Kaveri River

WHY IN NEWS?

Centre unlikely to fund Cauvery project. The State government’s plan to secure full financial assistance from the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti for its flagship project, Nadanthai Vaazhi Cauvery, may not fructify.

ABOUT KAVERI RIVER

• Kaveri (also known as Cauvery, the anglicized name and Ponni), is an Indian river flowing through the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. It is the third largest river – after Godavari and Krishna – in South India and the largest in Tamil Nadu which, on its course, bisects the state into North and South.
• The Cauvery River rises at an elevation of 1,341 m at Talakaveri on the Brahmagiri range near Cherangala village of Kodagu (Coorg) district of Karnataka.
• The river then flows through Mysore district where two islands Srirangapatnam and Shivanasamudram are formed. At Sivasamudram the river drops 98 meters forming famous falls known as Gagan Chukki and Bara Chukki.
• Tributaries of the Cauvery River
  • Left Bank: the Harangi, the Hemavati, the Shimsha and the Arkavati.
  • Right Bank: Lakshmantirtha, the Kabbani, the Suvarnavati, the Bhavani, the Noyil and the Amaravati joins from right.
• The river descends from the South Karnataka Plateau to the Tamil Nadu Plains through the Sivasamudram waterfalls (101 m high).
• The two branches of the river join after the fall and flow through a wide gorge which is known as ‘Mekedatu’ (Goats leap) and continues its journey to form the boundary between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu States for a distance of 64 km.
• The Kaveri is the basis for the Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary.
• At Hogennekkal Falls, it takes Southerly direction and enters the Mettur Reservoir.
• Immediately after crossing Tiruchirapalli district, the river divides into two parts, the Northern branch being called ‘The Coleron’ and Southern branch remains as Cauvery and from here the Cauvery Delta begins.
• After flowing for about 16 Kms, the two branches join again to form ‘Srirangam Island’.
• On the Cauvery branch lies the “Grand Anicut” said to have been constructed by a Chola King in 1st Century A.D.

Prelims Question

Q. Which among the following are right bank tributaries of Cauvery River:

1.Kabbani
2.Harangi
3.Hemavati
4.Bhavani
5.Noyil

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a)1 and 2
b)2,3 and 4
c)1,4 and 5
d)All of the above

Answer to the Prelims Question