Drainage System PDF

CHAPTER DRAINAGE SYSTEM Y ou have observed water flowing through 2006) in this class. Can you, then, explain the the rivers, nalas and even channels reason for water...

CHAPTER DRAINAGE SYSTEM Y ou have observed water flowing through 2006) in this class. Can you, then, explain the the rivers, nalas and even channels reason for water flowing from one direction to during rainy season which drain the the other? Why do the rivers originating from the excess water. Had these channels not been Himalayas in the northern India and the Western there, large-scale flooding would have Ghat in the southern India flow towards the east occurred. Wherever channels are ill-defined or and discharge their waters in the Bay of Bengal? choked, flooding is a common phenomenon. The flow of water through well-defined channels is known as ‘drainage’ and the network of such channels is called a ‘drainage system’. The drainage pattern of an area is the outcome of the geological time period, nature and structure of rocks, topography, slope, amount of water flowing and the periodicity of the flow. Do you have a river near your village or city? Have you ever been there for boating or bathing? Figure 3.1 : A River in the Mountainous Region Is it perennial (always with water) or ephemeral (water during rainy season, and dry, otherwise)? A river drains the water collected from a Do you know that rivers flow in the same specific area, which is called its ‘catchment area’. direction? You have studied about slopes in the An area drained by a river and its tributaries other two textbooks of geography (NCERT, is called a drainage basin. The boundary line Important Drainage Patterns (i) The drainage pattern resembling the branches of a tree is known as “dendritic” the examples of which are the rivers of northern plain. (ii) When the rivers originate from a hill and flow in all directions, the drainage pattern is known as ‘radial’. The rivers originating from the Amarkantak range present a good example of it. (iii) When the primary tributaries of rivers flow parallel to each other and secondary tributaries join them at right angles, the pattern is known as ‘trellis’. (iv) When the rivers discharge their waters from all directions in a lake or depression, the pattern is know as ‘centripetal’. Find out some of the patterns in the topo sheet given in Chapter 5 of Practical Work in Geography– Part I (NCERT, 2006). 2024-25 18 INDIA : PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT AFGHANISTAN Figure 3.2 : Major Rivers of India 2024-25 DRAINAGE SYSTEM 19 separating one drainage basin from the other in the Bay of Bengal. Identify these rivers of the is known as the watershed. The catchments of South India. large rivers are called river basins while those The Narmada and Tapi are two large rivers of small rivulets and rills are often referred to which are exceptions. They along with many as watersheds. There is, however, a slight small rivers discharge their waters in the difference between a river basin and a Arabian Sea. watershed. Watersheds are small in area while Name these rivers of the western coastal the basins cover larger areas. region from the Konkan to the Malabar coast. River basins and watersheds are marked On the basis of the mode of origin, nature by unity. What happens in one part of the and characteristics, the Indian drainage may basin or watershed directly affects the other also be classified into the Himalayan drainage parts and the unit as a whole. That is why, they and the Peninsular drainage. Although it has are accepted as the most appropriate micro, the problem of including the Chambal, the meso or macro planning regions. Betwa, the Son, etc. which are much older in Indian drainage system may be divided on age and origin than other rivers that have their various bases. On the basis of discharge of water origin in the Himalayas, it is the most accepted (orientations to the sea), it may be grouped into: basis of classification. Hence, this scheme has (i) the Arabian Sea drainage; and (ii) the Bay of been followed in this book. Bengal drainage. They are separated from each other through the Delhi ridge, the Aravalis and DRAINAGE SYSTEMS OF INDIA the Sahyadris (water divide is shown by a line Indian drainage system consists of a large in Figure 3.1). Nearly 77 per cent of the drainage number of small and big rivers. It is the outcome area consisting of the Ganga, the Brahmaputra, of the evolutionary process of the three major the Mahanadi, the Krishna, etc. is oriented physiographic units and the nature and towards the Bay of Bengal while 23 per cent characteristics of precipitation. comprising the Indus, the Narmada, the Tapi, the Mahi and the Periyar systems discharge THE HIMALAYAN DRAINAGE their waters in the Arabian Sea. On the basis of the size