Godavari River - AP & Telangana Issue
Why it Matters?
Telangana Chief Minister and State Minister for Irrigation sought the intervention of the Union Jal Shakti Ministry in stalling the Godavari-Banakacherla project, proposed by Andhra Pradesh, which is detrimental to the interests of Telangana.
What You Should Know?
The Godavari River, often referred to as the ‘Dakshina Ganga’ or ‘Ganga of the South’, is India’s second-longest river after the Ganga, with a length of approximately 1,465 km.
It is draining nearly 10% of India's total geographical area and hence plays a crucial role in sustaining the ecology, agriculture, and cultural fabric of central and southern India.
The river originates from the Brahmagiri Hills in Trimbakeshwar, Nashik district of Maharashtra.
It passes through Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh, before finally emptying into the Bay of Bengal in Andhra Pradesh.
The Godavari basin, with a spread of over 313,000 square km, also covers parts of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, and Odisha.
The basin is geographically bounded by the Satmala hills, Ajanta ranges, and Mahadeo hills in the north, the Western Ghats to the west, and the Eastern Ghats to the east and south.
Major Tributaries:
Left bank tributaries: Purna, Pranhita, Indravati, and Sabari.
Right bank tributaries: Pravara, Manjira, and Maner.
Among these, Pranhita is the largest tributary.
Nashik, on the banks of the river, hosts the Kumbh Mela every 12 years, drawing millions of pilgrims.
The Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh is located in its estuary region. It hosts the third-largest mangrove forest in India and supports rich biodiversity.