3/22/13 Godavari River

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Godavari (|) River



2
Introduction
Source of Godavari River
Godavari River in plains
Dams on Godavari River
Godavari Bachao Andolan
History
Godavari in Hindu religion
Economy
Ecology
Godavari river development
Tributaries of River Godavari
Environment Protection
Google map Godavari
Introduction
The Godavari ( |) River is the only river in India that flows from western to southern India and is considered to
be one of the big river basins in India. With a length of 1465 km, it is the second longest river in India after the Ganges
river. .It is also known as "Dakshin ganga (Southern Ganges)" or "Budi Ganga"

Godavari originates near Trimbak in Nashik District of Maharashtra state and flows east across the Deccan Plateau
into the Bay of Bengal near Narasapuram in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. The Godavari river is
considered extremely holy by the Hindus
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The most sacred rivers of India are Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Sarswati, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri, a dip in any
of these rivers washes ones sins away..
Like most other rivers, domestic pollution is the biggest polluter of the river Godavari, accounting for 82 per cent of
total pollution, whereas industrial pollution accounts for about 18 per cent. The story of pollution in the Godavari river
evolves around the tiny Nakavaggu rivulet, which joins the Manjira, a tributary of the Godavari. The rivulet is dead and
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evolves around the tiny Nakavaggu rivulet, which joins the Manjira, a tributary of the Godavari. The rivulet is dead and
supports no life. Highly productive agricultural land surrounds the rivulet. More than 150 small and medium industries
and several large industries near the twin cities of Secunderabad and Hyderabad release their effluents into the
Nakavaggu rivulet.
However most of the blame lies with the 72 industries in the Patancheru Industrial area that have been dumping their
effluents into the river. Bereft of treatment facilities, industrial effluents are let out into streams that collect in ponds.
This overflow later reaches the Nakavaggu. A drain leading to Nakavaggu also carries effluents from BHEL, Asian
Paints, and Voltas industries. Industrial discharge from such industries has severely affected public health, surface
and ground water and agriculture in 22 villages in this area.
Necessary efforts were being made to pursue the centre to declare Polavaram Project on river Godavari as National
Project, said N.Kiran kumar Reddy ,Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh .While addressing the public meeting at Tuni in
east Goadavari district as a part of participating in Rachabanda programe on January 25, 2911.
Source of Godavari River
The source of the Godavari river s Trimbakeshwar,in the Nashik Subdivision or District Of Maharashtra and flowing
eastwardly across the Deccan Plateau through the state of Maharashtra.

Godavari River in plains
The Godavari River originating in the Western Ghats Trimbakeshwar in the Nashik of Maharashtra and flowing
eastwardly across the Deccan Plateau through the state of Maharashtra. It enters Andhra Pradesh at Kandhakurthi
in Nizamabad district , While passing through telangana region of Andhra Pradesh it touches a small village called
Dharmapuri, crossing the Deccan Plateau and then turns to flow in a southeast direction until it empties into the Bay
of Bengal through two mouths.`
There are several major towns and cities along the River Godavari. River Godavari has been serving as the life giver
and sanctifier for most of the towns in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. The Major towns and cities along the river in
Maharashtra are Nashik, Trimbakeshwar (10th Jyotirliga of Lord Shiv), Kopargaon , Paithan (Ancient capital of
Satvahan dynasty, Holy town), Gangakhed, Nanded , Sironcha and Gevrai in District Beed
In Andhra Pradesh major towns and cities along the river are Basara, Adilabad (Gnana Saraswati Temple), Nirmal,
Tadpakala, Nizamabad (Armoor Toys) Cbattapur, Nizamabad (Armoor Toys), Goodem gutta , Adilabad
(Temple)cDharmapuri , Karimnagar (Narasimha Swamy Temple), Kaleshwaram , Karimnagar (Kaleswara Mukhteswara
swamy (Siva) Temple) Manthani , Karimnagar (Gautameshwara Swami (Siva) Temple, Sri Rama, Sarswathi Temples)
Mancherial , Adilabad Godavarikhani , Karimnagar EturiNagaram Bhadrachalam , Khammam , Rajamundry , East
Godavari Yanam ,Kovvur , West Godavari, Tallapudi , West Godavari Narsapur, West Godavari Antarvedi , East
Godavari, Tadipudi , WestGodavari
Dams on Godavari River
There is a big dam built just after the source of the river at Trimbakeshwar . The dam is in the town of Gangapur,
which literally means a town on a river. The dam provides drinking water to the residents of Nashik and also supplies
water to the thermal power station situated downstream at Eklahara, which providespower to the town.
There is another multipurpose project on the Godavari River named Sriram Sagar Project on the borders of Adilabad
and Nizamabad District. It is in the town of Pochampad, 60 km away from Nizamabad. It irrigates 4 districts of
Northern Telangana Region of Andhra Pradesh and supplies power.
The Jayakwadi dam near Paithan is one of the largest earthen dam in India. This dam was built to address the
problem of drought in Marathwada region and problem of flood along the bank of river. Two 'left' and 'right' canals
provide the irrigation to fertile land up to Nanded district. This dam has major contribution in industrial development of
Aurangabad Maharashtra.
Near Rajamundry the largest city on the banks of Godavari, there is a dam that provides water for irrigation. Below
Rajahmundry, the river divides into two streams that widen into a large river delta which has an extensive navigable
irrigation-canal system, Dowleswaram Barrage that links the region to the Krishna River delta to the southwest.
The Polavarm dam in Andhra Pradesh, to be built on the Godavari river, could now run up against a green hurdle
despite a conditional clearance by former Union environment and forests minister Jairam Ramesh.

