Godavari River Basin

Why in news?

• A meeting of the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB) was held on 12^th October 2021 to collect the information about the Godavari Basin projects in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

More about the news:

• However, the two States stuck to their stand — Andhra Pradesh insisting on all projects in the basin in Telangana to be brought under the board purview, while Telangana opposing it on the ground that there is no need to hand over the management of projects which have clear water allocation.
• Telangana suggested that the river board take up the management of only the Peddavagu medium irrigation project on experimental basis to begin with.

About Godavari basin:

• The Godavari is the largest river system of the Peninsular India and is revered as Dakshina Ganga.
• The Godavari basin extends over states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Odisha in addition to smaller parts in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Union territory of Puducherry (Yanam) having a total area of 3 lakh Sq.km.
• The basin is bounded by Satmala hills, the Ajanta range and the Mahadeo hills on the north, by the Eastern Ghats on the south and the east and by the Western Ghats on the west.
• The Godavari River rises from Trimbakeshwar in the Nashik district of Maharashtra.
• The total length of Godavari from its origin to outfall into the Bay of Bengal is 1,465 km.

Tributaries of Godavari River

• The left bank tributaries are more in number and larger in size than the right bank tributaries.
• The Manjra (724 km) is the only important right bank tributary. It joins the Godavari after passing through the Nizam Sagar.
• Left Bank Tributaries:
  • Dharna, Penganga, Wainganga, Wardha, Pranahita [conveying the combined waters of Penganga, the Wardha and Wainganga], Pench, Kanhan, Sabari, Indravati etc.
• Right Bank Tributaries:
  • Pravara, Mula, Manjra, Peddavagu, Maner etc.
• Below Rajahmundry, the river divides itself into two main streams, the Gautami Godavari on the east and the Vashishta Godavari on the west and forms a large delta before it pours into the Bay of Bengal.
• The delta of the Godavari is of lobate type with a round bulge and many distributaries.

Mineral Resources in Godavari Basin:

• Upper reaches:
  • The upper reaches of the Godavari drainage basin are occupied by the Deccan Traps containing minerals like magnetite, epidote, biotite, zircon, chlorite etc (metallic minerals)..
• Middle parts:
  • The middle part of the basin is principally composed of phyllites, quartzites, amphiboles and granites (rocks).
• Downstream parts:
  • The downstream part of the middle basin is occupied mainly by sediments and rocks of the Gondwana group.
  • The Gondwanas are principally detritals (waste or debris, in particular organic matter produced by decomposition or loose matter produced by erosion) with some thick coal seams.
  • The Eastern Ghats dominate the lower part of the drainage basin and are formed mainly from the Khondalites.

Projects on Godavari River

• Srirama Sagar ((Telengana)
• Godavari barrage
• Prnahita-Chevala Lift Irrigation Project (Telangana)
• Polavaram  (Andhra Pradesh)
• Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (Telengana).
• Jaikwadi (Maharashtra)
• Upper Wainganga
• Upper Indravati
• Upper Wardha.

Add ons:

• Godavari basin faces flooding problem in its lower reaches.
• The coastal areas are cyclone-prone.
• The delta areas face drainage congestion due to flat topography.
• A large portion of Maharashtra falling (Marathwada) in the basin is drought prone.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

Consider the following statements:

1. Godavari basin extends over two Indian states only

2.The upper reaches of the Godavari drainage basin are occupied by the Deccan Traps

3. Peddavagu irrigation project lies in the Godavari basin

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1,2 and 3

Answer