Godavari River System

The Godavari river is the second-largest river in India after Ganges. It is also known as Dakshin Ganga. It originates from Brahamgiri hills in Timbak village of Nashik district in Maharashtra. The river flows through states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha. It also flows through parts of Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and the Union Territory of Puducherry. The major left bank tributaries of Godavari river are the Purna, Pranhita, Indravathi and Sabari covering around 59.7% of the total catchment area of the Godavari basin. The right bank tributaries of the river are Nsardi, Pravara, Sindphana, Manjira, Manair and Kinnersani. Being one of the largest rivers, it sustains millions of people. It is the resource of water for irrigation, agriculture, hydropower generation etc. The river basin provides fertile land to support a lot of crops. The ongoing Polavaram irrigation and hydropower project on the Godavari river is one of the biggest irrigation projects in India. However, it has faced criticism and controversy over issues related to environmental clearance and rehabilitation of displaced people.

The Godavari River has a rich history dating back thousands of years, with its origin deeply rooted in mythology and geological processes. The Godavari river has its origin in the Western Ghats. The river's source is Brahamagiri hills (1,067 meters above sea level) in the Trimbak village in Nashik district of Maharashtra. The river is often associated with various myths and legends, including its descent from heaven to earth, attributed to the sage Gautama's penance to purify the sins of killing a cow. The river is mentioned in ancient Hindu scriptures such as the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, and it is believed to be the bathing place of lord Rama during his exile. It is considered one of the seven sacred rivers of India and is often referred to as "Dakshin Ganga" or the Ganges of the South.

Godavari river is the 2nd largest river in India after the Ganges, with a total length of about 1,465 kilometres. It is also known as ‘Dakshin Ganga’or ‘Vriddh Ganga’. It originates in the Western Ghats near Trimbak in the Nashik district of Maharashtra, Western India and flows eastwards across the Deccan Plateau, passing through the states of Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and finally drains into the Bay of Bengal.

• Godavari basin : It is the 2nd largest river basin in India, encompassing a vast geographical area. The river flows from West to East through varied landscapes of hills, plateaus, plains, and deltas. The river flows through states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha in addition to smaller parts in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
• Rainfall pattern : The maximum rainfall (84%) received by the Godavari basin is through Southwest monsoon from June to September.
• Tributaries : The river has many left bank and right bank tributaries.
  • The longest tributary of the Godavri river is Manjira.
  • The largest tributary of the Godavari river is Pranhita.
• Floods and Droughts : The low lying areas of Godavari basins often face the issue of flooding while the Mrathwada region of Maharashtra which falls in the Godavari basin is drought-prone.

The left bank tributaries of the Godavari River are those rivers and streams that join the Godavari from the left side of its course as it flows downstream. The left bank tributaries are larger and more in number than the right bank tributaries.
The major left bank tributaries of Godavari river are the Purna, Pranhita, Indravathi and Sabari covering around 59.7% of the total catchment area of the Godavari basin.

1. Purna river :
   • Source : The river originates from the Ajanta hills within the Gautala Wildlife sanctuary in Maharashtra.
   • Length : The river is 373 Kms in length. It joins the Godavari river in Purna city.
   • Tributaries : Its left bank tributaries are Kelana river, Damna river and Lendi river and the right bank tributaries of the river are Dudhana river, Anjana river and Girija river.
   • Dams : Yeldari, Khadakpurna and Siddheshwar dams are located on it.


2. Pranhita river :
   • Source : The river originates with the merger of two rivers Wardha and Weinganga on the Maharashtra-Telangana border.
   • Length : It is the largest tributary of the Godavari river covering 34 % of the total Godavari basin. It has combined waters of Penganga, Wardha and Weinganga rivers. It travels through Maharashtra and Telangana and joins the Godavari river at Kalesaram, Telangana.
   • Tributaries : The left bank tributary of the river is Dina river and the right bank tributaries are Nagulvagu River and Peddawagu River.
     • Wardha river: It is known as ‘arrow of water’. It originates from Satpura range in Madhya Pradesh. The Upper wardha dam on this river is considered as the lifeline of Amravati.
     • Weinganga river : It originates from the Mahadeo hills of Satpura range in Madhya Pradesh.
     • Penganga river : It originates from the Ajanta range in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra. Penganga is the right bank tributary of Wardha river.
   • Dams : Kaleswaram Lift irrigation project and Isapur dam on Penganga river.


