli Hills includes loades of copper, lead and zinc, with traces of nickel and

cobalt (Wadia, 1976).

57

b. Aravalli Upland Piain

The Aravalli upland plain, in 'S' shape, lies in between the Aravalli Hills

and Delhi ridges. The relief of surface is almost even. The Arvalli upland plain is

drained by a number of rivulets e.g. the Sahibi, the Krishnawati, the Indories, the

Dohan and the Landoha. The soil has large quantity of coarse material as sand

stone etc. The eastern Gurgaon upland plain is characterised by the existence of a

significant irrigation infrastructure.

c. Delhi Ridge

The Delhi ridge is lying in the north-eastern extremity of the Hilly region.

In other words, the Delhi ridges are mainly lying in the Delhi. There are found a

number of scattered hillocks in Delhi. These are elevated with varying heights upto

300 metres above mean sea level. These hills are geologically termed as the Delhi

System. The Delhi System hills originally belong to the Aravallis which are lying

in the form of dissected and scattered hillocks. They have outcropped over a time.

The Delhi System comes above the Arvallis with a pronounced unconformity. The

Delhi System is rich in crystalline limestones associated with quartzites, grits and

schistose rocks. The Delhi System is now regraded as that of Cuddapah age.

The Delhi System is formed by newer sediments in comparison to the

Aravalli Strata. It has evidence of a higher grade of metamorphism and tectonic

deformation whereas in the Aravalli, they rest with a great hiatus. So this is an

anomalous metamorphism of a newer series. It is deciphered by evidences that the

Delhi Strata have been buried more deeply in their synclinal roots. Therefore, the

Delhi Strata is lying under more intensive pressures and intrusive action.

Comparatively less tectonic strain is active on underlying Aravallis which flank

towards the Delhi.

d. Yamuna Khadar (South)

The Yamuna khadar (south) running along the right bank of the Yamuna is

58

a region where the river has been shifting at will since long. The southern Yamuna

khadar is quite a narrow strip but broadens out to about 16 kilometres in Kamal

and Rohtak districts; the southern Yamuna khadar shaped as 'S' is formed by

deposition of recent alluvial soils of the river Yamuna. The ground water is easily

available at a very low level. The river Yamuna drains the area throughout the

year.

2.4 CONCLUDING STATEMENT

The entire Indo-Gangetic Divide and the adjoining region is a plain, except

the Siwaliks in the north; and the Aravalli Hills in the south. There exists a broad

physical homogeneity in the region. The regionalisation scheme, as presented

above, has been worked out on the basis of the empirically valid rational premises

for the region as a whole. Thus, the regionalisation scheme is tentative, with two

regions of the first order, five of the second order and fifteen sub-divisions of the

third order.

59