- Total basin area- 2,58,948 Sq Km.
- Total length- 1401 Km
- Length of Krishna river in both Telangana and A.P 612 Km
- The source of river Krishna is located near Mahabaleshwar (Maharashtra) in Western Ghats.
- It is the 4h largest river in the Country and 2nd largest river in South India.
- The meeting place where river Krishna joins with its four tributaries in Satara district is known as Preeti Sangam/ Lovers meeting point.
- Krishna river flows through the states of Maharashtra and Karnataka and enters Telangana at Tangadi village in Maktal taluk of Narayanpet district.
- It passes through the districts of Wanaparthy. Gadwal, Nagarkurnool, Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda and Sutyapetin Telangana and Kurnool, Prakasam, Guntur and Krishna districts in Andhra Pradesh. Telangana Geography
Tributaries of Krishna
- Bheema, Dindi- Mahabubnagar
- Musi- Vikarabad
- Halia- Nalgonda
- Palair, Munnair- Warang
- Malaprabha
- Ramileru
- Ghataprabha
- Tungabhadra (Kurnool
- Tammileru
- Budameru
- Koyna
- Panchganga
- Doodhganga
Tungabhadra
- Total length of the Tungabhadra: 531 Km
- Total river basin: 74,417 Sq Km
- It is the largest tributary of river Krishna.
- Origin- Varaha parvatsór Gangamoola Hills (Karnataka) in Western Ghats.
- Varaha hills join together in Chikmagalur district of Karnataka
- Two rivers namely Tunga and Bhadra that rise in to form Tungabhadra river.
- Tungabhadra flows through Karnataka and enters Andhra Pradesh at Kosigi in Kurnool District and merges with river Krishna at Sangameswaram (Kurnool district) (near the border of Jogulamba Gadwal district).
- An irrigation and hydroelectric project was built across Tungabhadra near Hospet in Karnataka. Jogulamba temple in Jogulamba Gadwal district and Guru Raghavendra temple at Mantralayam in Kurnool district are located on the banks of river Tungabhadra.
Tributaries
- Varada river
- Kumudvathi (Kundu river)
- Hagari (Largest tributary- Handri- neeva)
- Vedavati (Pampa river)
- Tungabhadra flows through the states of Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh
- Tungabhadra river is termed as Pampa in Ramayana.
Bhima River
- It is the longest tributary of river Krishna.
- The length of Bhima ivef is 861 Km.
- It originates in Bhimashankar Hills in Western Ghats in Maharashtra.
- Total area of the river basin is 70,614 Sq Km.
- River Bhima flows through the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telangana and merges with river Krishna at Raichur.
- Tributaries of Bhima are- Kagna, Mula- Mutha, Indrayani, Ghod, Sina, Nira.
Kagna River
- Kagna river originates in Ananthagifí hills Vikarabad district
- It flows in Western direction, enters Karnataka state and falls into Bhima river.
Musi River
- Musi river is also known as Mchikunda river.
- Its total length is 250 Km.
- It rises from Ananthagiri hills near Shivareddypet in Vikarabad district.
- Largest city on the banks of river Musi- Hyderabad.
- Musi river flows through Vikarabad, Ragareddy districts and merges with Krishna river at Vadapalli in Nalgonda district.
- Musi and Esa rivers join together at Bapu Ghat (Langar Houz).
- Tributaries of Musi are- Esa, Alair, Sakalavani
- In 1920, Mir Osman Ali Khan built Osman Sagar Dam across Musi river.
- In 1927, Mir Osman Ali Khan built Himayat Sagaf reservoir across Esa river, a tributary of Musi.
- The Great Musi flood occurred on 28 September 1908.
Dindi River
Dindi river rises from Shabad hills in Mahabubnagar and passes through the districts of Mahabubnagar, Nagarkurnool and Nalgonda districts and merges with river Krishna at Eleswaram. Dindi river is also called Meenambaram.
Palair River
- The length of Palair river is 145 Km. It is also known as Palleru.
- Palair river originates at Dakshina Chinnapuram in Jangaon district and flows along the border of Suryapet and Nalgonda district and joins Krishna river at Jaggayyapeta in Krishna district.
- A reservoir is built across Palair river near Palair town in Khammam district which provides drinking water to Khammam town.
Munneru River
- The length of Munneru river is -192 Km.
- This river originates from Pakala tank located at the border of Warangal rural and Mahabubabad districts. It flows through Warangal rural, Mahabubabad and Khammam districts.
- Tributaries of Munneru are- Wyra, Katleru.
Munneru river merges with river Krishna at Eluru village in Nandigama taluk of Krishna district.
Describe the major river systems of Telangana State. Discuss their significance in the state’s irrigation and water management practices.
| Introduction | Telangana has important river systems that are crucial for its agriculture, water management, and overall development. The main rivers in Telangana are the Godavari and Krishna, along with their many tributaries. These rivers provide essential water resources that support farming and other activities. |
| Body | Major River Systems in Telangana
Godavari River: It Originates near the Trimbakeshwar Temple in Nashik, Maharashtra. It enters Telangana at Kandakurthi in Nizamabad district and flows through Jagtial, Peddapalli, Mancherial, Bhupalpally, and Bhadradri Kothagudem. · Length in Telangana: 560 km. · Key Tributaries: Manjeera, Pranahita, Indravati, Peddavagu, Kinnerasani, Sabari. · Major Projects: Sriram Sagar Project (Pochampadu) and Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project. Krishna River: It Originates near Mahabaleshwar in the Western Ghats, Maharashtra. It enters Telangana at Tangadi village in Narayanpet district and flows through Wanaparthy, Gadwal, Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda, and Suryapet. · Length in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh: 612 km. · Key Tributaries: Tungabhadra, Bhima, Musi, Dindi, Palair, Munneru. · Major Projects: Jurala Project, Nagarjuna Sagar Dam |
| Significance in Irrigation and Water Management
Ø Agricultural Support: · The Godavari and Krishna rivers are essential for watering farmlands in Telangana. Projects like the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme aim to water millions of acres, boosting crop production. · The Sriram Sagar Project and Nagarjuna Sagar Dam help irrigate large areas in northern and southern Telangana. Ø Drinking Water Supply: · These rivers provide important drinking water for both cities and villages. Manjira River is source for drinking water to Hyderabad Ø Hydroelectric Power Generation: · Dams on these rivers, such as the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam, generate electricity, helping to supply power to the state. Ø Flood Control and Management: · Dams and reservoirs on the Godavari and Krishna rivers help control and reduce flood risks, protecting people and property. Ø Groundwater Recharge: · These rivers help refill underground water supplies, which is important for areas that rely on borewells for irrigation. |
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| Conclusion | The river systems of Telangana, especially the Godavari and Krishna rivers, are vital for the state’s irrigation and water management. They support farming, provide drinking water, generate electricity, and help control floods and recharge groundwater. Proper management and use of these rivers are crucial for Telangana’s development and prosperity. As the state continues to develop its water resources, these rivers will remain central to its progress and well-being. |