IMPORTANT RIVERS

Dr. M.G. Sajjanar

KLE Society`s College of EducationHubballi

• India is a land of varied relief. Accordingly there are several river systems in India. The rivers play a very important role in the economic development of India. They help in the generation of hydro - electricity , irrigation and inland navigation. The river systems of India can be divided into two groups , North Indian rivers and South Indian rivers.

NORTH INDIAN RIVERS;

• They mostly rise in the Himalayan mountains and are snowfed and rainfed. They are perennial in character. There are three river systems in North India. They are the Indus, Ganges and the Brahmaputra.

• River INDUS rises near MOUNT KAILASH in TIBET and flows through narrow gorges towards the north-west in JAMMU-KASHMIR and PUNJAB then enters into PAKISTAN and reaches the ARABIAN SEA near KARACHI . The important tributaries of river INDUS are JHELUM, CHENAB, BEAS, RAVI, and SATLUJ.

• River GANGES in the Gangotri glacier. It has many tributaries . The important tributaries are YAMUNA, GOMATHI, GHAGHARA, GANDAK, CHAMBAL, SONE and KOSI. River YAMUNA joins the Ganges near ALLAHABAD. River Chambal rises in Malwa plateau and joins river Yamuna. River sone rises in the Maikala range and joins the Ganges near Patna. Along with river Brahmaputra, river Ganges flows into the Bay of Bengal.

• River BRAHMAPUTRA rises in Chemayundung glacier in Tibet and flows towords the east as “TSANG-PO”(MEANING THE PURIFIER) it enters India through narrow gorges in the north – eastern part of the Himalayas, flows towords the south and joins river Ganges and forms a common delta. It is the largest delta in the world. Its area is 51,306 sq.km.

•SOUTH INDIAN RIVERS ;

• Most of the South Indian rivers rise on the western ghats. Since, the Deccan Plateau slopes towards the east. Most of the rivers which rise in the Western Ghats, flow to the East into the Bay of Bengal. They have water mostly during the rainy season and become partly dry during summer. They are seasonal rivers and dams are constructed across them to store water. Since they flow on the slopes of the Western Ghats , they have waterfalls, which are of great help for the generation of hydro-electricity. The rivers are divided into east-flowing and west – flowing rivers.

• The important east-flowing rivers are Mahanai, Godavari, Krishna, an Cauvery. River Mahanadi rises in Siwaha range. River Godavari rises at Triambak near Nasik and has many tributaries. It is the longest river of Peninsular India. River Krishna rises near Mahabaleshwar. It has many tributaries. River Bheema and river Tungabhadra are its important tributaries. Rivers Krishna and Godavari form a single delta. It is very fertile.. River Cauvery rises at Talakaveri in Coorg district, flows towards the east and joins the Bay of Bengal. It also forms a delta. Hemavathi Simsha, Lakshman Thirtha, Kabini and Bhavani are the important tributaries of river Cauvery.

• The two important west-flowing rivers of Peninsular plateau are rivers Narmada and Tapti. (Tapi). They flow through the rift valleys. River Narmada rises on Amarkantak plateau, flows west-wards through a narrow gorge called Marble Gorge near Jabalpur and joins the Arabian Sea. River Tapti rises near Multai, flows westwards through a deep rift valley and reaches the Arabian Sea. The other west-flowing rivers are short and swift. Important among the are rivers Kali, Sharavathi and Nethravaathi. They flow through Karnataka.

•DISTRIBUTION OF RAINFALL

• The rainy season starts in India from june and lasts till September. Most parts of India get rainfall during this season . About 75% of the average rainfall of India comes during this season. By the end of May, the north – western region has high temperature and due to this, Rajasthan develops a low pressure area. This low pressure attracts the South-Eat Trade winds from the south of the equator. When they cross the equator, they change their direction according to Ferrel’s Law and they become the South –West Monsoons. The word “Monsoon”comes from the Arabic word “mousam” which means season.

• In India the South – West Monsoon season is taken to be the rainy season. The SOUTH- WEST Monsoons are moisture-laden winds and give heavy rain to a greater part of India. The peninsular shape of India divides the South – West Monsoon winds into the Arabian Sea branch and the Bay of Bengal branch. The Arabian Sea branch strikes the Western Ghats and causes heavy rainfall decreases as it adavances towards Madhya Pradesh. The eastern side of the Western Ghats becomes a rain – shadow area. The Bay of Bengal branch moves towards Myanmar, the north- eastern parts of India, foothills of the Himalayas and the North Indian plan and causes heavy rainfall. As they move towards the west, the rainfall decreases. With the exception of Tamilnadu, most parts of India get rainfall from the South- West Monsoons.

• The rainfall in India is seasonal, uncertain and unevenly distributd. Most of the rain comes during the South- West Monsoon period.Rainfall may be too much or too little. There are also long dry periods in between .

