Kaveri Cauvery | |
---|---|
Location | |
Country | India |
States | Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry |
Region | Southern India |
Origin | Kodagu, Karnataka |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | Talakaveri, Kodagu, Western Ghats, Karnataka |
• location | Karnataka, India |
• coordinates | 12°23′N75°29′E / 12.383°N 75.483°E |
• elevation | 1,341 m (4,400 ft) |
Mouth | Bay of Bengal |
• location | Poompuhar, Tamil Nadu, India |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
Length | 805 km (500 mi) [1] |
Basin size | 81,155 km2 (31,334 sq mi) |
Discharge | |
• location | Lower Caleroon Anicut (58.5 km upstream of mouth; Basin size: 78,783 km2 (30,418 sq mi) |
• average | (Period: 1998-2022)927.65 m3/s (32,760 cu ft/s) [2] 677 m3/s (23,900 cu ft/s) |
• minimum | 144 m3/s (5,100 cu ft/s) [2] |
• maximum | 4,075 m3/s (143,900 cu ft/s) [2] |
Discharge | |
• location | Grand Anicut (South; 140 km upstream of mouth; Basin size: 74,004 km2 (28,573 sq mi) [3] to 75,506 km2 (29,153 sq mi) [4] |
• average | (Period: 1976-1979)400.716 m3/s (14,151.2 cu ft/s) [3] (Period: 1998-2022)1,151.2 m3/s (40,650 cu ft/s) [4] |
• minimum | 78 m3/s (2,800 cu ft/s) [4] |
• maximum | 4,916 m3/s (173,600 cu ft/s) [4] |
Basin features | |
Tributaries | |
• left | Harangi, Hemavati, Shimsha, Arkavati, Sarabanga, Thirumanimutharu |
• right | Lakshmana Tirtha, Kabini, Bhavani, Noyyal, Amaravati, Moyar |
The Kaveri (also known as Cauvery, the anglicised name) is one of the major Indian rivers flowing through the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The Kaveri River rises at Talakaveri in the Brahmagiri range in the Western Ghats, Kodagu district of the state of Karnataka, at an elevation of 1,341 m above mean sea level and flows for about 800 km before its outfall into the Bay of Bengal. It reaches the sea in Poompuhar, in Mayiladuthurai district. It is the third largest river – after Godavari and Krishna – in southern India, and the largest in the state of Tamil Nadu, which, on its course, bisects the state into north and south. In ancient Tamil literature, the river was also called Ponni (the golden mother, in reference to the fine silt it deposits). [5] [6] [7]
The Kaveri is a sacred river to the people of Southern India and is worshipped as the Goddess Kaveriamma (Mother Cauvery). It is considered to be among the seven holy rivers of India. [8] It is extensively used for agriculture in both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
The catchment area of the Kaveri basin is estimated to be 81,155 square kilometres (31,334 sq mi) with many tributaries including Harangi, Hemavati, Kabini, Bhavani, Lakshmana Tirtha, Noyyal, and Arkavati. The river basin covers three states and a Union Territory as follows: Tamil Nadu, 43,868 square kilometres (16,938 sq mi); Karnataka, 34,273 square kilometres (13,233 sq mi); Kerala, 2,866 square kilometres (1,107 sq mi); and Puducherry, 148 square kilometres (57 sq mi). [9] In Chamarajanagar district it forms the island of Shivanasamudra, on either side of which are the scenic Shivanasamudra Falls that descend about 100 metres (330 ft). [10] The river is the source for an extensive irrigation system and for hydroelectric power. [11] The river has supported irrigated agriculture for centuries and served as the lifeblood of the ancient kingdoms and modern cities of southern India. Access to the river's waters has been a cause of dispute among Indian states for decades. It was profusely described in the Tamil Sangam literature and is held in great reverence in Hinduism. The Kaveri River delta is a thickly populated delta, one which is frequently affected by tropical cyclones formed in the Bay of Bengal.
The etymology of the river was derived from the Sankethi word for "river", ಕಾವೇರಿ (kāviri), as this is the major river for the Sankethi people who live along its waters.
