Following is a brief description of some of the important river systems of the Peninsular India. 1.

The Narmada System The Narmada rises on the western flanks of the Amarkantak plateau about 22 40' N: 81 45' E (height 1057 m). It flows through a rift valley between the Vindhyan range on the north and the Satpura in the south. It forms a picturesque gorge in Marble Rocks and Dhuandhara water fall (9 m) near Jabalpur. After passing Handia and Punasa it enters the alluvial plains of Indore and meets the Arabian Sea south of Bharuch forming a broad 27 km estuary. The total length of the river is 1,312 km occupying a drainage basin area of 98, 795 sq. km 87 percent of which lies in Madhya Pradesh (cf. Gujarat 11.5% and Maharashtra 1.5%). The average annual rainfall in the river basin varies from 157 cm in the east to 76 cm in the west giving an annual water yield of 54,600 million m. It often causes floods near Mandla and Jabalpur in its upper course and Ankaleshwar aid Bharuch in the lower reaches. The river is navigable in its lower course. Amongst the tributaries of the Narmada the Hiran, Orisan, Barna and Kolar join from the north while Burhner, Banjar, Shar, Shakkar, Dudhi and Tawa meet the mainstream from the south. A giant Sardar Sarovar Project is being commissioned over the river which will provide irrigation to 18 lakh hectares of agricultural land, besides generating 1450 megawat of hydel power, and providing drinking water to 30 million people and water to neighboring industrial centers. But its ill effect over the environment and the rehabilitation of the displaced persons are impeding the early completion of the project. The Tapti rises near Multai in Betul district (210 48' N; 78 15' E) over the Satpuras (762 m). It is 724 km long and drains an area of 65,145 sq km with annual water yield of 17,982 million m3. About 79% of its basin area lies in Maharashtra, 15% in Madhya Pradesh and 6% in Gujarat. The Purna is a major tributary of the Tapi which joins the main stream near Bhusawal. Its other tributaries include Betul, Patki, Ganjal, Dathranj, Aner, Bokad, Bhokar Suki, Mor, Harki, Manki, Guli, Arunavati, Gomai and Valer along the right bank and Veghar, Girna, Bori, Panjhra, Ambhora, Khursi, Khandu, Kapra, Sipra, Garja, Khokri, Utaoli, Mona, Buray and Amravati along the left bank. The amount of rainfall in the Tapi basin area varies from 114 cm in the east to 76 cm in the west causing frequent floods in the Khandwa region and in the lower reaches. The Kakrapara and the Ukai projects have been launched to harness the Tapi water. The last 48 km course of the river is tidal and is navigable. 3. The Sabarmati System

The Sabarmati is the third largest west-flowing Peninsular rivers with a total course of 320 km and drainage area of 21,895 sq. km and annual water yield of 3,800 million m-*. It rises in the Mewar Hills (Aravallis) and flows to the Gulf of Cambay. The city of Ahmadabad is situated along the bank of the Sabarmati. 4. The Mahanadi System The Mahanadi rises near Sihawa in Raipur district of Chhattisgarh. Its total length is 858 km with drainage area of 1,41,589 sq. km (53% in Chhattisgarh and rest in Orissa) and annual flow of 66,640 million m\ The Seonath, Hasdeo, Mand, and lb are the left bank tributaries while the Jonk, Ung and Tel join it on the right bank. The basin area of Mahanadi receives in average annual rainfall of 137 cm which allows it to contribute 3.6% of the total annual water yield of the country. 5. The Brahmani System The Brahmani is formed by the confluence of the Koel and Sankh and flows through Bonai, Talcher and Balasore districts. It is finally joined by the Baitarani River before it enters the Bay of Bengal near Hansua. Its total length is about 800 km. with a catchment area of 39,033 sq. km and mean annual runoff of 18,310 million m. S. The Subarnarekha System The Subarnarekha rises a little to the southwest of Ranchi, and flows in a general easterly direction through Singhbhum, Mayurbhanj and Medinipur districts. It is about 395 km long and drains an area of 19,296 sq. km. with annual water yield of 7,940 million m3. Its drainage basin is shared by the states of Jharkhand, West Bengal and Orissa. 7. The Godavari System The Godavari, the largest of the Peninsular Rivers, rises in the Nasik district of Maharashtra (Western Ghats) and joins the Bay of Bengal in Andhra Pradesh after flowing for 1,465 km. Its catchment area spreads over 3,12, 812 sq. km., of which 49% lies in Maharashtra, 20% in Madhya Pradesh, and 23% in Andhra Pradesh. The Godavari is often referred to as Vridha Ganga or Dakshina Ganga because of its large size and extent. Its principal tributaries include the Pravara, Purna, Manjra, Penganga, Wainganga, Wardha, Pranhita, Indravati, Maner, Tal and Sabari. Among these, the Manjra, Penganga and Wainganga are the largest and together account for 1, 15,832 sq. kms of the drainage basin. It forms a picturesque gorge above Polavaram. The river is 2,750 m wide near Rajahmundry below which it splits into several branches and forms a large delta. The Godavari basin area receives an average annual rainfall between 75 and 200 cm and gives an annual water yield of 1, 18,000 million m3. It causes heavy floods in its lower reaches below