of the watershed, The Himalayan drainage system has evolved the drainage basins of India are grouped into through a long geological history. It mainly three categories: (i) Major river basins with includes the Ganga, the Indus and the more than 20,000 sq. km of catchment area. Brahmaputra river basins. Since these are fed It includes 14 drainage basins such as the both by melting of snow and precipitation, Ganga, the Brahmaputra, the Krishna, the rivers of this system are perennial. These rivers Tapi, the Narmada, the Mahi, the Pennar, the pass through the giant gorges carved out by Sabarmati, the Barak, etc. (Appendix III). (ii) the erosional activity carried on simultaneously Medium river basins with catchment area with the uplift of the Himalayas. Besides deep between 2,000-20,000 sq. km incorporating gorges, these rivers also form V-shaped valleys, 44 river basins such as the Kalindi, the Periyar, rapids and waterfalls in their mountainous the Meghna, etc. (iii) Minor river basins with catchment area of less than 2,000 sq. km include fairly good number of rivers flowing in the area of low rainfall. If you look at the Figure 3.1 you can see that many rivers have their sources in the Himalayas and discharge their waters either in the Bay of Bengal or in the Arabian Sea. Identify these rivers of North India. Large rivers flowing on the Peninsular plateau have their origin in the Western Ghats and discharge their waters Figure 3.3 : Rapids 2024-25 20 INDIA : PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT course. While entering the plains, they form as the water divide between the Indus and depositional features like flat valleys, ox-bow Ganga drainage systems. Likewise, the down- lakes, flood plains, braided channels, and thrusting of the Malda gap area between the deltas near the river mouth. In the Himalayan Rajmahal hills and the Meghalaya plateau reaches, the course of these rivers is highly during the mid-pleistocene period, diverted the tortous, but over the plains they display a Ganga and the Brahmaputra systems to flow strong meandering tendency and shift their towards the Bay of Bengal. courses frequently. River Kosi, also know as the ‘sorrow of Bihar’, has been notorious for THE RIVER SYSTEMS OF THE frequently changing its course. The Kosi brings HIMALAYAN DRAINAGE huge quantity of sediments from its upper reaches and deposits it in the plains. The The Himalayan drainage consists of several course gets blocked, and consequently, the river systems but the following are the major river changes its course. Why does the Kosi river systems: river bring such huge quantity of sediments The Indus System from the upper reaches? Do you think that the discharge of the water in the rivers in It is one of the largest river basins of the world, general and the Kosi in particular, remains the covering an area of 11,65,000 sq. km (in India same, or does it fluctuate? When does the river it is 321, 289 sq. km and a total length of 2,880 course receive the maximum quantity of water? km (in India 1,114 km). The Indus also What are the positive and negative effects of known as the Sindhu, is the westernmost of flooding? the Himalayan rivers in India. It originates from a glacier near Bokhar Chu (31°°15' N EVOLUTION OF THE HIMALAYAN DRAINAGE latitude and 81°°40' E longitude) in the Tibetan region at an altitude of 4,164 m in There are difference of opinion about the the Kailash Mountain range. In Tibet, it is evolution of the Himalayan rivers. However, known as ‘Singi Khamban; or Lion’s mouth. geologists believe that a mighty river called After flowing in the northwest direction Shiwalik or Indo-Brahma traversed the entire between the Ladakh and Zaskar ranges, it longitudinal extent of the Himalaya from Assam passes through Ladakh and Baltistan. It cuts to Punjab and onwards to Sind, and finally across the Ladakh range, forming a discharged into the Gulf of Sind near lower spectacular gorge near Gilgit in Jammu and Punjab during the Miocene period some 5-24 Kashmir. It enters into Pakistan near Chilas million years ago The remarkable continuity of in the Dardistan region. Find out the area the Shiwalik and its lacustrine origin and known as Dardistan. alluvial deposits consisting of sands, silt, clay, The Indus receives a number of Himalayan boulders and conglomerates support this tributaries such as the Shyok, the Gilgit, the viewpoint. Zaskar, the Hunza, the Nubra, the Shigar, the It is opined that in due course of time Indo– Gasting and the Dras. It finally emerges out of Brahma river was dismembered into three main the hills near Attock where it receives the Kabul drainage systems: (i) the Indus and its five river on its right bank. The other important tributaries in the western part; (ii) the Ganga tributaries joining the right bank of the Indus