Chapter 03.

Drainage
The term drainage describes the river system of an area and the world’s largest drainage
basin is of the Amazon river in South America, whereas in India it is of the Ganga river. Any
elevated area, such as a mountain or an upland, separates two drainage basins, which is
called as a water divide. For example, Ambala is located on the water divide of Indus and
Ganga drainage basins.
The area drained by a single river system is called a drainage basin.
Drainage Systems in India
The Himalayan Rivers
Most of the Himalayan rivers are perennial, which means they have water throughout the
year. These rivers receive water from rain as well as from melted snow from the high
mountains. The Indus and the Brahmaputra are major Himalayan rivers. They originate from
North of the mountain ranges. These rivers are long and joined by many large and important
tributaries.
They have cut through the mountains, making gorges. The Himalayan rivers have long
courses from their source to the sea. These rivers perform intensive erosion activity in their
upper course and carry huge loads of silt and sand. These rivers form meanders, Ox-bow
lakes and other depositional features during their middle and lower courses in the
floodplains. These rivers have well developed deltas.
The Peninsular Rivers
These are seasonal rivers as their flow is dependent on rainfall. During the dry season, the
large rivers even reduced the flow of water in their channel. These rivers have shorter and
shallower courses as compared to the Himalayan rivers. Most Peninsular rivers originate in
the Western Ghats and flow towards the Bay of Bengal
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Chapter Checklist
1. Role of Rivers in Economy
2. River Pollution
3. Drainage Systems in India
4. The Himalayan Rivers
5. The Peninsular Rivers
6. Lakes
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eg. Mahanadi, Godavari Rivers etc, where as some rivers which originate in the central
highlands flow westward direction in the Arabian sea.
Some Features Made by Rivers
1. Name the river having the largest drainage basin in India.
2. Most of the Himalayan rivers are perennial. What do you understand by perennial rivers?
3. Identify two rivers which originate in the Western Ghats and flow towards the Bay of
Bengal.
4. Which rivers have shallower courses?
5. When rivers cut through mountains what feature they form?
The Himalayan Rivers
A river alongwith its tributaries may called as river system. Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra
are the major river systems of Himalayan rivers. These are discussed below
The Indus River System
1. The Indus river rises from China (Tibet) near Mansarowar lake. It flows Westwards and
enters India in the Ladakh district of Jammu and Kashmir.
2. Several tributaries, like the Zaskar, Nubra, Shyok and Hunza join it in the Kashmir region.
3. The Indus flows through Baltistan and Gilgit and emerges from the mountains at Attock.
4. The Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Chenab and Jhelum join together the Indus near Mithankot in
Pakistan.
5. The Indus flows Southwards till it reaches the Arabian sea East of Karachi port in
Pakistan.
6. It has a total length of 2900 km and it is one of the longest rivers of the world.
7. Its one third basin is located in India in the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal
Pradesh and Punjab, The rest is in Pakistan.
8. As per the Indus Water Treaty signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, India can
utilise only 20% of water carried by the Indus River System. Punjab, Haryana and Southern
and Western parts of Rajasthan use this water for irrigation.
The Ganga River System
The Ganga River System
1. This system starts as the Bhagirathi (Headwaters of Ganga) from the Gangotri glacier in
Uttarakhand. It is joined by the Alaknanda river at Devaprayag to form the Ganga. Its length
is over 2500 km.
2. At Haridwar, the Ganga emerges from the mountains on to the plains. Its major tributaries
are Yamuna, Ghaghara, Gandak and Kosi.
3. The river Yamuna rises from the Yamunotri glacier in the Himalayas. It flows parallel to the
Ganga as a right bank tributary. It meets the Ganga at Allahabad.
4. The Ghaghara, the Gandak and the Kosi rise in the Nepal Himalayas.
5. The Ganga’s main tributaries which come from the Peninsular uplands are the Chambal,
the Betwa and the Son. These rise from semi-arid areas, have shorter courses and do not
carry much water in them.
6. The Ganga flows Eastwards till Farakka in West Bengal. Here it divides into two branches
and forms a distributary known as the Bhagirathi-Hooghly (also called Hugh), which flows
into the Bay of Bengal.
7. The main stream of the Ganga flows into Bangladesh, where it is joined by the
Brahmaputra coming from Assam to form the Meghna. It flows into Bay of Bengal forming
Sunderban delta.
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Namami Gange Programme
The Namami Gange Programme is an Integrated Conservation Mission approved as a
flagship programme by the Union Government in June 2014. The objective of this
programme is effective abatement (reduction) of pollution, conservation and rejuvenation of
the national river Ganga.