•ON THE BASIS OF THE AMOUNT OF RAINFALL , WE CAN DIVIDE INDIA INTO FIVE MAJOR RAINFALL REGIONS:

• 1.VERY LOW RAINFALL REGION;• (Less than 40 cm per year) It is found in the

Karakoram range,, northern Kashmir and western parts of Kachchn and Rajasthan ( Thar Desert) It is the region of very low rainfall in India. Royli in Rajasthan gets only 8.3 cm of rainfall in a year.

•2.LOW RAINFALL REGION ( 40 cm to 60 cm per year )

• It is found in Zaskar range , parts of Punjab and Haryana , Central Rajasthan, Western Gujarat and the rain-shadow areas of the Western Ghats.

• 3.MODRATE RAINFALL REGION: (60 cm to 100 cm per year )

• It is found over a greater part of India, excluding the areas of low rainfall and heavy rainfall. Most of the rain is from the South – West Monsoon winds.

• 4. HEAVY RAINFALL REGION • ( 100 cm to 200 cm per year )• It is found in four separate areas., namely a

narrow belt of the western coast, the eastern coastal belt, the foothills of the Himalayas and a part of north- east India.

• 5.VERY HEAVY RAINFALL REGION(Over 200 cm per year )

• It is found on the western side of the Western Ghats (Agumbe, Kudremukh), the foothills of the Himalayas, Meghalaya plateau ( Shillong plateau ) and the Andaman and the Nicobar Islands. Mawsynnram in Mghalaya plateau has recorded 1141 cm of rainfall per year and it is the place which gets the heaviest rainfall in India.

• Climate plays a very important role in the economic development of a nation, The South- West Monsoons control the agriculture of India, which is the main occupation of the people. When the monsoons fail, there is drought, and the crops also fail. When the monsoons are heavy, there are floods, they also cause destruction to life and property, Hence, it is said that “ Indian agriculture is a gamble with the Monsoons.”

•IMPORTANT CROPS

• Agriculture is one of the oldest occupations of human beings Agriculture means ploughing of the land, sowing seeds, protecting plants and obtaining crops for the use of people and domestic animals . Agriculture also includes cattle rearing, bee keeping, sericulture and poultry. It supplies the required food grains for the people, fodder for cattle and also raw materials for industries. Agriculture plays a very important role in Indian economy.

• 1. Food crops.• 2. commercial crops.• 3. plantation crops

•FOOD CROPS• THE IMPORTANT FOOD CROPS ARE PADDY,

WHEAT, JOWAR , RAGI, BAJRA, MAIE, VEGETABLS , FRUITS AND PULSES. PADDY WHEAT AND JOWAR ARE THE IMPORTANT CEREALS.

PADDY ( RICE )

• Paddy is one of the important food – grains of India. India is the second largest producer of paddy in the world, next to China. It is mainly a Kharif crop and is also grown as a Rabi crop wherever irrigation is available. It is a tropical crop and requires 25cm temperature and 100 to

• 200 cm of rainfall. Fertile alluvial soil and clay soil are suitable for the cultivation of paddy.It requires standing water till the crop is ready for harvesting, hence flat land is required. Whenever rainfall is less, irrigation is necessary.

• Paddy is grown all over India. Paddy cultivation is concentrated in the regions where favourable geographical conditions are available. The main regions where paddy is grown in India are the eastern and western coastal plains , deltas of rivers, Northern plains and the Terai regions of the Himalayas.

• West Bengal is now the largest paddy is cultivate are Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh , Madhya Pradesh , Bihar , Orissa, Karnaatak and Tamilnau.

• Though the land area under paddy cultivation is large , the yield is low. In recent years there has been great increase both in yield and production of paddy because of the use of hybrid seeds , improved methods of cultivation and irrigation.

WHEAT:

• Wheat occupies the second place in India with regards to production and area under cultivation. It is mainly a Rabi crop of India. It is one of the oldest crops introduced in India from West Asia. It requires 10:c it 15’C Temperature , and 50 to 70 cm of rainfall . Wheat grows well in black cotton soil and clay soil.

• Wheat is largely grown in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Punjab is called the wheat granary of India. Madhya Pradesh. Bihar , Rajasthan, Gujarat, northern parts of Karnataka and Maharashtra are the other wheat growing states. Uttar Pradesh stands first in the production of wheat. High yielding varieties of wheat and irrigation facilities have helped in the increase of production of wheat . India stands fourth in the production of wheat in the world.

COMMERCIAL CROPS

• Commercial crops mostly provide raw materials for industries. The production of these crops is a source of foreign exchange . The important commercial crops of India are sugarcane , cotton , jute, oil-seeds , tea, coffee, tobacco and spices.