and its Himalayan tributaries in the central are the Khurram, the Tochi, the Gomal, the part; and (iii) the stretch of the Brahmaputra Viboa and the Sangar. They all originate in the in Assam and its Himalayan tributaries in the Sulaiman ranges. The river flows southward eastern part. The dismemberment was and receives ‘Panjnad’ a little above Mithankot. probably due to the Pleistocene upheaval in The Panjnad is the name given to the five rivers the western Himalayas, including the uplift of of Punjab, namely the Satluj, the Beas, the the Potwar Plateau (Delhi Ridge), which acted Ravi, the Chenab and the Jhelum. It finally 2024-25 DRAINAGE SYSTEM 21 discharges into the Arabian Sea, east of Gangotri glacier near Gaumukh (3,900 m) Karachi. The Indus flows in India only through in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. Jammu and Kashmir. Here, it is known as the Bhagirathi. It cuts through the Central and the Lesser The Jhelum, an important tributary of the Himalayas in narrow gorges. At Devprayag, Indus, rises from a spring at Verinag situated the Bhagirathi meets the Alaknanda; at the foot of the Pir Panjal in the south-eastern hereafter, it is known as the Ganga. The part of the valley of Kashmir. It flows through Alaknanda has its source in the Satopanth Srinagar and the Wular lake before entering glacier above Badrinath. The Alaknanda Pakistan through a deep narrow gorge. It joins consists of the Dhauli and the Vishnu Ganga the Chenab near Jhang in Pakistan. which meet at Joshimath or Vishnu Prayag. The Chenab is the largest tributary of the The other tributaries of Alaknanda such as Indus. It is formed by two streams, the the Pindar joins it at Karna Prayag Chandra and the Bhaga, which join at while Mandakini or Kali Ganga meets it at Tandi near Keylong in Himachal Pradesh. Rudra Prayag. The Ganga enters the plains Hence, it is also known as Chandrabhaga. at Haridwar. From here, it flows first to The river flows for 1,180 km before entering the south, then to the south-east and east into Pakistan. before splitting into two distributaries, The Ravi is another important tributary of namely the Bhagirathi and the Padma. The the Indus. It rises west of the Rohtang pass in river has a length of 2,525 km. It is shared by the Kullu hills of Himachal Pradesh and flows Uttarakhand (110 km) and Uttar Pradesh through the Chamba valley of the state. Before (1,450 km), Bihar (445 km) and West Bengal entering Pakistan and joining the Chenab near (520 km). The Ganga basin covers about 8.6 Sarai Sidhu, it drains the area lying between lakh sq. km area in India alone. The Ganga the southeastern part of the Pir Panjal and the Dhauladhar ranges. The Beas is another important tributary of the Indus, originating from the Beas Kund near Do you Know? the Rohtang Pass at an elevation of 4,000 m ‘Namami Gange Programme’, is an above the mean sea level. The river flows Integrated Conservation Mission, approved through the Kullu valley and forms gorges at as “Flagship Programme” by the Union Kati and Largi in the Dhaoladhar range. It Government in June 2014 with the twin enters the Punjab plains where it meets the objectives of effective abatement of pollution, Satluj near Harike. conservation and rejuvenation of the The Satluj originates in the ‘Raksas tal’ near National River Ganga. Mansarovar at an altitude of 4,555 m in Tibet Main pillars of the Namami Gange where it is known as Langchen Khambab. It Programme are: flows almost parallel to the Indus for about 400 Sewerage Treatment Infrastructure km before entering India, and comes out of a River-Front Development gorge at Rupar. It passes through the Shipki River-Surface Cleaning La on the Himalayan ranges and enters the Bio-Diversity Punjab plains. It is an antecedent river. It is a Afforestation very important tributary as it feeds the canal Public Awareness system of the Bhakra Nangal project. Industrial Effluent Monitoring Ganga Gram The Ganga System You may explore about this project at The Ganga is the most important river of http://nmcg.nic.in/NamamiGanga.aspx# India both from the point of view of its basin and cultural significance. It rises in the 2024-25 22 INDIA : PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT river system is the largest in India having a The Kosi is an antecedent river with its number of perennial and non-perennial source to the north of Mount Everest in Tibet, rivers originating in the Himalayas in the where its main stream Arun rises. After north and the Peninsula in the south, crossing the Central Himalayas in Nepal, it is respectively. The Son is its major right bank joined by the Son Kosi from the West and the tributary. The important left bank Tamur Kosi from the east. It forms Sapt Kosi tributaries are the Ramganga, the Gomati, after uniting with the river Arun. the