Marudvṛdhā is another hypothesised name for this river, meaning "the beloved of the Maruts". [12] However, this is unlikely as Marudvrdhā is also identified with a river in Punjab. [13]
The Kaveri River is also known as Daksina Ganga, the "Ganges of the South" [14] and Kaveri Amman when worshipped as a river goddess. [15] In ancient Tamil literature, the river was also called Ponni (the golden maid, in reference to the fine silt it deposits). [5] [6] [7]
The Kaveri River is a perennial, monsoon rain fed river. [16] It rises at Talakaveri, located in the Kodagu district in the Indian state of Karnataka. [17] After the river leaves the Kodagu hills it flows onto the Deccan plateau and forms two islands, Srirangapatna and Shivanasamudra. At Shivanasamudra, the river drops 91 m (299 ft) and forms the Shivanasamudra Falls, India's second largest waterfall. [17] The falls are made up of two rapids called Gagana Chukki and Bhara Chukki. [14] The river converges after the falls and passes through the Mekedatu gorge. [18]
The river enters Tamil Nadu through the Dharmapuri district and meanders until the Hogenakkal Falls. [15] From there, it flows towards the town of Salem and enters the Stanley Reservoir in Mettur, where the Mettur Dam was constructed in 1934. [14] After passing the reservoir, the Bhavani River, a main right bank tributary, joins with the Kaveri River. [18]
The river then enters the Tiruchirappalli district and eventually splits into two branches, the northern part is called the Kollidam River or Coleroon, and the southern part of the river retains the name "Kaveri". [16] After flowing for 16 km (9.9 mi) the two rivers converge and form the Srirangam Island, [18] and then further branches off into 36 different channels. [16] The river travels 765 km (475 mi) before emptying into the Bay of Bengal. [16]
Average, minimum and maximum discharge (m3/s) of the Kaveri River at Grand Anicut and Lower Caleroon Anicut (Lower Anicut). Period from 1998 to 2022. [4] [2]
Year | Grand Anicut | Lower Anicut | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(m3/s) | (m3/s) | |||||||
Min | Mean | Max | Min | Mean | Max | |||
1998 | 170 | 1,099 | 3,454 | 161 | 885 | 2,540 | ||
1999 | 289 | 1,131 | 3,778 | 285 | 864 | 2,845 | ||
2000 | 343 | 1,287 | 4,903 | 233 | 1,011 | 3,335 | ||
2001 | 258 | 1,080 | 3,348 | 309 | 948 | 3,115 | ||
2002 | 139 | 772 | 2,392 | 144 | 867 | 2,423 | ||
2003 | 78 | 667 | 2,297 | 216 | 646 | 2,100 | ||
2004 | 103 | 895 | 3,303 | 217 | 839 | 3,160 | ||
2005 | 179 | 1,012 | 3,354 | 240 | 991 | 3,873 | ||
2006 | 268 | 1,072 | 2,495 | 473 | 1,091 | 3,187 | ||
2007 | 118 | 993 | 3,308 | 324 | 1,126 | 4,075 | ||
2008 | 132 | 1,094 | 3,677 | 398 | 1,103 | 3,167 | ||
2009 | 227 | 1,040 | 3,238 | 290 | 965 | 3,301 | ||
2010 | 373 | 1,080 | 3,141 | 411 | 1,022 | 3,626 | ||
2011 | 171 | 1,163 | 3,815 | 296 | 928 | 3,014 | ||
2012 | 190 | 874 | 3,342 | 177 | 711 | 2,149 | ||
2013 | 82 | 1,043 | 3,281 | 229 | 856 | 3,127 | ||
2014 | 279 | 1,148 | 3,663 | 409 | 980 | 2,533 | ||
2015 | 559 | 1,422 | 3,816 | 407 | 913 | 2,177 | ||
2016 | 490 | 1,129 | 2,890 | 276 | 728 | 1,733 | ||
2017 | 216 | 931 | 3,586 | 154 | 671 | 1,832 | ||
2018 | 341 | 1,571 | 4,439 | 266 | 934 | 3,427 | ||
2019 | 331 | 1,473 | 4,559 | 173 | 966 | 3,070 | ||
2020 | 591 | 1,590 | 4,373 | 209 | 983 | 2,944 | ||
2021 | 478 | 1,502 | 3,935 | 257 | 988 | 3,136 | ||
2022 | 548 | 1,713 | 4,916 | 407 | 1,172 | 3,385 | ||
78 | 1,151 | 4,916 | 144 | 928 | 4,075 |
The Kaveri River has 29 major tributaries and its main tributaries include Harangi, Hemavati, Lakshmana Tirtha, Kabini, Suvarnavathi, Shimsha, Arkavati, Sarabanga, Bhavani, Noyyal, Thirumanimutharu, and the Amaravati. [18]
The Kaveri basin was formed in the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous period during Gondwana breakup and opening of the Indian Ocean. [19] Most of the Kaveri basin is made up of Precambrian rocks. The two major rock types that are found are metamorphic and igneous rocks. [18] Closepet granite is found in the upper parts of the Kaveri basin and Charnockite rocks are only found in the central part. [17]
A 2017 paper proposed that an impact structure was present in the vicinity of the Kaveri river. [20]
