Nagaland University researchers complete a GIS-based hydrological study on land use and river flow in the Northeastern Himalayas to support water resource planning.
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DIMAPUR — Researchers from Nagaland University have completed a GIS-based hydrological study that scientifically examines how geo-ecological conditions and human activities influence runoff and river flow in the Northeastern Himalayan hill region.
According to a press release, the study, titled ‘GIS modelling to investigate geo-ecological and anthropogenic impacts on runoff and river flow in the Northeastern hilly region of India’, was conducted by Dr. K Belho and M S Rawat from Nagaland University, along with Dr. Pradeep Kumar Rawat from Asian International University, Imphal.
The research addresses a critical question regarding the hydrological impact of land use change on river discharge, floods, and environmental degradation. It proposes a practical four-zone runoff classification—low, moderate, high, and very high runoff zones—to support water resource planning, flood mitigation, and integrated watershed management.
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The findings were published in the International Journal of Geographic Information System Research and Development.
The research was funded by Nagaland University through a Non-NET Fellowship and supported by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
M S Rawat, Department of Geography, School of Sciences, Nagaland University, stated, “We focused on four experimentally monitored watersheds in Kohima district. Our research team combined advanced geospatial techniques with systematic field-based hydrological measurements, which is an approach rarely attempted in the Indian Himalayas. The study generated continuous stream discharge data across contrasting land-use systems, including dense forests, open forests, agricultural lands and urban landscapes, creating one of the first benchmark hydrological datasets for the Northeastern Himalayan region.”
Dr. K Belho, Department of Geography, School of Sciences, Nagaland University, added, “Our findings reveal stark contrasts in runoff behaviour across geo-ecological systems. Dense, undisturbed forest landscapes showed a strong capacity to absorb rainfall and sustain sub-surface flows during non-monsoon months, while urban and heavily modified landscapes generated high monsoon runoff and significantly reduced lean-season flows.”
The researchers quantified these differences through runoff ratios, clearly demonstrating how increasing anthropogenic stress amplifies flood risks while weakening water availability during dry periods.
Dr. Pradeep Kumar Rawat, consultant professor at Asian International University, Manipur, said, “Our study underscores the urgent need for more instrumented experimental catchments and long-term hydrological monitoring stations across the Himalayan region. The researchers note that such infrastructure is essential for reliable flood forecasting, environmental hazard assessment and evidence-based sustainable development in one of the world’s most sensitive mountain ecosystems.”