Description

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Context

Drowning incident of youths in Bhadra river underscores importance of safety awareness among tourists engaging in water related activities in unfamiliar locations.

Bhadra River

Bhadra River is one of key tributaries of Tunga-Bhadra River which eventually joins Krishna River.

Geographical & Hydrological Aspects:

Feature	Details
Origin	Gangamoola (Kudremukh) in Western Ghats, Chikkamagaluru district, Karnataka
Altitude at Origin	Around 1,450 meters above sea level
Length	Approximately 178 km
Confluence	Joins Tunga River at Koodli, Shivamogga district, forming Tunga-Bhadra River, which eventually merges with Krishna River
Drainage Basin	Part of Krishna River Basin
Main Tributaries	Somavahini, Odirayanahalla, Tarikere stream & a few seasonal streams from Western Ghats
States Covered	Karnataka
Flow Direction	Initially eastward, then southeast before merging with Tunga River

Upper Course (Western Ghats Region):

The upper course of Bhadra River begins at Gangamoola Hill (1,450m) in Kudremukh region of Chikkamagaluru district.

The river passes through dense rainforests, coffee estates, rocky terrains.

Key Features of Upper Course:

Terrain: Mountainous, steep slopes, heavily forested.

Biodiversity: Part of Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary home to tigers, leopards, elephants, Malabar giant squirrels, various bird species.

Climate: High rainfall region (3,000 mm annually) resulting in a perennial river with strong seasonal variations in water level.

Human Settlements: Sparse population mostly small tribal communities & plantation workers.

Threats: Deforestation, illegal sand mining, water pollution from iron ore mining activities in Kudremukh.

Lower Course (Plains & Agricultural Belt):

After exiting hilly terrain Bhadra River enters plains of Chikkamagaluru & Shivamogga districts where it becomes slower & meandering supporting irrigation & agriculture.

Key Features of Lower Course:

Terrain: Flat, alluvial soil used extensively for agriculture.

Major Towns: Bhadravathi, Tarikere, Shivamogga.

Irrigation: Supports cultivation of paddy, arecanut, sugarcane, coconut plantations.

Industries: Bhadra Reservoir near Bhadravathi is crucial for hydroelectric power generation & provides drinking water to nearby towns.

Pollution Risks: Industrial effluents from Visvesvaraya Iron & Steel Plant (VISL) in Bhadravathi & urban waste disposal.

Bhadra Dam & Reservoir:

Feature	Details
Location	Lakkavalli, Tarikere taluk, Chikkamagaluru district
Built On	Bhadra River
Purpose	Irrigation, drinking water supply, hydroelectric power generation
Construction Year	1965
Reservoir Area	196 sq km
Storage Capacity	2.0 billion cubic meters
Height of Dam	59.13 meters
Hydroelectric Power	39 MW capacity (two powerhouses)
Canals	Right & Left Bank Canals for irrigation

Bhadra Dam is one of Karnataka key multipurpose projects supplying water to over 1.5 lakh hectares of agricultural land.

It also helps control flooding during heavy monsoon seasons.

The reservoir is popular for boating, birdwatching, tourism attracting visitors from across state.

Ecology & Wildlife:

Bhadra River flows through Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary one of Karnataka premier Project Tiger reserves.

Key Species Found:

Mammals: Tigers, leopards, Indian gaurs, elephants, dholes (wild dogs), sloth bears.

Birds: Malabar pied hornbill, grey jungle fowl, kingfishers, egrets, river terns.

Aquatic Life: Various species of freshwater fish like mahseer, catfish, snakeheads.

Conservation Efforts:

Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary (declared in 1951) is protected under Project Tiger.

Eco-tourism initiatives promote sustainable wildlife viewing & nature education.

Afforestation programs are being carried out to restore degraded areas.

Challenges & Threats:

Challenge	Details
Deforestation	Logging & land conversion threaten forests along upper river.
Illegal Sand Mining	Rampant in lower course, altering river flow & damaging aquatic habitats.
Pollution	Industrial effluents from Bhadravathi steel plants, urban waste & agricultural runoff.
Water Scarcity	Over-extraction for irrigation, leading to seasonal water shortages.
Climate Change	Unpredictable monsoon patterns affecting water availability.

Religious & Cultural Significance:

Bhadra River is considered sacred in Karnataka & features in many local myths.

It is mentioned in ancient Kannada & Sanskrit texts highlighting its importance in regional folklore.

Pilgrimage sites: Kudremukh Temple (near origin), Shiva temples at Bhadravathi & Shivamogga, Koodli Sangama where Bhadra meets Tunga forming Tunga-Bhadra River major site for religious rituals.

Tourism & Recreation:

Tourist Attraction	Activity
Kudremukh National Park	Trekking, birdwatching
Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary	Jeep safaris, eco-tourism
Bhadra Reservoir	Boating, camping, fishing
Koodli Sangama	Religious tourism, temple visits

Economic Importance:

Sector	Contribution
Agriculture	Irrigates thousands of hectares of farmland.
Hydroelectricity	Supplies electricity to nearby districts.
Fishing	Supports local fisherfolk with freshwater fish yield.
Tourism	Generates revenue from eco-tourism & religious tourism.

Tungabhadra River

Feature	Details
Origin	Western Ghats, Karnataka
Source Rivers	Tunga River & Bhadra River, which merge at Koodli, Shivamogga district, Karnataka
Length	531 km
Basin Area	71,417 sq. km
States Covered	Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana
Confluence	Joins Krishna River at Alampur, Jogulamba Gadwal district, Telangana
Major Tributaries	Left: Varada, Kumudvati, Vedavati Right: Hagari (Vedavati), Handri
Dams & Reservoirs	Tungabhadra Dam (Tungabhadra Reservoir) at Hospet, Karnataka
Irrigation Benefits	Provides water for Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh & Telangana; vital for agriculture
Hydropower Projects	Several small hydropower plants, including Tungabhadra Dam power station
Cities on Banks	Shivamogga, Harihar, Hospet, Kurnool
Cultural & Religious Significance	Hampi (UNESCO site), historical Vijayanagara Empire, religious sites like Alampur Jogulamba temple
Environmental Concerns	Siltation, pollution, deforestation & reduced flow due to excessive usage
Economic Importance	Supports agriculture, drinking water needs & hydroelectric power generation

For more information, please refer to IAS GYAN

Sources:

TOI

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Consider following statements regarding Bhadra River:

It originates in Gangamoola region of Western Ghats.
Bhadra River flows through state of Tamil Nadu before joining Tungabhadra River.
Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary is located along banks of river.

Which of statements given above is/are correct?

(A) 1 & 3 only
(B) 2 only
(C) 1, 2 & 3
(D) 1 only

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Bhadra River originates in Gangamoola region of Western Ghats in Karnataka.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Bhadra River does not flow through Tamil Nadu; it flows entirely in Karnataka before merging with Tunga River to form Tungabhadra River.

Statement 3 is correct: Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary is situated along banks of river & is well known biodiversity hotspot.