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The Brahmaputra River System
1. The Brahmaputra rises in Tibet, East of Mansarowar lake. It flows Eastward parallel to the
Himalayas till it reaches the Namcha Barwa mountain (7757m), where it takes a ‘U ’ turn and
enters India in Arunachal Pradesh through a gorge. Here, it is called the Dihang.
2. It is slightly longer than the Indus and most of its course lies outside India. It is joined by
many tributaries like Dibang, Lohit etc to form the Brahmaputra in Assam.
[Link] carries very little silt and water from Tibet as it is a cold and dry area. In Assam, it carries
a large amount of water and large amount of silt because Assam is a high rainfall area.
4. It has a braided channel, in Assam, forming many riverine islands. Majuli island, the
world’s largest riverine island is formed by it. Brahmaputra overflows its banks during the
monsoon every year, causing severe floods in Assam and Bangladesh.
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Check Point 02
1. Identify the major tributaries of the Ganga river system.
2. Name the world’s largest and fastest growing delta that Is the home of Royal Bengal Tiger.
3. Name two major tributaries of the Brahmaputra.
4. Name the city located at water divide between the Indus and the Ganga river system.
5. Identify the rivers which form the world's largest delta.
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The Peninsular Rivers
The Peninsular Rivers
The major rivers of the Peninsula are the Godavari, the Mahanadi, the Krishna and the
Kaveri. They flow Eastwards and drain into the Bay of Bengal. These rivers make deltas at
their mouths.
The Tapi and the Narmada are the only two long rivers which flow West and make estuaries.
The drainage basins of the Peninsular rivers are comparatively small in size.
The important basins of Peninsular rivers are as follows
The Narmada Basin
The Narmada Basin
The Narmada rises in the Amarkantak hills of Madhya Pradesh. It flows towards the West in
a rift valley formed due to a geological fault.
All the tributaries of the Narmada are very short in length. Most of its tributaries join the main
stream at right angles. The Narmada basin covers parts of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.
The Narmada River Conservation Mission has been undertaken of Madhya Pradesh by a
scheme named Namami Devi Narmade. drainage basin and the largest delta of the
Peninsular rivers. It is also known as the Dakshin Ganga because of its length and the area
it covers.
The Godavari has many tributaries such as Manjra, Wainganga and Penganga, Purna, the
Wardha and Pranhita. The Godavari basin covers parts of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh,
Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. It drains into the Bay of Bengal.
The Mahanadi Basin
The Mahanadi rises in the highlands of Chhattisgarh and flows through Odisha to reach the
Bay of Bengal. The length of the river is about 8 6 0 km. Its drainage basin is shared by
Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha.
The Krishna Basin
The Krishna river rises from the Western Ghats near Mahabaleshwar. It flows into the Bay of
Bengal before forming a large delta. Its length is about 1400 km. The Tungabhadra, Koyana,
Ghatprabha, Musi and Bhima are some of its tributaries. Its basin covers parts of
Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
The Kaveri Basin
It rises in the Brahmagiri range of the Western Ghats and flows into the Bay of Bengal South
of Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu. The length of the river is about 760 km. Its main tributaries are
the Amravati, Bhavani, Hemavati and Kabini. The Kaveri drains in the parts of Karnataka,
Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The river Kaveri makes the second biggest waterfall in India, known
as Sivasamudram.
Lakes
Lakes are useful to human beings in many ways. They are tourist destination and also used
for sporting activities like boating, swimming, water sports, etc.
Lakes in India
India has many lakes. There are permanent as well as seasonal lakes.
Seasonal lakes contain water only during the monsoon season. e.g. the lakes found in the
inland drainage basins of semi-arid regions, i.e. the Sambhar salt lake in Rajasthan. Its
water is used to produce salt. Lakes in India are formed by different processes such as
action of glaciers and ice sheets, by wind, river actions or human activities. A meandering
river across a flood plain forms cutoffs that later develop into Ox-bow lakes. Spits and bars
form lagoons in coastal areas, e.g. the Chilika, Pulicat and Kolleru lakes.
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Fresh Water Lakes
Fresh water lakes are formed when glaciers dig out a basin, which is later filled with
snowmelt. Most of the fresh water lakes are in the Himalayan region.
The Wular lake in Jammu and Kashmir is the result of tectonic activity. Wular lake is the
largest fresh water lake in India. The Dal lake. Nainital. Bhimtal, Loktak and Barapani are
some other important fresh water lakes.