3. Indravati river
   • Source : It originates from Dhandarkanya Ghats in Kalahandi district of Odisha.
   • Length : The length of the river is 264 Kms. It flows westwards from Odisha district and then flows from Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Maharashtra states. It joins the river Godavari on the border of three states - Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Maharashtra.
   • Tributaries : The left bank tributary of the river is Nandiraj river and the right bank tributaries are Bhaskel River, Narangi River, Nimbra River, Kotri River, Bandia River.
   • Dams : Indravati dam on the river in Kalahandi is one of the biggest dams in India.


4. Sabari river
   • Source : It originates from western slopes of eastern ghats in Odisha.
   • Length : It is nearly 200 kms long and forms a boundary between Chhattisgarh and Odisha. It flows through Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh.
   • Tributaries : It has two main tributaries Sileru river and Pateru river.

The right bank tributaries of the Godavari River are those rivers and streams that join the Godavari from the right side of its course as it flows downstream. The right bank tributaries of the river are Nsardi, Pravara, Sindphana, Manjira, Manair and Kinnersani.
The major right bank tributaries -

1. Pravara river
   • Source : The river originates from Sahayadris in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra.
   • Length : It is 208 kms long and joins the Godavari river in the Nevasa town, Maharashtra.
   • Tributaries : Waki and Mahalungi are the left bank tributaries of the river and river Mula is the only right bank tributary.
   • Dams : Bhandardara dam and Nilwande dam


2. Manjira river
   • Source : It originates near the Gavalbadi village of the Beed district in Maharashtra.
   • Length : It is 724 Kms long. It flows through states Maharashtra, Telangana and Karnataka. It along with the Haridra River merges with the Godavari River at the border of Maharashtra and Telangana forming a Triveni sangam.

• Water resource : The Godavari River is one of the major water sources in India, providing water for irrigation, drinking, industrial purposes, and hydropower generation.
• Agricultural prosperity : The river basin of Godavari is highly fertile, supporting the cultivation of a wide range of crops such as rice, sugarcane, cotton, pulses, and fruits.
• Hydropower generation : The Godavari river is an important source of hydropower generation.
• Ecological diversity : The Godavari basin is home to various ecosystems including forests, wetlands and grasslands. It is rich in biodiversity.
• Economic significance : There are many urban centers in the Godavari basin including Nagpur, Aurangabad, Nashik, Rajhmundry. There are a large number of automobile industries in Nashik and Aurangabad. The basin also has some cement and engineering industries. The shale gas resources are also found in the Krishna-Godavari basin.
• Cultural significance : The river is considered one of the seven sacred rivers in Hinduism and is revered as the Ganges of the South. There are various temples, pilgrimage sites on the banks of the river.

• The Polavaram project is the under-construction irrigation and hydroelectric dam project on the river Godavari in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
• The project has been declared a national project by the Government of India. It is one of the largest and most ambitious irrigation projects in India.
• It aims to irrigate about 2.91 lakh hectares of land in Andhra Pradesh.
• The project has faced criticism and controversy over issues related to environmental clearance, rehabilitation of displaced people, and cost overruns.

The Godavari River stands as a lifeline and a symbol of vitality for the regions it flows through. It has significance in various areas from providing water for irrigation, drinking, and industrial purposes to supporting diverse ecosystems, agriculture, and cultural practices. Sustainable management practices, conservation efforts, and community engagement are essential to safeguarding the Godavari's ecological integrity and cultural heritage