TECTONIC IMPRINTS ON RIVER MORPHODYNAMICS: INSIGHTS FROM THE BENI BASIN, WESTERN GHATS.

Abstract

The Western Ghats of India represent a tectonically active mountain chain where rivers act as 
sensitive indicators of crustal movements. A tectonically active mountain chain along India’s 
west coast, provide a unique setting to study the interaction between tectonic forces and 
fluvial systems. This study examines the geomorphic signatures of active tectonics in the 
Beni River basin, located in Lanja Tehsil, Ratnagiri District. Using morphometric analysis, 
remote sensing, and field observations, the research identifies anomalies in drainage patterns, 
knick points, river terraces, and channel morphology and sediment dynamics that reflect 
tectonic influences. The findings highlight the role of tectonic uplift and faulting in shaping 
river morphology and provide insights into long-term landscape evolution in the Konkan 
region.

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