Ghaghara, the Gandak, the Kosi and the The Ramganga is comparatively a small Mahananda. The river finally discharges river rising in the Garhwal hills near Gairsain. itself into the Bay of Bengal near the It changes its course to the southwest direction Sagar Island. after crossing the Shiwalik and enters into the The Yamuna, the western most and the plains of Uttar Pradesh near Najibabad. Finally, longest tributary of the Ganga, has its source it joins the Ganga near Kannauj. in the Yamunotri glacier on the western The Damodar occupies the eastern margins slopes of Banderpunch range (6,316 m). It joins the Ganga at Prayag (Allahabad). It is of the Chotanagpur Plateau where it flows joined by the Chambal, the Sind, the Betwa through a rift valley and finally joins the Hugli. and the Ken on its right bank which The Barakar is its main tributary. Once known originates from the Peninsular plateau while as the ‘sorrow of Bengal’, the Damodar has the Hindan, the Rind, the Sengar, the Varuna, been now tamed by the Damodar Valley etc. join it on its left bank. Much of its water corporation, a multipurpose project. feeds the western and eastern Yamuna and The Sarda or Saryu river rises in the Milam the Agra canals for irrigation purposes. glacier in the Nepal Himalayas where it is known as the Goriganga. Along the Indo-Nepal Name the states which are drained by border, it is called Kali or Chauk, where it joins the river Yamuna. the Ghaghara. The Chambal rises near Mhow in the The Mahananda is another important Malwa plateau of Madhya Pradesh and flows tributary of the Ganga rising in the Darjiling northwards through a gorge up wards of Kota hills. It joins the Ganga as its last left bank in Rajasthan, where the Gandhisagar dam has tributary in West Bengal. been constructed. From Kota, it traverses down The Son is a large south bank tributary of to Bundi, Sawai Madhopur and Dholpur, and the Ganga, originating in the Amarkantak finally joins the Yamuna. The Chambal is plateau. After forming a series of waterfalls at famous for its badland topography called the the edge of the plateau, it reaches Arrah, west Chambal ravines. of Patna, to join the Ganga. The Gandak comprises two streams, The Brahmaputra System namely Kaligandak and Trishulganga. It rises in the Nepal Himalayas between the Dhaulagiri The Brahmaputra, one of the largest rivers and Mount Everest and drains the central part of the world, has its origin in the of Nepal. It enters the Ganga plain in Chemayungdung glacier of the Kailash Champaran district of Bihar and joins the range near the Mansarovar lake. From here, Ganga at Sonpur near Patna. it traverses eastward longitudinally for a The Ghaghara originates in the glaciers of distance of nearly 1,200 km in a dry and Mapchachungo. After collecting the waters of flat region of southern Tibet, where it is its tributaries – Tila, Seti and Beri, it comes known as the Tsangpo, which means ‘the out of the mountain, cutting a deep gorge at purifier.’ The Rango Tsangpo is the major Shishapani. The river Sarda (Kali or Kali right bank tributary of this river in Tibet. It Ganga) joins it in the plain before it finally meets emerges as a turbulent and dynamic river the Ganga at Chhapra. after carving out a deep gorge in the Central 2024-25 DRAINAGE SYSTEM 23 Himalayas near Namcha Barwa (7,755 m). The Evolution of Peninsular Drainage The river emerges from the foothills under System the name of Siang or Dihang. It enters India Three major geological events in the distant west of Sadiya town in Arunachal Pradesh. past have shaped the present drainage Flowing southwest, it receives its main left systems of Peninsular India: (i) Subsidence bank tributaries, viz., Dibang or Sikang and of the western flank of the Peninsula leading Lohit; thereafter, it is known as the to its submergence below the sea during the Brahmaputra. early tertiary period. Generally, it has The Brahmaputra receives numerous disturbed the symmetrical plan of the river tributaries in its 750 km long journey through on either side of the original watershed. the Assam valley. Its major left bank (ii) Upheaval of the Himalayas when the tributaries are the Burhi Dihing and Dhansari northern flank of the Peninsular block was (South) whereas the important right bank subjected to subsidence and the consequent tributaries are the Subansiri, Kameng, Manas trough faulting. The Narmada and The Tapi and Sankosh. The Subansiri which has its flow in trough faults and fill the original origin in Tibet, is an antecedent river. The cracks with their detritus materials. Hence, Brahmaputra enters into Bangladesh near there is a lack of alluvial and deltaic deposits Dhubri and flows southward. In Bangladesh, in these rivers. (iii) Slight tilting of the the Tista joins it on its right bank from where Peninsular