Correct choice is (a) Existence of Favorable Gradient
For explanation: When a branch canal is connected to the main canal, the branch canal starts taking water discharge which reduces the discharge in main canal thereby reduces sediment load capacity. This leads to the deposition of sediment load which further diverts the flow towards branch canal. This process continues till all the water in the main canal gets discharged into branch canal. The prime cause of this phenomenon is due to the existence of favorable gradient in the branch canal.