Water Resources Of Karnataka

TALACAUVERY

Reason: The Cauvery River is the most important river of Karnataka. It originates at Talacauvery in Kodagu district and it flows 804 kms through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu eastwards and join the Bay of Bengal.

SHARAVATI

Reason: The west flowing rivers flow down steep slopes and create waterfalls and also help in producing hydro-electric power. One such waterfall is Jog Falls which is world famous.

KALABURAGI

Reason: the wells which were dug in Kalaburagi district during the 11^th century, the Tungabhadra canals of the time of Vijayanagar Empire, Vanivilasagar and the Krishnarajasagar dam constructed by the Mysuru kings are milestones in the development of the irrigation in Karnataka.

SHIVANASAMUDRA.

Reason: The hydro-electric power generating station was established in Shivanasamudra in 1902 to supply power to the Kolar gold mines and this project was constructed on river Cauvery.

KRISHNA

Reason: it is one of the main hydro-electric power projects of Karnataka which was constructed across the Krishna River.

Rivers are the main source of water in Karnataka. These rivers can be divided into two groups:

(a) The east flowing river: the Krishna, the Cauvery, the Pennar and Palar River flows eastwards and join the Bay of Bengal. The most important river of Karnataka is The Cauvery and the Krishna is the second most important river. The Pennar and Palar rivers flow through the districts of Kolar, Tamakuru and Bengaluru and then they enter Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

(b) The west flowing rivers: many of these rivers rise in Malnad, flow westwards and join the Arabian Sea. They flow down steep slopes and create waterfalls which helps in producing hydro-electric power. The important waterfalls are Jog Falls, Golak, Bandaje, Unchalli, Chaya Bhagwati etc.

The river Krishna is the second most important river in south India. It originates from Mahabaleshwar and it flows 1,392 km eastwards to join the Bay of Bengal. It flows through Karnataka for only 480 km. The tributaries of this river are Bhīma, Koyna, Tungabhadra, Ghataprabha and Malaprabha. Northern Karnataka has been benefited by the irrigation and hydro-electric power generation from the Krishna river system.

The Cauvery is the most important river in Karnataka. It is also known as the Dakshina Ganga. It takes birth from Talacauvery in Kodagu district. Its tributaries are:

Hemavathi, Harangi, Lokapavani, Arkavathi Shimsha, Lakshmanatirtha, Kapila, Suvarnavathi and Bhavani.

The artificial supply of water for agriculture is called irrigation. It is essential for the development of agriculture in places where distribution of rainfall is uneven and irregular.

The different sources of irrigation in Karnataka are:

(a) Wells

(b) Canals

(c) Tanks

(d) Tube wells

(e) Dams

The main hydro-electric power stations are:

(a) Shivanasamudra and Shimsha on Cauvery River

(b) Sharavathi, Linganamakki, Gerusoppa and Mahatma Gandhi hydro-power station on Sharavathi river

(c) Supa, Nagajhari, Kadra and Kodasalli on Kali river

(d) Varahi, and Marikanive on Varahi river

(e) Bhadra, Tungabhadra, Ghataprabha and Alamatti on Krishna River.

There are many rivers in India which flows through more than one state. Due to this, there is the emergence of water disputes regarding the use of river water. The two river disputes are the Krishna water disputes and the Cauvery water dispute in Karnataka. The river Cauvery passes through both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu due to which there is river water dispute between these two states. Same is the case for the Krishna River which too flows through different states like Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

1. Linganamakki dam—Sharavathi

Linganamakki dam Constructed by Karnataka state gov in 1964 on Sharavathi river just 6 km away from famous Jog falls.

2. Gaganachukki, Bharachukki—Cauvery river

Gaganachukki, Bharachukki waterfalls are on Cauvery river in the island town Sivasamudram. The town Sivasamudram divides Cauvery river into two parts.

3. Vani Vilas Sagar—Marikanive

Vani Vilas Sagar is a dam is also known by another name Marikanive. Constructed on river Vedavathi and also a main source of water to Chitradurga district. It is also a famous tourist spot, attract thousands of tourist on a regular basis.

4. Nagajhari— Hydro electric project

Nagjhari hydro electric project is a Karnataka state government project started in 1984.

5. Pennar—River

Pennar is a south Indian river rises in Nandi hills of Karnataka and flows eastward and ends in the Bay of Bengal.

Rivers and their tributaries are:

(a) Cauvery river- Harangi, river Hemavathi, river Lakshmanatirtha, river Kabini, river Shimsha, river Arkavati, river Suvarnavathi, river Honnuhole, the Bhavani, the Noyyal, the Amravati.

(b) Krishna river - the Ghataprabha, the Malaprabha, the Bhīma, the Tungabhadra

(c) Other rivers which run through Karnataka are the Chakra Nadi, the Varahi, the Netravathy and the Barapole.

The main hydro-electric power stations are:

(a) Shivanasamudra and Shimsha on Cauvery River

(b) Sharavathi, Linganamakki, Gerusoppa and mahatma Gandhi hydro power station on sharavathi river

(c) Supa, Nagajhari, Kadra and kodasalli on kali river

(d) Varahi, and marikanive on varahi river

(e) Bhadra, Tungabhadra, Ghataprabha and Alamatti on Krishna River.

Hindon River is a tributary of Yamuna River that originates in Saharanpur district from upper Shivalik in the lower Himalayan range. It flows between Ganges and Yamuna through Muzaffarnagar district, Meerut district, Ashpat district, Ghaziabad, Noida, and Greater Noida. It is a source of water for industrial productions.