block from northwest to the the river is known as the Jamuna. It finally southeastern direction gave orientation to the merges with the river Padma, which falls in the entire drainage system towards the Bay of Bay of Bengal. The Brahmaputra is well-known Bengal during the same period. for floods, channel shifting and bank erosion. This is due to the fact that most of its tributaries River Systems of the Peninsular Drainage are large, and bring large quantity of sediments owing to heavy rainfall in its catchment area. There are a large number of river systems in the Peninsular drainage. A brief account of the THE PENINSULAR DRAINAGE SYSTEM major Peninsular river systems is given below: The Mahanadi rises near Sihawa in The Peninsular drainage system is older than Raipur district of Chhattisgarh and runs the Himalayan one. This is evident from the through Odisha to discharge its water into broad, largely-graded shallow valleys, and the the Bay of Bengal. It is 851 km long and its maturity of the rivers. The Western Ghats catchment area spreads over 1.42 lakh sq. running close to the western coast act as the km. Some navigation is carried on in the water divide between the major Peninsular lower course of this river. Fifty three per cent rivers, discharging their water in the Bay of of the drainage basin of this river lies in Bengal and as small rivulets joining the Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, while 47 Arabian Sea. Most of the major Peninsular per cent lies in Odisha. rivers except Narmada and Tapi flow from west The Godavari is the largest Peninsular river to east. The Chambal, the Sind, the Betwa, the system. It is also called the Dakshin Ganga. It Ken, the Son, originating in the northern part rises in the Nasik district of Maharashtra and of the Peninsula belong to the Ganga river discharges its water into the Bay of Bengal. Its system. The other major river systems of the tributaries run through the states of Peninsular drainage are – the Mahanadi the Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri. Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. It is 1,465 km Peninsular rivers are characterised by fixed long with a catchment area spreading over course, absence of meanders and non- 3.13 lakh sq. km 49 per cent of this, lies in perennial flow of water. The Narmada and the Maharashtra, 20 per cent in Madhya Pradesh Tapi which flow through the rift valley are, and Chhattisgarh, and the rest in Andhra however, exceptions. Pradesh. The Penganga, the Indravati, the 2024-25 24 INDIA : PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT Pranhita, and the Manjra are its principal The Tapi is the other important westward tributaries. The Godavari is subjected to heavy flowing river. It originates from Multai in the Betul floods in its lower reaches to the south of district of Madhya Pradesh. It is 724 km long Polavaram, where it forms a picturesque gorge. and drains an area of 65,145 sq. km. Nearly 79 It is navigable only in the deltaic stretch. The per cent of its basin lies in Maharashtra, 15 per river after Rajamundri splits into several cent in Madhya Pradesh and the remaining branches forming a large delta. 6 per cent in Gujarat. The Krishna is the second largest east- Luni is the largest river system of flowing Peninsular river which rises near Rajasthan, west of Aravali. It originates near Mahabaleshwar in Sahyadri. Its total length Pushkar in two branches, i.e. the Saraswati is 1,401 km. The Koyna, the Tungbhadra and and the Sabarmati, which join with each other the Bhima are its major tributaries. Of the total at Govindgarh. From here, the river comes out catchment area of the Krishna, 27 per cent of Aravali and is known as Luni. It flows lies in Maharashtra, 44 per cent in Karnataka towards the west till Telwara and then takes a and 29 per cent in Andhra Pradesh southwest direction to join the Rann of and Telangana. Kuchchh. The entire river system is ephemeral. The Kaveri rises in Brahmagiri hills (1,341m) of Kogadu district in Karnataka. Its EXTENT OF USABILITY OF RIVER WATER length is 800 km and it drains an area of 81,155 sq. km. Since the upper catchment The rivers of India carry huge volumes of water area receives rainfall during the southwest per year but it is unevenly distributed both in monsoon season (summer) and the lower part time and space. There are perennial rivers during the northeast monsoon season carrying water throughout the year while the (winter), the river carries water throughout the non-perennial rivers have very little water during year with comparatively less fluctuation than the dry season. During the rainy season, much the other Peninsular rivers. About 3 per cent of the water is wasted in floods and flows down of the Kaveri basin falls in Kerala, 41 per cent to the sea. Similarly, when