Godavari River System

The river Godavari rises in the Western Ghat near the Brahmagiri Hills (Triambak) in the Nasik districts of Maharahtra at an elevation of 1067 metres. After flowing south-east for approximately 1,465 km, it empties into the Bay of Bengal at Antarvedi.

• The Godavari basin receives 84 % of its annual precicipitation during the Southwest Monsoon.

• Telanagana has about 79% of the Godavari River Catchment area.
• The Catchment area of Godavari basin in Telangana is 62,150 square km
• Godavari is India’s second larget basin and accounts anout 9.5% of the total geographical area of the country .
• The largest tributary of the Godavari is the Pranahita with about 34.87% coverage of the drainage area.
• The river forms inter-State boundaries between the States of Telangana and Maharastra, as well as Telangana and Chattisgarh.

Tributaries:

• Right Bank Tributaries: Pravara, Mula, Manjira, Peddavagu, Manair.
• Left Bank Tributaries: Wainganga, Wardha, Kadva, Penganga, Purna, Kadam, Pranahita , Indravati, Sabari, and Darna

Telangana districts  along the Godavari : 

• Niramal, Nizamabad, Jagtial, Peddapally, Mancherial, Jayashankar – Bhupalapally, Mulugu, Bhadradri- Kothagudem

Importance :

• Godavari river supports agriculture, providing irrigation to vast stretches of agricultural land in the region.

• The Krishna river originates from the Mahabaleshwar range of the Western Ghats in Maharashtra, India. The river embarks on a remarkable 1,400-kilometer journey. It flows through the states of Maharashtra and Karnataka and enters Telangana at Maktal taluka, Krishna mandal, Tangidi Village  in Narayanapet district and flows through Narayanapet, Mahabubnagar, Vanaparthi, Gadwala, Nagarkurnool, Nalgonda, Suryapet districts and flows through Kurnool, Prakasam, Guntur and Krishna districts of  AP. Downstream it splits into two bays at Puligadda (about 64 km away) and joins the Bay of Bengal at Hamsala Devi.
• The Krishna River’s flow is characterized by marked seasonal variations. It has peak flows during the monsoon season and reduced flows in the summer months. Its average annual discharge is estimated at around 2,100 cubic meters per second.

Catchment area:

• The catchment area of the Krishna River in Telangana is part of the river’s extensive basin that spans across several states. The Krishna River basin extends over an area of 258,948 km²,

Tributaries :

• Right Bank Tributaries : Bhima, Dindi, Musi, Halia, Paleru, Munneru
• Left Bank Tributaries : Tungabhadra, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, Budameru, Koina, Tammileru, Ramileru, Dudhganga and Panchganaga

Importance :

• The Krishna River holds deep cultural and religious significance for the people of India. It is revered as a sacred river, mentioned in ancient Hindu scriptures.
• The Krishna River’s substantial water flow and elevation differences make it a valuable source of hydroelectric power. Several dams and hydropower stations have been constructed along its course.
• The Krishna River supports a diverse ecosystem of aquatic and terrestrial species. Its floodplain provides critical habitat for various plants and wildlife, contributing to the region’s biodiversity.

Godavari River Dispute:

• The allocation of Godavari river waters between Telangana, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh has been a longstanding issue.
• Disputes arise over the construction of dams and barrages, as each state seeks to maximize its water utilization, leading to conflicts over water sharing.
• The Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal and Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal have been set up to adjudicate on water allocation issues, but resolution remains elusive.

Krishna River Dispute:

• The sharing of Krishna river waters between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh has been contentious, particularly concerning the Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar reservoirs.
• Disputes over the utilization of water for irrigation, hydropower generation, and drinking water supply have led to legal battles and tensions between the states.
• The Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal’s recommendations have not fully addressed the concerns of both states, necessitating continued negotiations.