In Karnataka the riparian zone of the Kaveri basin is made up of two sub-zones, forest and agro-ecosystem. Over half of the basin is arable and the most cultivated crops are rice and sugarcane. [21] The Kaveri basin also has a variety of flora. Some of the major species that occur in the basin include Terminalia arjuna , Tamarindus indica, Pongamia pinnata, Salix tetrasperma , Ficus benghalensis , Ficus religiosa , Eucalyptus torticornis, and Diospyros montana . [21] Kaveri located in coorg district of Karnataka.India The Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary is located on the Kaveri River. It is a designated Ramsar site that supports many bird species including the painted stork (Mycteria leucocephala), spot-billed pelican (Pelecanus philippensis), and black-headed ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus). It is also home to the mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris), smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata), and hump-backed mahseer (Tor remadevii). [22]
In Hinduism, the Kaveri River is considered one of seven holy rivers in India. [15] There are many stories narrated in the Puranas about the origin of Kaveri as a river and a goddess. The Skanda Purana narrates that during the Samudra Manthana, or churning of the Ocean of Milk, Mohini and Lopamudra retrieved the nectar of immortality for the gods. Afterwards, Mohini became a cave in the Brahmagiri hills and Brahma took care of Lopamudra as his daughter. Later, Brahma offered Lopamudra to king Kavera, who was childless, as he was pleased by king Kavera's devotion. Lopamudra was then renamed as Kaveri. When Kaveri grew up she prayed to Brahma to transform her into a purifying river. [15]
In another legend, Lopamudra becomes sage Agastya's wife and takes on a form of water during a severe drought in south India. Sage Agastya carries her in his small brass water pot on his journey to the south. Arriving on a hill, he places the water pot on the ground, but Ganesha, in the form of crow, knocks the water pot down. The spilled water runs down the hill and onto the drought-stricken land. [23]
The primary uses of the Kaveri is providing water for irrigation, water for household consumption and the generation of electricity.
An estimate at the time of the first Five Year Plan puts the total flow of the Kaveri at 15 cubic kilometres (12,000,000 acre⋅ft), of which 60% was used for irrigation. [24]
The Torekadanahalli pumpstation sends 540 million litres (19,000,000 cu ft) per day of water from the Kaveri 100 kilometres (62 mi) to Bangalore. [25]
The hydroelectric plant built on the left of Sivanasamudra Falls on the Kaveri in 1902 was the first hydroelectric plant in Asia. [10]
The Krishna Raja Sagara Dam has a capacity of 49 tmc ft. [26] and the Mettur Dam which creates Stanley Reservoir has a capacity of 93.4 tmc ft. (thousand million cubic ft)
In August 2003, inflow into reservoirs in Karnataka was at a 29-year low, with a 58% shortfall. [27] Water stored in Krishna Raja Sagara amounted to only 4.6 tmc ft. [27]
In February 2020, Tamil Nadu assembly passed bill to declare Cauvery Delta as Protected Agricultural Zone, includes Thanjavur, Thirvarur, Nagapattinam and five blocks in Cuddalore and Pudukottai. The bill does not include Tiruchirappalli, Ariyalur and Karur which are geographically included in the Cauvery Delta. [28]
The dispute over the sharing of Kaveri River began in 1807 when the Madras Government objected to Mysore State's plans for the development of irrigation projects. [29] After initial discussions failed between the two Governments, Mysore asked the Government of India to intervene. Discussions were held again which led to a six rule agreement called the General Agreement of 1892. [29] On 16 February 2018, the Indian Supreme Court [30] said that Karnataka will get 284.75 tmc ft, Tamil Nadu will get 404.25 tmc ft, Kerala will get 30 tmc ft and Puducherry will get 7 tmc ft. 10 tmc ft will be reserved for Environmental Protection and 4 tmc ft will be reserved for Inevitable Wastage into the Sea. [31]
Acting on the Supreme Court's direction, the Centre constituted a Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) on 1 June 2018 to address the dispute over sharing of river water among Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry. [32] The central government failed to adhere with the top court's deadline of delivering a judgement within six weeks.
