Kaveri

The Kaveri (also known as Cauvery, the anglicised name) is one of the major Indian rivers flowing through the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The Kaveri River rises at Talakaveri in the Brahmagiri range in the Western Ghats, Kodagu district of the state of Karnataka, at an elevation of 1,341 m above mean sea level and flows for about 800 km before its outfall into the Bay of Bengal. It reaches the sea in Poompuhar, in Mayiladuthurai district. It is the third largest river – after Godavari and Krishna – in southern India, and the largest in the state of Tamil Nadu, which, on its course, bisects the state into north and south. In ancient Tamil literature, the river was also called Ponni (the golden mother, in reference to the fine silt it deposits).[5][6][7]

This article is about the river. For other uses, see Kaveri (disambiguation).

Kaveri
Cauvery
Kaveri River flowing in Srirangapatna
Map of the Kaveri River basin
Location
CountryIndia
StatesKarnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry
RegionSouthern India
OriginKodagu, Karnataka
Physical characteristics
SourceTalakaveri, Kodagu, Western Ghats, Karnataka
 • locationKarnataka, India
 • coordinates12°23′N 75°29′E
 • elevation1,341 m (4,400 ft)
MouthBay of Bengal
 • location
Poompuhar, Tamil Nadu, India
 • coordinates
11°21′40″N 79°49′46″E
 • elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Length805 km (500 mi)[1]
Basin size81,155 km2 (31,334 sq mi)
Width 
 • minimum50 metres (160 ft)
 • maximum1,500 metres (4,900 ft)
Discharge 
 • locationLower Caleroon Anicut (58.5 km upstream of mouth; Basin size: 78,783 km2 (30,418 sq mi)
 • average(Period: 1998-2022)927.65 m3/s (32,760 cu ft/s)[2] 677 m3/s (23,900 cu ft/s)
 • minimum144 m3/s (5,100 cu ft/s)[2]
 • maximum4,075 m3/s (143,900 cu ft/s)[2]
Discharge 
 • locationGrand Anicut (South; 140 km upstream of mouth; Basin size: 74,004 km2 (28,573 sq mi)[3] to 75,506 km2 (29,153 sq mi)[4]
 • average(Period: 1976-1979)400.716 m3/s (14,151.2 cu ft/s)[3] (Period: 1998-2022)1,151.2 m3/s (40,650 cu ft/s)[4]
 • minimum78 m3/s (2,800 cu ft/s)[4]
 • maximum4,916 m3/s (173,600 cu ft/s)[4]
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftHarangi, Hemavati, Shimsha, Arkavati, Sarabanga, Thirumanimutharu
 • rightLakshmana Tirtha, Kabini, Bhavani, Noyyal, Amaravati, Moyar

The Kaveri is a sacred river to the people of southern India and is worshipped as the Goddess Kaveriamma (Mother Cauvery). It is considered to be among the seven holy rivers of India.[8] It is extensively used for agriculture in both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

The catchment area of the Kaveri basin is estimated to be 81,155 square kilometres (31,334 sq mi) with many tributaries including Harangi, Hemavati, Kabini, Bhavani, Lakshmana Tirtha, Noyyal, and Arkavati. The river basin covers three states and a Union Territory as follows: Tamil Nadu, 43,868 square kilometres (16,938 sq mi); Karnataka, 34,273 square kilometres (13,233 sq mi); Kerala, 2,866 square kilometres (1,107 sq mi); and Puducherry, 148 square kilometres (57 sq mi).[9] In Chamarajanagar district it forms the island of Shivanasamudra, on either side of which are the scenic Shivanasamudra Falls that descend about 100 metres (330 ft).[10] The river is the source for an extensive irrigation system and for hydroelectric power.[11] The river has supported irrigated agriculture for centuries and served as the lifeblood of the ancient kingdoms and modern cities of southern India. Access to the river's waters has pitted Indian states against each other for decades. It was profusely described in the Tamil Sangam literature and is held in great reverence in Hinduism. The Kaveri River delta is a thickly populated delta, one which is frequently affected by tropical cyclones formed in the Bay of Bengal.

