The Major Indian River Systems

Indus River System: The Indus River enters India through the Gilgit-Baltistan area of Jammu and Kashmir. It originates from the Manasarovar Lake situated in the Kailash mountains of Tibet. Numerous rivers join the Indus in Kashmir among which there are the Zaskar, Nubra, and Shyok rivers. The river system covers a total drainage region of 11, 65, 000 sq. km. The Dhar river adds as a tributary of the Indus much closer to the Chinese border. The five most significant tributaries include the Sutlej, Ravi, Jhelum, Beas, and Chenab. The existence of sand bars near the river’s mouth causes the formation of bores that generates waves to form against the direction of the river current. Before emptying into the Arabian Sea, the river meets a few more territories in Pakistan. 

Ganga River System: The river Bhagirathi orriginates at an altitude of 4100 meters from the Gangotri glacier. It flows down the Garhwal mountains to unite with the Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers in Uttarakhand. After this confluence, the river eventually grows into the main river called the Ganga. The Ganga along with its tributaries like the Yamuna, Gomati, Ghaghara, Damodar, etc. drains a total area of 10, 86, 000 sq. km. The Ganges River System has a transboundary presence over India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. The river drains into the Bay of Bengal after flowing through the State of Bengal. 

Brahmaputra River System 

At its origin in the Manasarovar Lake, the Brahmaputra River is known as the Tsangpo. In its upper course, the swift velocity of the river water deeply erodes the pathway corners which often leads to fatal threats for settlements near the banks. The river comes under the category of the world’s longest river systems by running for 3850 km. It finally drains into the Bay of Bengal as the Jamuna River in Bangladesh. 

Yamuna River System

The Yamuna River which joins the river Ganges accounts for the longest tributary in the country. The source- Yamunotri glacier is situated at an elevated height of 6387 meters within the ranges of the Himachal. Covering a drainage range of 366,223 meters, this river itself forms 40% of the Ganga River System. The river Yamuna meets with the Saraswati and the Ganga at Prayagraj, U. P. This area of confluence is a sacred spot for the Hindu devotees. 

Narmada River System 

The main branch of the Narmada River demarcates the boundary between northern and southern India. Before entering the Narmada basin in between the Vindhya and Satpura mountains, the river runs in a winding course among the Mandla hills followed by the Marble rocks of Jabalpur. Some key tributaries comprise Dudhi, Barna, Shakkar, Banjar, Goi, etc. The Narmada falls into the Arabian Sea in the Bharuch district of Gujarat. 

Godavari River System 

Godavari river is also referred to as the Dakshin Ganga due to its prominent existence in South India. The river system drains an area of 3, 12, 812 sq. km. Profound cities like Nasik, Rajahmundry, and Narsapur have developed along the banks of Godavari. Despite originating near the Arabian Sea at Nasik, the river directs its course towards the southeast. From Trimbakeshwar the river passes through four different states to empty in the Bay of Bengal. The river has developed a fertile delta near its mouth. 

Krishna River System 

Krishna river flows from Mahabaleswar of Maharashtra to Andhra Pradesh where it coincides with the Bay of Bengal covering a total length of 1300 km. Tungabhadra River originating in the Chikmagalur district of Karnataka appears as the most important tributary of the Krishna. Koyna, Bhima, Dindi, Musi, and Yerla are a few notable tributaries. From ancient ages, the Krishna River has had immense irrigational, cultural, and religious impacts in Maharashtra. 

Mahanadi River System

This river basin is prevalent over various parts of the Eastern Ghats. Although the source lies in the Baster hills of central India, the river primarily flows in the state of Odisha. Major tributaries are Tel, Mand, Hasdeo, and Seonath. Before the construction of the Hirakund dam, the deltaic region of Mahanadi used to record the highest yield per area all over India. It forms an estuary at the mouth that covers almost 9 sq. km. 

What are the causes of the Indian rivers becoming toxic? 

Several polluting factors cause detrimental effects in the river water. The Central Government has introduced strict measures to control the discharge of waste materials in the sewage. The rivers also get polluted by the release of untreated chemical dumps from small-scale factories. Fertilizers and harmful pesticides used in agricultural activities lead to poisonous residuals that hamper aquatic biodiversity. Animal husbandry is also another alarming cause of river water pollution. 

Conclusion 

The Major Indian River Systems play a crucial role in maintaining the daily activities of every Indian. They provide means of transportation facilitating trade between different states. River’s act as a source of drinking water. Hydroelectric power is being utilized more frequently to generate current over larger parts of the country. Lastly, the rivers are indispensable for irrigation and industrial operations.