Pariksha SaathiLesson 6 of 10 · Madhya Pradesh General Knowledge
Rivers, Dams and Lakes of Madhya Pradesh: Narmada, Tapti, Chambal, Betwa, Son
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River systems
So many rivers rise in Madhya Pradesh that it is often called the maika, the parental home, of rivers. They belong to four systems. The Chambal, Sindh, Betwa, Ken and Son flow north or north-east to the Yamuna and the Ganga; the Narmada and the Tapti flow west to the Arabian Sea through rift valleys; the Mahi also flows west, into the Gulf of Khambhat; and the Wainganga flows south to the Godavari. The Narmada and the Tapti are unusual among the big rivers of the peninsula because they flow west and form estuaries rather than deltas.
The Narmada
The Narmada rises at the Narmada Kund in Amarkantak (Anuppur district) in the Maikal range and flows about 1312 km, about 1077 km of it in Madhya Pradesh, before entering Gujarat and meeting the Gulf of Khambhat near Bharuch. Called Reva in the Puranas and the lifeline of Madhya Pradesh, it is circled on foot by pilgrims in the Narmada parikrama. Along its course are the Kapildhara falls near the source, the Dhuandhar falls at Bhedaghat near Jabalpur, where it cuts a gorge through marble rocks, the island of Omkareshwar (Mandhata) and the Sahastradhara rapids near Maheshwar. Its longest tributary is the Tawa from the south; other southern tributaries include the Burhner, Banjar, Shakkar and Ganjal, while the Hiran, Barna and Kolar join from the north. The Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal, set up in 1969, gave its award in 1979, sharing the waters among Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.
Projects on the Narmada
The Bargi dam (Rani Avantibai Lodhi Sagar) near Jabalpur was among the first major dams completed on the river. Indira Sagar at Punasa in Khandwa district has one of the largest reservoirs in India and a 1000 MW power station, and downstream the Omkareshwar project generates 520 MW; the Maheshwar hydel project lies further west. The Tawa dam on the Tawa near Itarsi irrigates the Narmadapuram plain. Madhya Pradesh receives 57 per cent of the power from the Sardar Sarovar dam in Gujarat. In 2014 the Narmada-Kshipra link began lifting Narmada water into the Shipra, the river of Ujjain; it was the state's first river-linking scheme.
Tapti, Mahi and Wainganga
The Tapti (Tapi) rises at Multai in Betul district, a name taken from Mul-Tapi, the source of the Tapi. It flows west about 724 km through Burhanpur, Maharashtra and Gujarat between the Satpura and the Ajanta hills and enters the Gulf of Khambhat near Surat; the Purna is its main tributary. The Mahi rises in the Vindhyas of Dhar district, flows through Jhabua and Ratlam into Rajasthan and Gujarat, and is known as the river that crosses the Tropic of Cancer twice. The Wainganga rises in Seoni district and flows south to join the Wardha; their combined stream, the Pranhita, joins the Godavari. The Pench, which gives its name to Pench National Park, belongs to this system.
Chambal, Betwa, Ken and Sindh
The Chambal (ancient Charmanvati) rises at Janapav hill near Mhow in Indore district and flows north through Malwa, forming parts of the borders with Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh before joining the Yamuna in Uttar Pradesh; the Shipra, Kali Sindh and Parbati are its tributaries in the state. The Gandhi Sagar dam (1960) in Mandsaur district is the first of the Chambal valley dams built jointly with Rajasthan, followed downstream by Rana Pratap Sagar, Jawahar Sagar and the Kota barrage. The Betwa (Vetravati) rises in Raisen district near Bhopal, flows past Vidisha and Orchha, is dammed at Rajghat in a joint project with Uttar Pradesh, and joins the Yamuna at Hamirpur; the Bina, Dhasan and Jamni are its tributaries. The Ken rises in the Kaimur hills, flows through Panna National Park and the granite canyon of the Raneh falls, and joins the Yamuna in Banda district of Uttar Pradesh. The Sindh rises in Vidisha district. The Ken-Betwa link was planned as the first project of the national river-linking programme.
The Son and the east
The Son rises at Sonmuda near Amarkantak, flows north and then east through Shahdol and Sidhi, and joins the Ganga near Patna; its tributaries include the Johila, Gopad and Rihand. The Bansagar dam on the Son at Deolond in Shahdol district is a joint project of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. On the Rewa plateau the Tons (Tamsa) and its tributaries drop over the plateau edge in waterfalls such as Chachai on the Bihad, Keoti on the Mahana and Purwa on the Tons.
The lakes of Bhopal
Bhopal is called the City of Lakes. The Upper Lake (Bada Talab or Bhojtal) was created in the eleventh century by an earthen dam on the Kolans river and is credited to Raja Bhoj; it remains a major source of the city's drinking water. The Lower Lake (Chhota Talab) was built in 1794 by Chhote Khan, a minister of the Nawab of Bhopal. Together they form the Bhoj Wetland, which became the state's first Ramsar site in 2002. A local saying runs: Tal to Bhopal tal, baki sab talaiya.
Key facts
- Narmada: rises at Amarkantak (Anuppur), about 1312 km long (about 1077 km in MP), flows west through a rift valley to the Gulf of Khambhat; forms an estuary, not a delta.
- On the Narmada: Kapildhara falls near the source, Dhuandhar falls and marble rocks at Bhedaghat (Jabalpur), Omkareshwar (Mandhata) island, Sahastradhara near Maheshwar.
- The Tawa is the longest tributary of the Narmada; the Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal was set up in 1969 and gave its award in 1979.
- Narmada dams: Bargi (Jabalpur), Indira Sagar (Punasa, Khandwa; 1000 MW), Omkareshwar (520 MW), Maheshwar; the Tawa dam is on the Tawa.
- The Tapti rises at Multai (Betul) and meets the sea near Surat; the Mahi crosses the Tropic of Cancer twice.
- The Chambal rises at Janapav (Mhow); Gandhi Sagar dam (Mandsaur, 1960) is the first of the Chambal valley dams built with Rajasthan.
- Betwa (Vetravati): Raisen, Vidisha, Orchha, Rajghat dam with UP, joins the Yamuna at Hamirpur. Ken: Panna, Raneh falls, joins the Yamuna in Banda.
- The Son rises at Sonmuda near Amarkantak and joins the Ganga; Bansagar (Deolond, Shahdol) is a joint project of MP, UP and Bihar.
- The Wainganga rises in Seoni district and flows south to the Godavari system; Rewa waterfalls: Chachai (Bihad), Keoti (Mahana), Purwa (Tons).
- Bhopal lakes: Upper Lake (credited to Raja Bhoj, dam on the Kolans) and Lower Lake (1794); together the Bhoj Wetland, a Ramsar site since 2002.
Quick revision
Narmada rises at Amarkantak, about 1312 km (1077 km in MP), west through a rift valley, estuary at Bharuch; Dhuandhar at Bhedaghat; longest tributary Tawa; tribunal 1969, award 1979; Bargi, Indira Sagar (1000 MW), Omkareshwar (520 MW); MP gets 57 per cent of Sardar Sarovar power; Narmada-Kshipra link 2014; Tapti from Multai; Mahi crosses Tropic of Cancer twice; Chambal from Janapav, Gandhi Sagar 1960; Betwa, Ken to Yamuna; Son from Sonmuda, Bansagar; Bhoj Wetland Ramsar 2002.