On 16 February 2018, the apex court had directed the government to form the CWMA within six weeks in a verdict that marginally increased Karnataka's share of Cauvery water, reduced the allocation for Tamil Nadu and sought to settle the protracted water dispute between the two states. [33]
On 22 June 2018, despite opposition from Karnataka, the Central government constituted the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) as per the provisions in the Kaveri Management Scheme laid down by the Supreme Court. [34]
The Amaravati River is the longest tributary of the Kaveri River in the fertile districts of Udumalpet, Dharapuram and Karur Tamil Nadu state, South India.
The Noyyal River is a small river in Western Tamil Nadu, and a tributary of Kaveri River. It rises from the Vellingiri hills in the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu, very closer in proximity to Kerala border, and flows through many villages and the cities of Coimbatore, and Tirupur. Then finally, the river drains into the Kaveri River at Noyyal, a village in Karur district named after the river itself. The river's basin is 180 km (110 mi) long and 25 km (16 mi) wide and covers a total area of 3,500 km2 (1,400 sq mi). Cultivated land in the basin amounts to 1,800 km2 (690 sq mi) while the population density is 120 people per km2 (311/mi2) in the countryside, and 1000 people per km2 (2590/mi2) in the cities. The area is known for its scanty rainfall and the development of the Noyyal River Tanks System to hold any overflow from the rains plus the water of the Northeast and Southwest monsoon season was ecologically important. Kausika river, which originates along the northern side of Coimbatore district in the Western Ghats along with its consequent streams, lake and pond systems is an important tributary of the river. The 173 km (107 mi) long tributary of the Kaveri River filled 32 tanks. These interconnecting tanks held the water flowing from the Noyyal.
Krishna Raja Sagara, also popularly known as KRS, is a lake and the dam that creates it. They are close to the settlement of Krishna Raja Sagara in the Indian State of Karnataka. The gravity dam made of surki mortar is below the confluence of river Kaveri with its tributaries Hemavati and Lakshmana Tirtha, in the district of Mandya.
Mettur is an industrial and tourist town located in the Salem district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is best known for the Mettur Dam which is the largest dam in south India.
Palar is a river of southern India. It rises in the Nandi Hills in Chikkaballapura district of Karnataka state, and flows 93 kilometres (58 mi) in Karnataka, 33 kilometres (21 mi) in Andhra Pradesh and 222 kilometres (138 mi) in Tamil Nadu before reaching its confluence into the Bay of Bengal at Vayalur about 75 kilometres (47 mi) south of Chennai. It flows as an underground river for a long distance only to emerge near Bethamangala town, from where, gathering water and speed, it flows eastward down the Deccan Plateau. The Towns of Bethamangala, Santhipuram, Kuppam, Mottur, Ramanaickenpet, Vaniyambadi, Ambur, Melpatti, Gudiyatham, Pallikonda, Anpoondi, Melmonavoor, Vellore, Katpadi, Melvisharam, Arcot, Ranipet, Walajapet, Kanchipuram, Walajabad, Chengalpattu, Kalpakkam, and Lattur are located on the banks of the Palar River. Of the seven tributaries, the chief tributary is the Cheyyar River.
Kallanai is an ancient dam built by Karikala of Chola dynasty in 150 CE. It was built across the Kaveri river flowing from Tiruchirapalli District to Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu, India. The dam is located in Thanjavur district, 15 km from Tiruchirapalli and 45 km from Thanjavur. It is the fourth oldest water-diversion or water-regulator structure in the world and the oldest in India that is still in use. Because of its spectacular architecture, it is one of the prime tourist spots in Tamil Nadu.
Stanley Reservoir located in Salem District of Tamil Nadu is one of largest fishing reservoirs in South India. It was completed in 1934 and was named after Lieutenant Colonel Sir George Frederick Stanley GCSI GCIE CMG, who served as the Governor of Madras from 1929 to 1934. Its main source of water is the River Kaveri (Cauvery). Three minor tributaries – Palar, Chennar and Thoppar – enter the Kaveri on its course above Stanley Reservoir. The water is retained by the Mettur Dam, Tamil Nadu.
The Kabini River(Kapila River) is one of the major tributaries of the river Cauvery in southern India, It originates near Kavilumpara in Kozhikode district of Kerala state by the confluence of the Panamaram River and the Mananthavady River. It flows eastward through Wayanad district, entering Mysore district of Karnataka, to join the Kaveri River in Mysore district of Karnataka.
The Mettur Dam is one of the largest dams in India and also the largest in Tamil Nadu, located across the river Kaveri where it enters the plains. Built in 1934, it took 9 years to complete. Maximum height and width of the dam are 214 and 171 feet, respectively. The dam receives inflows from its own catchment area, Kabini Dam and Krishna Raja Sagara Dams located in Karnataka. There is a park at the base of the dam. It provides irrigation and drinking water facilities for more than 12 districts of Tamil Nadu and hence is revered as the life and livelihood-giving asset of Tamil Nadu.
