Lumami, Nagaland : Researchers from Nagaland University have completed a pioneering GIS-based hydrological study that offers crucial scientific evidence on how geo-ecological conditions and human activities influence runoff and river flow in the North Eastern Himalayan hill region—an area historically affected by severe data gaps and ongoing global scientific debate.
The research addresses a long-contested question in Himalayan science: the real hydrological impact of land use change on river discharge, flooding patterns and environmental degradation. By integrating advanced geospatial tools with systematic field-based hydrological measurements, the study provides one of the most comprehensive datasets ever generated for this fragile mountain ecosystem.
A major outcome of the research is the development of a four-zone runoff classification model—low, moderate, high and very high runoff zones—designed to support water resource planning, flood mitigation strategies and integrated watershed management across the region.
The study has significant implications for policymakers, planners and local communities, and also serves as a transferable scientific model for other ecologically sensitive Himalayan and Indian hill regions.
Emphasising the importance of region-specific scientific research, Prof. Jagadish K. Patnaik, Vice-Chancellor of Nagaland University, congratulated the research team and noted that the work strengthens understanding of runoff patterns, flood risks and sustainable water management in fragile hill ecosystems, while supporting informed policy and long-term environmental resilience in the North East.
The research, titled “GIS Modeling to investigate geo-ecological and anthropogenic impacts on runoff and river flow in the North Eastern hilly region of India”, was conducted by Prof. M. S. Rawat and Dr. K. Belho of Nagaland University, along with Dr. Pradeep Kumar Rawat from Asian International University. The project was funded by Nagaland University through a Non-NET Fellowship and supported by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
The findings have been published in the International Journal of Geographic Information System Research and Development, a peer-reviewed academic journal focusing on GIS theory, spatial analysis and geospatial applications.
Explaining the technical depth of the work, Prof. M. S. Rawat stated that the team focused on four experimentally monitored watersheds in Kohima district, generating continuous stream discharge data across diverse land-use systems such as dense forests, open forests, agricultural areas and urban landscapes. This effort has resulted in one of the first benchmark hydrological datasets for the North Eastern Himalayan region.
Dr. K. Belho highlighted that dense and undisturbed forest areas demonstrated a strong ability to absorb rainfall and maintain sub-surface flows during non-monsoon months, whereas urbanised and heavily modified landscapes produced higher monsoon runoff and sharply reduced lean-season water availability. The study quantified these contrasts using runoff ratios, clearly linking increased anthropogenic pressure with heightened flood risk and declining dry-season flows.
Dr. Pradeep Kumar Rawat further stressed the urgent need for more instrumented experimental catchments and long-term hydrological monitoring stations across the Himalayas, noting that such infrastructure is critical for accurate flood forecasting, hazard assessment and evidence-based sustainable development in one of the world’s most sensitive mountain ecosystems.
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