SUGARCANE:

• Sugarcane is the chief commercial crop of India . India occupies the second place in the world in the production of sugarcane,. Sugarcane is used as a raw material in the production of sugar , jiggery, alcohol and in paper industry.

• Sugarcane is an annual and irrigated crop. It requires hot and humid climate with 21 cm to 26 cm temperature and 100 to 150 cm of rainfall . It grows well in alluvial and black soil.

• Sugarcane is grown in almost all parts of the country. Uttar Pradesh had been the largest producer of sugarcane in the country. The other states which grow sugarcane are Maharashtra Tamilnadu, Karnaatak , Andhra Pradesh,, Orissa, Gujarat and Mashya Pradesh. The yield of sugarcane is higher in South India than in North India.

COTTON:• These are the important fibre crops of India.

Cotton is a tropical crop. It requires 20 cm to 25 cm temperature and 75 to 100 cm of annual rainfall. The yield of cotton is high where irrigation facilities are available and rainfall is moderate.. It grows well in alluvial , red and black

• It grows well in alluvial , red and black producing states are Maharashtra , Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh . India grows mostly short and medium staple cotton. Long staple cotton is grown in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Tamilnadu, and Uttar Pradesh.

•MINERAL RESOURCES:

• India has a variety of mineral resources which play a very important role in the industrial development of the country. Our mineral resources satisfy our internal demands and also bring foreign exchange through exports

• India has large deposits of iron ore, manganese ore and bauxite ore. India has a virtual monopoly over mica. India is self – sufficient in coal but coking coal is limited. India has small deposits of zinc , copper, lead , and gold. It lacks sulphur and is poor in the production of petroleum and natural gas. We have small deposits of minerals required for nuclear energy.

IRON ORE:

• India has some of the world’s largest reserves of iron ore. India stands second, next to Russia,in iron ore reserves in the world. The two important types of iron ore available in India are hematite and magnetite.

• Orissa and Jharkhand have the largest iron ore deposits in India. The richest iron ore belt is the U-shaped range from Singhbhum district in Jharkhand passing through Keonzarghar. Mayurbhanj and Sundargarh districts in Orissa. The ore is hematite ore with 60-65 % of iron.

• Raipur , Durg and Bastar districts of Chhattisgarh are noted for iron ore production. There are iron ore reserves in Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu and Karnatake. Kemmangundi in Chikkamagalur district. Hospet and Sandhur in Bellary district in Karnataka have hematite ore. In recent years magnetite ore has been mined at Kudermukh in Karnataka. Maharahtra also has some iron ore deposits.

• The iron ore produced in India is used by the iron and Steel plants located in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh , West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

• India exports iron ore to Japan and other countries, thus earning foreign exchange. Japan imports 55% of the total iron ore produced in India. Iron ore is exported through the ports of Marmagoa, Mangalore, Vishakhapatnam, Paradeep and Haldia. The other countries which import iron ore from India are China , Italy, Iran etc.

BAUXITE ORE:• Bauxite is a raw material used in the

production of aluminum. Aluminum is light, low priced, resistant to corrosion and a good conductor of heat. It is used right from household utensils to artificial satellites. It is called a wonder metal. Bauxite is widely distributed in India, especially in the laterite rocks of peninsular India and Meghalaya

• Bauxite deposits are found in Orissa, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Tamilnadu, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. India exports bauxite mainly to Japan. The other countries that import bauxite from India are Britain, Germany and Italy.

•POWER RESOURCES:

• Power resources are among the most important natural resources and are very essential for the economic development of a country . Coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydro –electric power and nuclear power are some of the important power resources. The other power resources are solar energy, wind energy, tidal energy, geothermal energy and biogas.

COAL:• Coal is the most important source of energy in

india. About 98% of India’s coal belongs to the Gondwana Age. During this period. Luxuriant forests were submerged and after millions of years, due to a lot of heat and pressure, they were converted into coal. Coal is not only a power resource but it also provides many bi-products. Coal is known as “Black diamond “ Anthracite and Bituminious coal are the two important kinds of coal.

• The coalfields in India are widely distributed in Damodar river valley. Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal states produce 89 % of India ‘s coal. Chhattisgarh has the largest coal deposits. Jharia, Bokaro ,Giridih and Karanpura are important coalfields.

• Jharia has the best coking coal, which is required for the smelting of iron ore. It is the largest producer of coking coal in India. Raniganj coalfield is the largest coalfield in India. Coal is in great demand for railway engines, ships, and for the production of thermal energy.

• The river valleys of Godavari, Mahanadi, Sone and Wardha have smallr coalfields . The important coalfields are Sohagpur of Madhya Pradesh and Korba of Chhattisgarh.

There are also coalfields in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa. Indian coal is poor in quality. The superior coking coal is used for smelting iron ore and the inferior coal is used for the production of thermal energy.