Polavaram. A number of projects are under execution to utilise the water of the Godavari system for irrigation and power generation. The river is also navigable in its lower course. 8. The Krishna System The Krishna is the second largest east flowing Peninsular River. It rises from a spring near Mahabaleshwar. Its total length of 1,400 km and drainage basin area of 2, 58,948 is shared by Maharashtra (27%), Karnataka (44%) and Andhra Pradesh (29%) states. The Koyna, Yerla, Varna,Panchaganga, Dudhganga, Ghatprabha, Malprabha, Bhima, Tungabhadraand Musi are the main tributaries of the Krishna. The Tungabhadra consists of the Tunga and Bhadra rivers which originate in the western Karnataka and join just below Shimoga. Similarly the Tungabhadra meets the Krishna river near Kurnool town. It has a total length of 640 km with drainage area of 71,417 sq. km. Another tributary Bhima commands a catchment area of 76,614 sq. km. The Krishna river has an annual water yield of 62,800 million m3which is being proposed to be utilised in a number of irrigation and power projects. Important among these include the Nagarjunsagar, Srisailam (Andhra Pradesh), Vir, Khadakwasla, Mula, Bhima, Krishna, Kaudi (Maharashtra), Ghataprabha, Tungabhadra, Bhadra, Malaprabha and Upper Krishna projects (Andhra Pradesh). 9. The Penner System The Penner rises in Kolar district of Karnataka. It occupies 55,213 sq. km. of catchment area between the Krishna and the Kaveri. It forms a gorge near Gandikota in Cuddapah district and neets the sea near Nellore town. Its principal tributaries include the Jayamangali, Kunderu, Sagileru, Chitravati, Papashni and the Cheyyeru. Its annual average discharge is 3,238 million m3. The river has no delta worth the name. 10. The Cauvery (Kaveri) System The Cauvery rises from Brahmagiri of Corgi district at an elevation of 1,341 m and flows for 805 km meeting the sea at Cauveripatnam and draining an area of 87,900 sq. km of which about 3% lies in Kerala, 41% in Karnataka and 55% in Tamil Nadu. Since the catchment area of the river enjoys rainfall both by south-west and north-east monsoons the river carries plenty of water throughout the year. Its average annual yield of water is 20,950 million m. It is joined by the Hemavati, Lokpavani, Shimsa, Herangi and Arkavati on the left bank, and the Lakshmanatirtha, Kabbani, Nuau, Suvarnavati, Bhawani and Amravati on the right bank. The river descends from the south Karnataka plateau forming the famous Sivasamudram waterfalls. Its delta (area 3200 sq. km) extends from Tiruchchirappalli to the sea coast wherein the river is bifurcated into two channels; the northern channel is called Coleroon and the southern as Cauvery.

About 90-95% potential of the river has been utilised through various river valley projects: the Krishnaraja sagar (Karnataka), Mettur, Ramasam, lower Bhawani , Velur, Karar, Vellakkoil andTiruchchirappalli (Tamil Nadu). The river water dispute sharing the Kaveri water between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu has affected the friendly relations between two neighbouring states. 11. The Tambraparni System The Tambraparni, the river of the Tirunelveli district, rises on the slopes of Agastyamalai in the Western Ghats and flows into the Gulf of Mannar. Eight kilometers inland from its present mouth laid the remnants of Korkai, the former capital of the Pandya kingdom and a great sea port. 12. The Luni System The Luni rises in the Aravallis to the southwest of Ajmer and flows through a semi-arid tract more or less parallel to and west of the Aravallis. Its length is 320 km ending on the Sahni marshes north of the Rann of Kachchh. Its main tributaries are Sarsuti, Bundi, Sukri and Jawai etc. Of these the Sarsuti rises from the Pushkar Lake. The river contains water only during rainy season. Its water is sweet only down to Balotra a few kilometres from Pachbhadra Lake.