Etymology

Tamil

The etymology of the river was derived from the Sankethi word for "river", ಕಾವೇರಿ (kāveri), as this is the major river for the Sankethi people who live along its waters. .[12]

Sanskrit

Marudvṛdhā is another hypothesised name for this river, meaning "the beloved of the Maruts".[13] However, this is unlikely as Marudvrdhā is also identified with a river in Punjab.[14]

Epithets

The Kaveri River is also known as Daksina Ganga, the "Ganges of the South"[15] and Kaveri Amman when worshipped as a river goddess.[16] In ancient Tamil literature, the river was also called Ponni (the golden maid, in reference to the fine silt it deposits).[5][6][7]

Course

The Kaveri River is a perennial, monsoon rain fed river.[17] It rises at Talakaveri, located in the Kodagu district in the Indian state of Karnataka.[18] After the river leaves the Kodagu hills it flows onto the Deccan plateau and forms two islands, Srirangapatna and Shivanasamudra. At Shivanasamudra, the river drops 91 m (299 ft) and forms the Shivanasamudra Falls, India's second largest waterfall.[18] The falls are made up of two rapids called Gagana Chukki and Bhara Chukki.[15] The river converges after the falls and passes through the Mekedatu gorge.[19]

The river enters Tamil Nadu through the Dharmapuri district and meanders until the Hogenakkal Falls.[16] From there, it flows towards the town of Salem and enters the Stanley Reservoir in Mettur, where the Mettur Dam was constructed in 1934.[15] After passing the reservoir, the Bhavani River, a main right bank tributary, joins with the Kaveri River.[19]

The river then enters the Tiruchirappalli district and eventually splits into two branches, the northern part is called the Kollidam River or Coleroon, and the southern part of the river retains the name "Kaveri".[17] After flowing for 16 km (9.9 mi) the two rivers converge and form the Srirangam Island,[19] and then further branches off into 36 different channels.[17] The river travels 765 km (475 mi) before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.[17]

Discharge

Average, minimum and maximum discharge (m3/s) of the Kaveri River at Grand Anicut and Lower Caleroon Anicut (Lower Anicut). Period from 1998 to 2022.[4][2]

Year Grand Anicut Lower Anicut
(m3/s) (m3/s)
Min Mean Max Min Mean Max
1998 170 1,099 3,454 161 885 2,540
1999 289 1,131 3,778 285 864 2,845
2000 343 1,287 4,903 233 1,011 3,335
2001 258 1,080 3,348 309 948 3,115
2002 139 772 2,392 144 867 2,423
2003 78 667 2,297 216 646 2,100
2004 103 895 3,303 217 839 3,160
2005 179 1,012 3,354 240 991 3,873
2006 268 1,072 2,495 473 1,091 3,187
2007 118 993 3,308 324 1,126 4,075
2008 132 1,094 3,677 398 1,103 3,167
2009 227 1,040 3,238 290 965 3,301
2010 373 1,080 3,141 411 1,022 3,626
2011 171 1,163 3,815 296 928 3,014
2012 190 874 3,342 177 711 2,149
2013 82 1,043 3,281 229 856 3,127
2014 279 1,148 3,663 409 980 2,533
2015 559 1,422 3,816 407 913 2,177
2016 490 1,129 2,890 276 728 1,733
2017 216 931 3,586 154 671 1,832
2018 341 1,571 4,439 266 934 3,427
2019 331 1,473 4,559 173 966 3,070
2020 591 1,590 4,373 209 983 2,944
2021 478 1,502 3,935 257 988 3,136
2022 548 1,713 4,916 407 1,172 3,385
78 1,151 4,916 144 928 4,075

Tributaries

The Kaveri River has 29 major tributaries and its main tributaries include Harangi, Hemavati, Lakshmana Tirtha, Kabini, Suvarnavathi, Shimsha, Arkavati, Sarabanga, Bhavani, Noyyal, Thirumanimutharu, and the Amaravati.[19]

Geology

The Kaveri basin was formed in the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous period during Gondwana breakup and opening of the Indian Ocean.[20] Most of the Kaveri basin is made up of Precambrian rocks. The two major rock types that are found are metamorphic and igneous rocks.[19] Closepet granite is found in the upper parts of the Kaveri basin and Charnockite rocks are only found in the central part.[18]

Kaveri impact structure
The location of the proposed impact structure (red circle) surrounded by hills within the Deccan peninsula

A 2017 paper proposed that an impact structure was present in the vicinity of the Kaveri river.[21]

Ecology

In Karnataka the riparian zone of the Kaveri basin is made up of two sub-zones, forest and agro-ecosystem. Over half of the basin is arable and the most cultivated crops are rice and sugarcane.[22] The Kaveri basin also has a variety of flora. Some of the major species that occur in the basin include Terminalia arjuna, Tamarindus indica, Pongamia pinnata, Salix tetrasperma, Ficus benghalensis, Ficus religiosa, Eucalyptus torticornis, and Diospyros montana.[22]

The Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary is located on the Kaveri River. It is a designated Ramsar site that supports many bird species including the painted stork (Mycteria leucocephala), spot-billed pelican (Pelecanus philippensis), and black-headed ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus). It is also home to the mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris), smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata), and hump-backed mahseer (Tor remadevii).[23]

Religious significance

In Hinduism, the Kaveri River is considered one of seven holy rivers in India.[16] There are many stories narrated in the Puranas about the origin of Kaveri as a river and a goddess. The Skanda Purana narrates that during the Samudra Manthana, or churning of the Ocean of Milk, Mohini and Lopamudra retrieved the nectar of immortality for the gods. Afterwards, Mohini became a cave in the Brahmagiri hills and Brahma took care of Lopamudra as his daughter. Later, Brahma offered Lopamudra to king Kavera, who was childless, as he was pleased by king Kavera's devotion. Lopamudra was then renamed as Kaveri. When Kaveri grew up she prayed to Brahma to transform her into a purifying river.[16]

In another legend, Lopamudra becomes sage Agastya's wife and takes on a form of water during a severe drought in south India. Sage Agastya carries her in his small brass water pot on his journey to the south. Arriving on a hill, he places the water pot on the ground, but Ganesha, in the form of crow, knocks the water pot down. The spilled water runs down the hill and onto the drought-stricken land.[24]

Irrigation

The primary uses of the Kaveri is providing water for irrigation, water for household consumption and the generation of electricity.

An estimate at the time of the first Five Year Plan puts the total flow of the Kaveri at 15 cubic kilometres (12,000,000 acre⋅ft), of which 60% was used for irrigation.[25] The Torekadanahalli pumpstation sends 540 million litres (19,000,000 cu ft) per day of water from the Kaveri 100 kilometres (62 mi) to Bangalore.[26]

Stanley Reservoir formed by Mettur Dam, the largest dam in Tamil Nadu

The hydroelectric plant built on the left of Sivanasamudra Falls on the Kaveri in 1902 was the first hydroelectric plant in Asia.[10] The Krishna Raja Sagara Dam has a capacity of 49 tmc ft.[27] and the Mettur Dam which creates Stanley Reservoir has a capacity of 93.4 tmc ft. (thousand million cubic ft). In August 2003, inflow into reservoirs in Karnataka was at a 29-year low, with a 58% shortfall.[28] Water stored in Krishna Raja Sagara amounted to only 4.6 tmc ft.[28]

In February 2020, Tamil Nadu assembly passed bill to declare Cauvery Delta as Protected Agricultural Zone, includes Thanjavur, Thirvarur, Nagapattinam and five blocks in Cuddalore and Pudukottai. The bill does not include Tiruchirappalli, Ariyalur and Karur which are geographically included in the Cauvery Delta.[29]

Water sharing
Further information: Kaveri River water dispute

The dispute over the sharing of Kaveri River began in 1807 when the Madras government objected to Mysore state's plans for the development of irrigation projects.[30] After initial discussions failed between the two governments, Mysore asked the government of India to intervene. Discussions were held again which led to a six rule agreement called General Agreement of 1892.[30] On 16 February 2018, the Indian Supreme Court[31] ruled that Karnataka will get 284.75 tmc ft, Tamil Nadu will get 404.25 tmc ft, Kerala will get 30 tmc ft, and Puducherry will get 7 tmc ft. The court also ruled that 10 tmc ft will be reserved for Environmental Protection and 4 tmc ft will be reserved for Inevitable Wastage into the Sea.[32]

Acting on the Supreme Court's direction, the Centre constituted a Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) on 1 June 2018 to address the dispute over sharing of river water among Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry.[33] The central government failed to adhere with the top court's deadline of within six weeks of deliverance of judgement.

On 16 February 2018, the apex court had directed the government to form the CWMA within six weeks in a verdict that marginally increased Karnataka's share of Cauvery water, reduced the allocation for Tamil Nadu and sought to settle the protracted water dispute between the two states.[34] On 22 June 2018, despite opposition from Karnataka, the central government constituted the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) as per the provisions in the Kaveri Management Scheme laid down by the Supreme Court.[35]