Nizam Sagar Dam is an Indian dam named after the Nizam of Hyderabad. It is a reservoir constructed across the Manjira River, a tributary of the Godavari River, between Achampet and BanjePally villages of the Kamareddy district in Telangana, India. It is located at about 144 km (89 mi) north-west of Hyderabad. Nizam Sagar is the oldest dam in the state of Telangana.
Hogenakkal Falls is a waterfall in South India on the Kaveri river on the border between Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu and Chamrajnagar district of Karnataka. It is located 46 km (29 mi) from Dharmapuri and 199 km (124 mi) from Chamrajnagar. Carbonatite rocks in this site are considered to be the oldest of its kind in South Asia and one of the oldest in the world. The Government of Tamil Nadu made a proposal to convert the falls into providing drinking water for the state.
Shivanasamudra Falls is a cluster of waterfalls on the borders of Malavalli, Mandya and Kollegala, Chamarajanagara, in Karnataka, India, situated along the river Kaveri. The falls form the contour between the districts of Chamarajanagara and Mandya. The Bharachukki Falls in Kollegala, with a height of 69 metres, and the Gaganachukki Falls in Malavalli, with a height of 90 metres, collectively form the Shivanasamudra Falls.
The sharing of waters of the Kaveri River has been the source of a serious conflict between the two Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The genesis of this conflict rests in two agreements in 1892 and 1924 between the Madras Presidency and Kingdom of Mysore. The 802 kilometres (498 mi) Kaveri river has 44,000 km2 basin area in Tamil Nadu and 32,000 km2 basin area in Karnataka. The annual inflow from Karnataka is 425 Tmcft (12 km3) whereas that from Tamil Nadu is 252 TMCft (7.1 km3).
Veeranarayanapuram Lake also Known as Veeranam Lake is located 14 km (8.7 mi) SSW in Cuddalore district in the state of Tamil Nadu in South India 1 km from Kattumannarkoil. It is located 235 km (146 mi) from Chennai, India. It is one of the water reservoirs from where water is supplied to Chennai city. The lake has a capacity to store about 1,465 mcft of water. Though the level in the Veeranam lake has dipped to 323 million cubic feet (mcft), the same amount of 180 mld was being drawn for supply to Chennai City.
Hogenakkal Integrated Drinking Water Project is a fluorosis mitigation drinking water project being undertaken at Hogenakkal, Dharmapuri district, state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is scheduled to be executed by Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board (TWAD), with funding from Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) using Tamil Nadu's share of Cauvery river water. The project aims to supply safe drinking water to drought prone & fluorosis affected Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts of Tamil Nadu.
The Hogenakkal Water Dispute is a conflict between the Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka over the implementation of Hogenakkal Integrated Drinking Water Project, whose foundation stone was laid in February 2008. The Rs. 13.34 billion project envisages water supply to 4040,000 people in the fluorosis affected Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts of Tamil Nadu.
The Upper Anaicut, also known as Mukkombu is a dam built on the Kaveri River in the state of Tamil Nadu in southern India. The regulator dam was constructed between 1836 and 1838 by Sir Arthur Cotton, a British irrigation engineer who was inspired by the architectural beauty of Grand Anaicut canal built by Karikala Chola in Kallanai of Thanjavur district in the second century.
The 2018 Kaveri River water sharing protests are a series of ongoing protests on the issue of water sharing problems from the River Kaveri between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka which are two states in India. The Kaveri water dispute has been a major controversial issue between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka over the years and the issue has been raised further with protests have been conducted across the state of Tamil Nadu by several groups including from the large pile of actors and directors who have temporarily stopped working on their projects, films over the Karnataka's sharing the Kaveri water to Tamil Nadu. The delay in establishing a Cauvery Management Board in order to share equal river share award has sparked off protests in Tamil Nadu against the Karnataka state government.
Palar is a river in the Indian states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. It originates near Guthiyalathur in Bhavani Taluk of Erode district in Tamil Nadu and forms border between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Later, it flows into the Kaveri River near Palar in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
The 2023 Kaveri River water sharing protests are a series of ongoing protests on the issue of water sharing problems from the River Kaveri between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka which are two states in India. The water dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu resurfaced in 2023, with both states demanding a greater share of the river's water. The dispute has been ongoing for decades, and has often led to protests and violence.
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