there is a flood in one in Karnataka and 56 per cent in Tamil Nadu. part of the country, the other area suffers from Its important tributaries are the Kabini, the drought. Why does this happen? Is it the Bhavani and the Amravati. problem of availability of water resource or The Narmada originates on the western that of its management? Can you suggest flank of the Amarkantak plateau at a height some measures to mitigate the problems of about 1,057 m. Flowing in a rift valley of floods and droughts simultaneously between the Satpura in the south and the occuring in different parts of the country? Vindhyan range in the north, it forms a (See Chapter 6 of the book). picturesque gorge in marble rocks and Dhuandhar waterfall near Jabalpur. After Can these problems be solved or flowing a distance of about 1,312 km, it minimised by trasfering the surplus water meets the Arabian sea south of Bharuch, from one basin to the water deficit basins? Do forming a broad 27 km long estuary. Its we have some schemes of inter -basin catchment area is about 98,796 sq. km. The linkage? Sardar Sarovar Project has been constructed on this river. Teachers may explain the following examples Periyar Diversion Scheme Collect information about Narmada Indira Gandhi Canal Project river conservation mission named Kurnool-Cuddapah Canal “Namami Devi Narmade” and discuss Beas-Satluj Link Canal with your peers. Ganga-Kaveri Link Canal 2024-25 DRAINAGE SYSTEM 25 Have you read in the newspapers about the (v) River water disputes between states linking of rivers? Do you think that digging a (vi) Shrinking of channels due to the extension canal is enough to transfer water from the of settlements towards the thalweg. Ganga basin to the Peninsular river? What is Why are the rivers polluted? Have you seen the major problem? Consult Chapter 2 of this the dirty waters of cities entering into the book and find out the difficulties posed by the rivers? Where do the industrial affluents and unevenness of the terrain. How can the water wastes get disposed of ? Most of the cremation be lifted from the plain area to the plateau grounds are on the banks of rivers and the area? Is there sufficient surplus water in the dead bodies are sometimes thrown in the north Indian rivers which can be transferred rivers. On the occasion of some festivals, the on a regular basis? Organise a debate on the flowers and statues are immersed in the rivers. whole issue and prepare a write up. How do Large scale bathing and washing of clothes you rank the following problems in using also pollute river waters. How can the rivers river water? be made pollution free? Have you read about (i) No availability in sufficient quantity Ganga Action Plan, or about a campaign for (ii) River water pollution cleaning the Yamuna at Delhi? Collect (iii) Load of silt in the river water materials on schemes for making rivers (iv) Uneven seasonal flow of water pollution free and organise the materials in a write up. EXERCISES 1. Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below. (i) Which one of the following rivers was known as the ‘Sorrow of Bengal’? (a) The Gandak (c) The Kosi (b) The Son (d) The Damodar (ii) Which one of the following rivers has the largest river basin in India? (a) The Indus (c) The Ganga (b) The Brahmaputra (d) The Krishna (iii) Which one of the following rivers is not included in ‘Panchnad’? (a) The Ravi (c) The Indus (b) The Chenab (d) The Jhelum (iv) Which one of the following rivers flows in a rift valley? (a) The Son (c) The Yamuna (b) The Narmada (d) The Luni (v) Which one of the following is the place of confluence of the Alaknanda and the Bhagirathi? (a) Vishnu Prayag (c) Karan Prayag (b) Rudra Prayag (d) Deva Prayag 2. State the differences between the following. (i) River Basin and Watershed (ii) Dendritic and Trellis drainage pattern (iii) Radial and Centripetal drainage pattern (iv) Delta and Estuary 3. Answer the following questions in about 30 words. (i) What are the socio-economic advantages of inter-linking of rivers in India? 2024-25 26 INDIA : PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT (ii) Write three characterstics of the Peninsular river. 4. Answer the following questions in not more than 125 words. (i) What are the important characteristic features of north Indian rivers? How are these different from Peninsular rivers? (ii) Suppose you are travelling from Haridwar to Siliguri along the foothills of the Himalayas. Name the important rivers you will come across. Describe the characteristics of any one of them. Project/Activity Study the Appendix III and answer the following questions. (i) Which river has the largest proportion of catchment area in the country? (ii) Make a comparative bar diagram on a graph paper to show the length of the courses of the rivers. 2024-25