Key Points
The second-largest river in the Peninsular region after the Godavari, the Krishna River, has several notable features:
- It courses through the states of Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka.
- Originating from the Western Ghats near the village of Jor in the Satara district of Maharashtra.
- It has significant tributaries on both its left and right banks:
- Left bank tributaries include Ghataprabha, Malprabha, and Tungabhadra.
- Right bank tributaries encompass Bhima, Musi, and Munneru.
- The Krishna River ultimately flows into the Bay of Bengal.
- The Krishna basin is renowned for its D-6 block, where Reliance Industries made the significant discovery of the largest natural gas reserves in 2003.
The Krishna River System
The Krishna River is the second-largest east-flowing river on the Indian Peninsula. It begins its journey in the heights of Mahabaleshwar, near Jor village, located in the extreme north of Satara district, Maharashtra, flowing west to eventually meet the Bay of Bengal in Andhra Pradesh on the east coast.
From an ecological perspective, the Krishna River is known for causing substantial soil erosion, particularly during the monsoon season.
The river is naturally enclosed by geographical features: the Balaghat range to the north, the Eastern Ghats to the south and east, and the Western Ghats to the west.
The river’s entire length, from its source to its outlet into the Bay of Bengal, spans an impressive 1,400 kilometres.
A significant portion of the river basin is dedicated to agricultural land, accounting for 75.86% of the total area.
The Krishna River gives rise to a vast delta with a shoreline extending approximately 120 kilometres.
Tributaries of the Krishna River
On the right bank, notable tributaries include Venna, Koyna, Panchganga, Dudhganga, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, and Tungabhadra.
Meanwhile, the left bank is enriched by the contributions of Bhima, Dindi, Peddavagu, Halia, Musi, Paleru, and Munneru.
The Koyna, although a smaller tributary, is renowned for the Koyna Dam, which played a significant role in the devastating earthquake of 1967, measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale, causing the loss of 150 lives.
Originating from the Matheran Hills, the Bhima embarks on an 861-kilometre journey, merging with the Krishna near Raichur.
The Tungabhadra, formed by the union of the Tunga and Bhadra rivers emerging from Gangamula in the Central Sahyadri, stretches for a total length of 531 kilometres. Its last significant tributary, the Musi, joins the Tungabhadra at Wazirabad, and it’s along the banks of the Musi that the city of Hyderabad is situated.
Krishna Basin
The Krishna Basin covers 258,948 km², spanning Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
Originating in the Western Ghats near Mahabaleshwar, the Krishna River flows 1,400 km before merging with the Bay of Bengal. Major tributaries include Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, Bhima, Tungabhadra, and Musi.
The region features diverse terrain, including rolling landscapes and the Western Ghats.
The basin’s annual surface water potential is 78.1 km³, with 58.0 km³ available. It encompasses 203,000 km² of cultivable land, with irrigation enhancements connecting the Krishna and Godavari Rivers.
The Krishna-Godavari delta is acclaimed as India’s “Rice Granary.”
Key Krishna River Projects
Nagarjuna Sagar Dam: it’s the world’s largest masonry dam in Telangana’s Nalgonda district. It serves irrigation, drinking water, and hydroelectric power needs.
Srisailam Dam: This border-straddling Telangana-Andhra Pradesh dam is the second-largest on the Krishna, catering to irrigation, drinking, and hydroelectric power requirements.
Pulichintala Project: A versatile endeavour encompassing a dam, barrage, and canals, supporting irrigation, drinking water, and hydroelectric power.
Handri-Neeva Sujala Sravanthi Project: Facilitating the transfer of Krishna River basin water to Andhra Pradesh’s Rayalaseema region, primarily for irrigation.
Prakasam Barrage: Located in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, it supplies water for irrigation, drinking, and industrial purposes.
