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Watersheds—drainage basins or catchments—are land areas where all the water, whether from rainfall or snowmelt, drains into a standard outlet such as a river, lake, or ocean. A watershed is defined by its drainage area’s boundaries, typically marked by ridges or high ground separating it from adjacent watersheds. Watersheds vary in size from small streams to large river systems and can encompass diverse landforms and ecosystems
India’s river system is vast and complex, encompassing numerous basins and sub-basins that vary significantly in size, geography, and hydrological characteristics. The Ganga basin stands out as the most extensive and diverse, with 19 sub-basins ranging from the Upper Yamuna to the Damodar. This basin showcases a wide variety of watershed sizes, from relatively small areas like the Chambal Lower (10,941.26 sq km) to expansive regions like the Lower Yamuna (124,867.19 sq km). The Ganga basin also has the highest concentration of dams, barrages, and other water management structures, reflecting its critical importance for agriculture, urbanization, and overall water resource management in North India.
The Indus basin, while smaller in total area within India, shows significant variation in its sub-basins. Notably, the Upper Indus sub-basin has the largest number of watersheds (70) within this system, indicating a complex network of smaller drainage areas. The presence of high-altitude sub-basins like Gilgit and Shyok highlights the unique mountainous terrain of this region. The Brahmaputra basin, divided into upper and lower sections, covers a vast area with relatively fewer but larger watersheds. This suggests a different hydrological regime, possibly influenced by the basin’s location in the monsoon-dominated Northeast India.
Southern rivers like the Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery show interesting patterns. The Godavari basin, for instance, has a high number of dams across its sub-basins, particularly in the Upper and Middle sections, indicating intensive water management practices. The Krishna basin shows a similar trend, with the Upper Krishna sub-basin having a notably high number of barrages (170), suggesting extensive irrigation networks.
The Western flowing rivers, including those in the Kutch and Saurashtra regions, present a different picture. Despite covering significant areas, these basins have fewer large-scale water management structures, possibly due to their seasonal flow patterns and the arid climate of the region. Smaller river basins like the Sabarmati and Mahi, while covering less area, show intensive water management with a relatively high number of dams and barrages compared to their size. This likely reflects the high water demand in these more arid regions.
The data also reveals interesting patterns in the Eastern coastal rivers. Basins like Mahanadi and Subarnarekha have a significant number of dams and barrages, indicating their importance for flood control and irrigation in the coastal plains. It’s noteworthy that some basins, particularly in the Northeast (like those draining into Myanmar and Bangladesh), have very few artificial structures, possibly due to a combination of political, geographical, and ecological factors. The variation in watershed sizes across different basins (from as small as 300 sq km to over 1700 sq km) reflects India’s diverse topography and climate patterns. Larger watersheds are generally found in plains areas, while smaller, more numerous watersheds are typical in hilly or mountainous regions.
This comprehensive watershed distribution has significant implications for water resource management, flood control, agricultural planning, and ecological conservation across India. The data underscores the need for basin-specific and often sub-basin-specific approaches to water management, considering the unique characteristics and challenges of each area.
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