Rivers of Chhattisgarh

The rice bowl of the nation wouldn’t be worth one measure of the millets it produce if it were not for the veins that enlivens the soils to produce more than 20,000 varieties of rice and the lush forest that comprise about 45 percent of the geography of the state. The abundance of water resource also plays a key factor in the electricity reserves of the state which is always produced in surplus enough to cater to many megawatts of electricity needs of water clogged neighboring states.

The most significant river in Chhattisgarh is Mahanadi often considered to be the lifeline of the state. It is also a major river in the east central part of India. It follows a total course of 560 miles with an estimated drainage area of 51,000 square miles. The river is presumed to originate in a non-descript region of Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh and coursing through the state of Odisha, submerging in the Bay of Bengal.

The other major rivers that have their waterways and tributaries are Godavari with its tributary Indravati River, flourishing the land of the Halbas and the Gonds, “Bastar”. The river takes its course through beautiful ravens and crevices, while plummeting into a gorge forming a mini Niagara waterfall. The view is absolutely splendid. Some of the other tributaries of other major rivers too boast of cascading glories around the state.

Sankh River that originates in Jharkhand runs a course of over 20 miles in Chhattisgarh before reverting to Jharkhand, submerging finally in the Bay of Bengal through Odisha.

River Son that originates from Madhya Pradesh veins through the state with its tributaries that span along Sarguja district and Jashpur district as well, flowing to Uttar Pradesh.

The major contributory tributaries are of Godavari and Mahanadi that irrigates the landscape and provide scope for the power reserves of the state. The surplus electricity that the state of Chhattisgarh boast of is chiefly because of the pulsating river Mahanadi which also ripples life in the southern coast of Odisha state.

The hydrography of Chhattisgarh brags of basins and fertile landscape and energy reserves for a thousand miles. The onslaught of industries adjacent to many water bodies is a cause of major concern. Although many governmental and non-governmental organization are working strenuously to conserve the same, yet the lenient policies of the government and conflicting law and order needs to be resolved.

Kanger valley

The sand mining mafia too pose serious threat to not only waning coarse of many tributaries but also the ecological factors associated with the same. Construction and illegal mining at sites nearby any water body must strictly be monitored or better prohibited.

Most of the major tributaries like theIndravati and sub tributaries of Godavariand Mahanadi are blessed with significant places of religious and ecological importance. These regions like the Kanger valley, theSirpur archeological sites, Rajim and the tribal belts from the Bastar hills towards the district of Koria and Sarguja are hotspots of eco-tourism. A fresh stream of life flushes through them which should be nurtured and cherished.