Yamuna River

Yamuna River

Subject: Geography

Sec: Indian geography

Source and Early Course:

• The Yamuna River originates from the Yamunotri Glacier in the Mussourie range of the lower Himalayas, at an elevation of about 6,387 meters.
• It flows from north of Haridwar, and its initial 170 km stretch is marked by tributaries like Rishi Ganga Kunta, Hanuman Ganga, Tons, and Giri.
• The Tons River, the largest tributary of the Yamuna, features notable biodiversity and conservation areas such as the Har-ki-Dun Valley and Gobind Pashu Vihar Sanctuary.
• The Yamunotri temple, associated with the river’s source, was originally built in the late 19th century and has undergone several reconstructions.

Geographical Journey:

• The river travels through valleys for about 200 km in the lower Himalayas before entering the Indo-Gangetic plains.
• It is tapped at Dak Pathar in Uttarakhand for power generation, after which it flows through significant locations like Poanta Sahib and Hathnikund.

Segments of the River:

• Himalayan Segment: From origin to Tajewala Barrage (172 km)
• Upper Segment: Tajewala Barrage to Wazirabad Barrage (224 km)
• Delhi Segment: Wazirabad Barrage to Okhla Barrage (22 km)
• Eutrophicated Segment: Okhla Barrage to Chambal Confluence (490 km)
• Diluted Segment: Chambal Confluence to Ganga Confluence (468 km)

Environmental Challenges:

• Beyond the Wazirabad Barrage, the river sustains itself mainly on untreated or partially treated domestic and industrial wastewater.
• Water flow management is tightly controlled, especially in dry seasons, as per Supreme Court orders, affecting the natural flow and ecological conditions of the river.

Ecological Significance:

• The river hosts diverse ecosystems and is crucial for the biodiversity of the region, including being a frontier for the Indian elephant in the Western Himalayas.
• Efforts to conserve and manage its catchment areas cover multiple states including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Delhi.
• The Yamuna, a major tributary of the Ganges, demonstrates significant cultural, ecological, and environmental importance, but also faces substantial challenges due to human impact and seasonal variability in water flow.

Tributaries of River Yamuna

• Tons River: The longest tributary of the Yamuna, originating at 3,900 meters above sea level near the Bander Punch Glacier.
  • It flows through the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand and joins the Yamuna near Kalsi, Dehradun.
• Giri River: Originates near Jubbal town, Shimla, and flows through the southeastern part of Himachal Pradesh.
  • Divides the Sirmaur district into Cis-Giri and Trans-Giri regions, joining the Yamuna upstream of Paonta.
• Hindon River: Flows between the Ganga and Yamuna rivers, originating from the upper Shiwalik.
  • It is a rain-fed river covering a catchment area of 7,083 sq. km and stretching approximately 400 km.
• Betwa River: Rises in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, and flows 590 km to join the Yamuna near Hamirpur, Uttar Pradesh.
  • Its basin is primarily in Madhya Pradesh (68.64%) and Uttar Pradesh (31.36%).
• Dhasan River: A right bank tributary of the Betwa, originating in Raisen district, Madhya Pradesh.
  • It forms the southeastern boundary of Lalitpur, Uttar Pradesh, covering a total length of 365 km.
• Ken River: Flows through Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, originating near Jabalpur.
  • Joins the Yamuna near Chilla village, Uttar Pradesh, with a total length of 427 km.
• Sind River: One of the second largest right bank tributaries of the Yamuna, originating in Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh.
  • Flows northeast for 415 km before joining the Yamuna upstream of Auraiya.
• Chambal River: The largest tributary of the Yamuna, originating near Mhow, Madhya Pradesh.
  • Flows through Rajasthan and forms part of the boundary with Uttar Pradesh before joining the Yamuna.
  • Known for its historical name, Charmanvati, and a significant drainage area that includes parts of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
• Tributaries of Chambal River:
  • Kali Sindh: Originates in the Vindhya Hills and joins Chambal near Nonera, Rajasthan.
  • Parwan River: Flows from the Malwa Plateau to join Kali Sindh near Ramgarh, Rajasthan.
  • Parwati River: Begins in the Vindhyan hills, forms a boundary between Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, and joins the Chambal near Pali.
  • Banas River: Originates in the Aravali range, flows through Rajasthan, and joins the Chambal near Rameshwar.

Source: Indiawris