Background:
The Department of Geology of HNB Garhwal University was initiated at its Srinagar campus, in October 1975. The campus is located in the interior of Himalaya, from where even the less accessible areas could be approached. In the beginning only B. Sc teaching was there, M. Sc. Classes commenced in 1977, while research work was initiated in 1979. Since 1979, about 29 batches of M. Sc. students have passed out, and so far about 550 students have obtained M. Sc. Degree in geology, over 4000 students have been graduated with Geology as one subject and 47 scholars have received doctorate degree from this department.
Teaching:
The B. Sc. syllabi is modified and updated after every 5 years, besides minor modification, through the annual meeting of Board of Studies. Now, as per directions of the government of Uttaranchal, a common syllabus of B. Sc. level has been adopted for both Kumaon and Garhwal University w.e.f. July 2002. In 1994, a new course of rural technology was introduced at B. Sc. level, under the vocationalisation of education program of the UGC.
In the beginning a special paper- sedimentology was offered at M. Sc. level. Dissertation was also introduced in 1995. We also offer students specialization in environmental geology, glaciology, remote sensing, micropaleontology and petroleum geology. Now Rural Technology is a separate Department running a PG Diploma course. The Department has also proposed a PG Diploma course in Disaster management, which will be introduced in this department, after sanction from the government of Uttaranchal, is obtained. Now, the M. Sc. syllabi has been modified and adapted following the UGC guidelines in this regard.
Plans of Department for next five years:
A. P.G. Diploma in Disaster Management:
It is well known fact that Uttarakhand, being a Himalayan State, is multi-hazard prone regions of the country. Considering the importance of the disaster management for the region, the department is planning to start One year P. G. Diploma in Disaster Management
B. Applied Geomorphology:
The qualitative and quantitative analyses of landforms are useful in:
i.Construction of river valley projects, highways and townships etc. mainly for the selection of suitable sites and alignments.
ii. Mitigation of natural hazards, likes earthquake, cloudburst followed by snow and debris avalanche, landslides, floods and soil erosion etc. These hazards frequently occur in Uttaranchal Himalaya. Department of Geology has already carried out landslide hazard zonation and Quaternary geomorphological mapping in Alaknanda catchment and it is in progress in the Bhagirathi catchment. Several zones vulnerable to landslides have been identified and remedial measures based on causative factors of natural hazards have been suggested. Department proposes similar work in entire Uttaranchal Himalaya.
iii. Himalaya is still tectonically very active as the Indian Plate is moving underneath the Tibetan plate as evidenced by neotectonic activities viz. uplift and dislocation of structures, river terraces and other landforms, and reactivation of faults zones. Etc. based on remote sensing and morphometric techniques, these landforms can be monitored to derive useful data for future planning. Department has already initiated such studies to derive useful data for future planning. Department has already initiated such studies.
The Department of Geology of HNB Garhwal University was initiated at its Srinagar campus, in October 1975. The campus is located in the interior of Himalaya, from where even the less accessible areas could be approached. In the beginning only B. Sc teaching was there, M. Sc. Classes commenced in 1977, while research work was initiated in 1979. Since 1979, about 29 batches of M. Sc. students have passed out, and so far about 550 students have obtained M. Sc. Degree in geology, over 4000 students have been graduated with Geology as one subject and 47 scholars have received doctorate degree from this department.
Teaching:
The B. Sc. syllabi is modified and updated after every 5 years, besides minor modification, through the annual meeting of Board of Studies. Now, as per directions of the government of Uttaranchal, a common syllabus of B. Sc. level has been adopted for both Kumaon and Garhwal University w.e.f. July 2002. In 1994, a new course of rural technology was introduced at B. Sc. level, under the vocationalisation of education program of the UGC.
In the beginning a special paper- sedimentology was offered at M. Sc. level. Dissertation was also introduced in 1995. We also offer students specialization in environmental geology, glaciology, remote sensing, micropaleontology and petroleum geology. Now Rural Technology is a separate Department running a PG Diploma course. The Department has also proposed a PG Diploma course in Disaster management, which will be introduced in this department, after sanction from the government of Uttaranchal, is obtained. Now, the M. Sc. syllabi has been modified and adapted following the UGC guidelines in this regard.
Plans of Department for next five years:
A. P.G. Diploma in Disaster Management:
It is well known fact that Uttarakhand, being a Himalayan State, is multi-hazard prone regions of the country. Considering the importance of the disaster management for the region, the department is planning to start One year P. G. Diploma in Disaster Management
B. Applied Geomorphology:
The qualitative and quantitative analyses of landforms are useful in:
i.Construction of river valley projects, highways and townships etc. mainly for the selection of suitable sites and alignments.
ii. Mitigation of natural hazards, likes earthquake, cloudburst followed by snow and debris avalanche, landslides, floods and soil erosion etc. These hazards frequently occur in Uttaranchal Himalaya. Department of Geology has already carried out landslide hazard zonation and Quaternary geomorphological mapping in Alaknanda catchment and it is in progress in the Bhagirathi catchment. Several zones vulnerable to landslides have been identified and remedial measures based on causative factors of natural hazards have been suggested. Department proposes similar work in entire Uttaranchal Himalaya.
iii. Himalaya is still tectonically very active as the Indian Plate is moving underneath the Tibetan plate as evidenced by neotectonic activities viz. uplift and dislocation of structures, river terraces and other landforms, and reactivation of faults zones. Etc. based on remote sensing and morphometric techniques, these landforms can be monitored to derive useful data for future planning. Department has already initiated such studies to derive useful data for future planning. Department has already initiated such studies.