See also

References
  1. "INTEGRATED HYDROLOGICAL DATA BOOK" (PDF). Central Water Commission, India. p. 92. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  2. "River Discharge and Reservoir Storage Changes Using Satellite Microwave Radiometry - 2043".
  3. "Gauging Station - Data Summary". RivDis. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  4. "River Discharge and Reservoir Storage Changes Using Satellite Microwave Radiometry - 2042".
  5. "Daughter of Ponni". indianexpress. 27 April 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  6. "Cauvery Chronicles II: Ponni's Perish". newslaundry. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  7. "The death of a river". millenniumpost. 11 June 2019. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  8. "Cauvery basin: its culture, places of historical significance, birth place, climate, precipitation, catchment, tributaries, state-wise spread, landuse". www.indiawaterportal.org. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  9. "INTEGRATED HYDROLOGICAL DATA BOOK" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
  10. "World Waterfall Database". Archived from the original on 14 November 2006. Retrieved 9 November 2006.
  11. "Shivasamudram Falls". cauvery.com. Retrieved 11 November 2006.
  12. கணேசன், இரா (1974). அறிவியல் துறைச் சொல்லாக்க முறைகள் (in Tamil). புதுச்சேரி: இந்தியப் பல்கலைக்கழகத் தமிழாசிரியர் மன்ற ஆறாவது கருத்தரங்கு ஆய்வுக்கோவை, பாண்டிச்சேரி, தாகூர் அரசினர் கலைக்கல்லூரித் தமிழ்த்துறைச் சார்பு வெளியீடு. pp. 893, 895.
  13. "MW". www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  14. Blažek, Václav (2021). "Volha – řeka sedmi jmen". Linguistica Brunensia (1): 5–38. doi:10.5817/lb2021-1-1. ISSN 1803-7410. S2CID 239062051.
  15. "Kaveri River | river, India | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  16. Warrier, Shrikala (2014). Kamandalu: The Seven Sacred Rivers of Hinduism. Mayur University. pp. 20, 192–195. ISBN 9780953567973.
  17. Ramkumar, Mu; Kumaraswamy, K.; Mohanraj, R. (2015). Environmental Management of River Basin Ecosystems. Springer. p. 286.
  18. Jain, Sharad K.; Agarwal, Pushpendra K.; Singh, Vijay P. (2007). Hydrology and Water Resources of India. Springer Science. pp. 702–711. ISBN 9781402051807.
  19. Singh, Dhruv Sen (2018). The Indian rivers : scientific and socio-economic aspects. Singapore: Springer Hydrogeology. pp. 354–356.
  20. Nagendra, R.; Nallapa Reddy, A. (1 January 2017). "Major geologic events of the Cauvery Basin, India and their correlation with global signatures – A review". Journal of Palaeogeography. 6 (1): 69–83. doi:10.1016/j.jop.2016.09.002.
  21. Subrahmanya, K. R.; Prakash Narasimha, K. N. (October 2017). "Kaveri crater – An impact structure in the Precambrian terrain of southern India". Journal of the Geological Society of India. 90 (4): 387–395. doi:10.1007/s12594-017-0733-5. ISSN 0016-7622. S2CID 134717819.
  22. Sunil, C.; Somashekar, R. K.; Nagaraja, B. C. (1 November 2010). "Riparian vegetation assessment of Cauvery River Basin of South India". Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. 170 (1): 548. doi:10.1007/s10661-009-1256-3. PMID 20024615. S2CID 19865294.
  23. "Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary | Ramsar Sites Information Service". rsis.ramsar.org. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  24. Eck, Diana L. (2012). India: A Sacred Geography. United States: Harmony Books. p. 179. ISBN 9780385531917.
  25. "Chapter 26: Irrigation and power". 1st Five Year Plan. Planning Commission, Government of India. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  26. "Archived copy" (PDF). www.tce.co.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 March 2007. Retrieved 13 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  27. "Corporation urged to chalk out water policy for Mysore city". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 26 March 2006. Archived from the original on 29 October 2006.
  28. "Cauvery reservoirs' inflow hits record low". Deccan Herald. Bangalore. 2 August 2003. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2011.
  29. "TN assembly passes bill to declare Cauvery Delta as Protected Agricultural Zone". The Week.
  30. Rani, Midatala; Rani, Middatala (2002). "Historical Background Of The Cauvery Water Dispute". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 63: 1033–1042. JSTOR 44158173 – via JSTOR.
  31. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 April 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  32. "Judgement Copy- SC verdict on Cauvery water dispute". Scribd.
  33. "Cauvery Water Management Scheme, 2018". Department of Water Resources, RD & GR.
  34. Rajagopal, Krishnadas (16 February 2018). "Supreme Court curtails Tamil Nadu's share of Cauvery water". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  35. "Cauvery dispute". www.thenewsminute.com. 23 June 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
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