Apart from natural lakes, the damming of the rivers for the generation of hydel power has
also led to the formation of lakes such as Guru Gobind Sagar (Bhakra Nangal Project)
formed by damming the Sutlej.
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Importance of Lakes
Seasonal lakes contain water only during the monsoon season. e.g. the lakes found in the
inland drainage basins of semi-arid regions, i.e. the Sambhar salt lake in Rajasthan. Its
water is used to produce salt. Lakes in India are formed by different processes such as
action of glaciers and ice sheets, by wind, river actions or human activities. A meandering
river across a flood plain forms cutoffs that later develop into Ox-bow lakes. Spits and bars
form lagoons in coastal areas, e.g. the Chilika, Pulicat and Kolleru lakes.
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Fresh Water Lakes
2. It can also be used for developing hydel power. It moderates the climate of the
surroundings, maintain the aquatic ecosystem, enhance natural beauty, helps develop
tourism and provide recreation.
3. 71 per cent of the world’s surface is covered with water, but 97 per cent of that is salt
water. Of the 3 per cent that is available as freshwater, three quarters of it is trapped as ice.
4. Bigger lakes are called the seas, like the Caspian sea, the Dead seas and the Aral Sea.
Major rivers and lakes
Role of Rivers in the Economy
Rivers have played an important role throughout human history. Water from the rivers is a
basic natural resource essential for various human activities. They provide water for
irrigation, facility for navigation, fisheries and they provide water for domestic use like
washing, cooking, drinking, etc.
They also help to generate hydroelectric power.
River Pollution
Growing domestic, municipal, industrial and agricultural demand for water from rivers affects
the quality of water.
Flow untreated sewage and industrial waste into the rivers affects the water as well as the
self-cleansing capacity of the river.
For example, Ganga can assimilate pollution loads within 20km by its self-cleansing capacity
but due to increasing urbanisation and industrialisation, it is not possible. Various action
plans are launched by government to control river pollution.
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National River Conservation Plan (NRCP)
The activities of Ganga Action Plan (GAP) Phase-i, initiated in 1985, were declared closed
on 31st March, 2000.
The Ganga Action Plan (GAP) Phase-11, has been merged with the NRCP. Under this action
plan, pollution reduction works are being taken up in 57 towns. A million litres of sewage is
targeted to be intercepted, diverted and treated every day in this programme.
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Check Point 03
1. Identify the largest Peninsular river. Name the place it rises from.
2. Identify the salt water lake which is not in coastal area.
3. Name the river which rises in the Betul district of Madhya Pradesh and flows westward.
4. Under the NRCP how many towns have been taken for pollution reduction works?
5. How far is Ganga river able to dilute and assimilate pollution loads?
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National River Conservation Plan (NRCP)
Estuary The tidal mouth of a large river, where the tide meets the stream.
Lagoon It is a stretch of salt water separated from the sea by a low sandbank or coral reef.
River System A river alongwith its tributaries is called a river system.
Tributary A river or stream flowing into a larger river or lake.
Distributary A branch of a river that does not return to the main stream after leaving it.
Meander A winding curve or bend of a river.
Gorges Deep narrow passages with steep rocky sides through which rivers may flow.
Ox-bow Lake A crescent-shaped lake formed when a meander of a river or stream is cut off
from the main channel.
Deltas Triangular shaped alluvial deposits at the mouth of rivers where they enter the sea.
Shallower A Little depth.
Indus Water Treaty This is a water sharing treaty between India and Pakistan, signed in
Karachi on 19th September, 1960. The treaty gives India exclusive use of all the waters of
the Eastern rivers (Sutlej, Beas and Ravi) and their tributaries before the point where the
rivers enter Pakistan. Similarly, Pakistan has exclusive use of the Western rivers (Indus,
Jhelum and Chenab).
Glacier A huge mass of ice slowly flowing over a landmass formed from compacted snow in
an area where snow accumulation exceeds melting and sublimation.
Right Sank The bank of a river which is to the right while facing downstream.
Braided channel A drainage channel in which bars and islands have been deposited and
around which the river flows. Braiding occurs when the discharge fluctuates frequently or
when the river cannot carry its full load.
Rift Valley A long narrow valley formed by land between two parallel faults subsiding, often
associated with earthquake activity.
Inland Drainage Basin It refers to the point of land that absorbs water from rain or snow melt
and drains downhill into a river, lake, reservoir, sea or ocean.