Pravara River
The Pravara is the smallest of the major tributaries of Godavari river located in Maharashtra, India. Among the 7 major tributaries, it is the only tributary which originates in the Western Ghats akin to Godavari. Also, it is the only major tributary of Godavari to have both its source and confluence located within the same district - Ahmednagar.
Etymology
As per Indian Vedas,[1] Sage Agastya meditated by consuming only water and air for a long tenure. Due to his incredible devotion, Lord Shiva appeared, blessed him, and left a stream of Ganga that came to be known as the Pravara River.
Origin
The Pravara rises on the eastern slopes of the Sahayadris between Kulang and Ratangad mountains in the Ahmednagar District of Maharashtra.[2]
Course
Close to its origin the river flows into the town of Bhandardara. Here, the Bhandardara Dam is constructed across the river forming the Arthur Lake. The gates of the dam are periodically opened, to allow drownstream flow of the Pravara, giving rise to the Umbrella Falls. From hereon the river takes an east ward course and 58 km downstream, reaches another city- Sangamner, where the river Mahalungi converges with it. This is the second largest city within the Ahmednagar District. Continuing eastwards, the river is joined by another tributary, this time on its right bank: River Mula. The river then, reaches the town of Nevasa and flows 12 km to the east where it finally empties itself into the Godavari River at Pravara Sangam[3] located 208 km (129 mi) from its source of origin.
Tributaries
In its short run, the river acquires water from two main tributaries : Mahalungi and Mula.
- Mahalungi : It rises on the southern and eastern slopes of Patta and Aundha. After the course of three miles (4.8 km), it passes east into the Sinnar taluka of Nashik. It reenters Ahmednagar, after taking a bend towards south, it ends at Sangamner, where it converges with Pravara at its left-bank.
- Mula : This river rises on the eastern slopes of the Sahayadris between Ratangad and Harichandragad. For the first twenty miles, it flows parallel to Pravara, draining the southernmost or Kotul valley of Akole taluka. Passing the town of Kotul it takes a bend to Baleshvar. It then crosses through Sangamner, Parner. The Dam Mula is constructed across the river at Baragaon Nandur. The river drains into Pravara just before the town Nevasa.
- Adhala : It originates in north of Akole on the Slopes of Patta and Mahakali. Merges with the Pravara 3 km (2 miles) west of Sangamner.
Dams
References
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Major tributaries | |
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Minor tributaries |
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Sub-tributaries |
- Jayakwadi Dam
- Majalgaon Dam
- Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project
- Sriram Sagar Project
- Nizam Sagar
- Upper Wardha Dam
- Singur Reservoir
- Neher water system
- Dowleswaram Barrage
- Balimela Reservoir
- Devadula lift irrigation scheme
- Upper Dudhana Dam
- Godavari River Basin Irrigation Projects
- Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Project
- Sitamma Sagar Barrage
- Tummidihetti Barrage
- Sammakka Barrage
- Sadarmat Barrage
features / regions
Maharashtra | |
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Madhya Pradesh | |
Odisha | |
Chhattisgarh | |
Karnataka | |
Telangana | |
Andhra Pradesh |
- Khaparkheda Thermal Power Station
- Koradi Thermal Power Station
- Chandrapur Super Thermal Power Station
- Wardha Warora Power Plant
- Lanco Vidarbha Power Plant
- Nashik Thermal Power Station
- Dhariwal Power Station
- RattanIndia Nashik Thermal Power Station
- Kothagudem Thermal Power Station
- Kakatiya Thermal Power Station
- Parli Thermal Power Station
- NTPC Ramagundam
- NTPC Mauda
- Ramagundam B Thermal Power Station
- Tiroda Thermal Power Station
- Butibori Power Project
- Heavy Water Plant, Manuguru
- Waluj MIDC
- Shendra MIDC
- Shendra – Bidkin Industrial Park
- Ballarpur Industries
- HAL Sunabeda
- NALCO Damanjodi
Highways and railways |
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Bridges on Godavari |
river basin's sustainable
productivity & ecology
- Algal bloom in reservoirs
- High alkalinity of river water in the river basin upstream of Pochampadu dam
- Frequent floods in tail end area of the river basin
- Alkali salts / high pH water run off from ash / red mud dumps of coal fired power stations / bauxite ore enrichment
- Excessive silting of reservoirs due to deforestation and mining activities