Sind River

This article is about the river in Jammu and Kashmir. For the river in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, see Sindh River.

Sind River
Sind River
Location
Country	India
Union territory	Jammu and Kashmir
Region	Kashmir Valley
District	Ganderbal
Physical characteristics
Source	34°12′14.860″N75°35′21.94″E / 34.20412778°N 75.5894278°E / 34.20412778; 75.5894278
• location	Machoi Glacier
• elevation	4,800 m (15,700 ft)
Mouth	34°11′2.382″N74°40′36.21″E / 34.18399500°N 74.6767250°E / 34.18399500; 74.6767250
• location	Jhelum river at Shadipora
• elevation	1,600 m (5,200 ft)
Length	108 km (67 mi)
Discharge
• average	290 m3/s (10,000 cu ft/s)

The Sind River or the Sindh River is a river in the Ganderbal district of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is a major tributary of the Jhelum River and is 108 km (67 mi) long.

Geography

Sind River at Gatribal

Sind seen from Duderhama Bridge

Sind Valley

The Sind River forms the Sind Valley. The source of the river lies in the Machoi Glacier at an elevation of 4,800 m (15,700 ft), east of the Amarnath temple and south of the Zoji La. ^{[1] [2]} It flows through Panjtarni (a camping site of Amarnath yatra) southwards up to Domail where it joins a tributary which doubles its flow from the Kolhoi Glacier. It then flows mostly westwards along the NH 1D and is fed by many glacial streams on its way to Ganderbal town. At Kichpora Preng it is fed by the Wangath river which flows down from the Gangabal Lake. The major tributaries of the river are: the Amarnath stream, Kolhoi Grar, Shitkadi Nallah, Gund Nallah, Surfraw Nallah and Wangath Nallah.

Surfraw Nallah is a big Nallah which joins the Sind river at Surfraw (Soraf raw). This Nallah is also known for its beauty and fish. ^[3] The Sind river is navigable from Ganderbal town. It joins the Jhelum River at Shadipora, 17 kilometres northwest of Srinagar. ^[4] The river also passes through the famous alpine hill station Sonamarg where river rafting ^[5] tournaments are organised annually by the Tourism Department of Jammu and Kashmir. ^[6] The Sind River is also the only river in Jammu and Kashmir on which three hydroelectric power plants are functional. The waters of the river are used for irrigation by way of different canals ^[7] and for domestic use.

Fish

The Sind River is the natural habitat of trout, and various other fish. The most famous among them are: ^[8] brown trout, ^[9] (Salmo trutta) rainbow trout (Oncorynchus mykiss), snow trout (Schizothorax plagiostomus), Shuddgurn and Anyour.

Ecological issues

Sind River at Benhama village

Trout and hence trout fishing are at risk along the Sind river. This is for several reasons.

The extraction of sand/bajri by engagement of heavy machines is destroying the natural habitat of trout and other fish. ^[10] Waste from the use of pesticides, DDT and insecticides by farmers kills many fish every day. The change in topography leads to the destruction of aquatic fauna of the river. In various riverine villages people catch fish through the conventional way of angling and using nets. These methods are replaced today by resorting to unconventional and illegal methods. The most ecologically destructive method is using bleaching powder, procured from officials of the PHE department. Bleaching powder not only kills fish but other aquatic life as well. This process is very common during summers, especially in the Wayil catchment area.^{[ citation needed ]}

The Fisheries Department and other government agencies have not been able to effectively intervene. Mismanagement of water diversion to power canals is another concern for the survival of fish. ^[11]

Major projects on the Sind

• Upper Sind Hydroelectric Power project 1st Sumbal. ^[12]
• Upper Sind Hydroelectric Power Project 2nd Kangan. ^[13]
• Lower Sind Hydroelectric Power project Ganderbal.
• Rangil water treatment plant. ^[14]

Major bridges

• Wayil Road Bridge of NH 1D. It is a steel structure bridge for two way vehicular traffic at a time.
• Shithkadi Bridge of NH 1D. It is a steel structure bridge for two way vehicular traffic at a time.
• Hariganiwan Link Road Bridge. It is one of the major steel bridge on River Sind for two way Vehicular traffic at time.
• Ramwari Gund Link Road Bridge is another steel bridge on River Sind & The Construction work is in progress.
• Duderhama Road Bridge, connecting Ganderbal town.
• Bamloora-Fatehpura Bridge connecting Saloora, Bamloora and adjacent villages to Fatehpura, Kujjar & District Hospital.
• Syed Kadal at Pati-Bamloora connecting adjacent villages with Kujjar, Fatehpur & Gadoora.
• Gundrehman Bridge connecting villages of Sherpathri with Gadoora & Srinagar.
• Paribal-Takenwari Bridge (under construction) connecting Ganderbal District with Srinagar and Bandipora.
• Nayaran Bag Bridge connecting Ganderbal District with Shadipora.

See also

• Ganderbal
• Ganderbal District
• Manasbal Lake

References

1. Lulu. Explore Kashmiri Pandits. Lulu.com. p. 37–. ISBN   9780963479860 . Retrieved 11 October 2013.
2. Kalhana (2001). Kalhana's Rajatarangini: A Chronicle of the Kings of Kasmi. Elibron.com, 2001. p. 12–. ISBN   9781402173486 . Retrieved 11 October 2013.
3. "Upper Sindht II, Water Resources Projects in Indus Basin". nih.ernet.in. Archived from the original on 10 July 2015.
4. "Shadipora". wikiedit.org.
5. "Sonamarg, two died in river rafting". hindustantimes.com. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
6. "Sonamarg, Kashmir-Travel and tourist guide". sonamarg.org.
7. "Geography of Jammu and Kashmir State". ikashmir.net.
8. "Gippsland Aquaculture Industry Network-Gain". growfish.com.au. Archived from the original on 20 February 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
9. Petr, T., ed. (1999). Fish and fisheries at higher altitudes : Asia. Rome: FAO. p. 72. ISBN   92-5-104309-4.
10. "sand extraction, human waste destroy trout habitat". greaterkashmir.com. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
11. "Jammu Kashmir Holidays". jammukashmirholidays.com.
12. "Upper Sindh partially resumes generation". greaterkashmir.com. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
13. "Upper Sindh Project still not working". greaterkashmir.com. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
14. "Rangil Water Treatment Plan to operate soon". kashmirnow.com. Retrieved 18 September 2008.