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Godavari Bachao Andolan
In 1986,citizens launched an awareness campaign against Godavari river pollution. Dr Kishan Rao, a medical
practitioner from Patancheru and members of the Citizens Against Pollution (CAP) movement initiated the campaign.
Combined with the affected communities, they formed the Patancheru Anti-Pollution Committee (PAPC) in 1986.
Activists staged dharnas, relay hunger strikes and demanded that the state government end such pollution. Their
protests also included a Patancheru bandh and a 40-km long march to the state assembly, where they presented a
list of demands to the then chief minister, N T Rama Rao.
Their demands included that each industry construct an effluent treatment plant (ETP); that industries ensure
adequate compensation for degraded agricultural land and that they supply safe drinking water to the affected villages.
Farmers from the adjoining areas of Sultanpur, Gandigudem and Krishnareddypeta organized a rally as part of an
awareness campaign in the Bollaram industrial area on August 18, 1986, blocking roads leading to the industrial area.
Three days later, the PAPC held a dharna in front of the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) Rangareddy?s office. The
outcome was a promise to control pollution. Continuous pressure from the PAPC forced the district administration to
serve notice to 22 industries in the area.
The courts set a September 3, 1987 deadline to industries to build individual ETPs. However, in the absence of any
substantial results after the due date, the PAPC announced its second phase of public protests by organizing a "race
against pollution" on September 12, 1987. About 500 bullocks obstructed the Hyderabad- Mumbai highway for over
six hours. On October 9 that year, farmers filed a writ petition in the Andhra Pradesh High Court against 20 of the 22
polluting industries. Lengthy legal process started. In 1988, the government held a series of meetings to discuss short-
and long-term solutions. Though a common effluent treatment plant (CETP) appeared to be acceptable to most
industries, some large industries claimed that they already had their own ETPs. While talks flitted from discussion
table to boardroom, 12 units were served closure notice on May 7, 1989. After the industries obtained a stay order
from the court, farmers and activists initiated another agitation -- a rasta roko at the Bollaram industrial area, which
began on October 1990.
When a ruling by the division bench of the high court went in favour of the industries, farmers approached the
Supreme Court through the eminent lawyer and Magsaysay award winner, M C Mehta. The five-year long battle saw
the apex court asking the Nagpur-based National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) to conduct an
exhaustive report on industrial pollution in the Nakavaggu basin. While the NEERI report suggested compensation for
the farmers affected, the Supreme Court passed interim orders for industries to immediately cease releasing effluents
into water bodies. The apex court observed that 56 industries were dumping untreated effluents into the Isakavagu and
Nakavaggu, polluting the rivers. The court also sought provision of safe drinking water to the affected persons by
October 1998, restoration of cultivable land by applying a suitable conditioner, that industries take remedial action for
13 tanks by the year 2000, medical care to pollution victims and sustained vigilance of industrial discharge.
The court order brought about some action. Piped safe drinking water from metro water works was provided at a
project cost of Rs 5.5 crore. Monetary relief of Rs 2.13 crore has been paid to the victims of pollution. However,
pollution controlled measures through CETPs is an unfinished task. Patancheru Enviro-Tech limited (PETL), which
isresponsible for monitoring and maintaining the CETPs, is managed by the executive board of 156 Patancheru
industries. But only 80 of them send their pre-treated effluents to the three constructed CETPs.
History
The river has been mentioned in the Purans and ancient scriptures. According to a legend Sage Gautama lived on
the Brahmagiri Hills at Trayambakeshwar with his wife Ahalya. The rishi kept his stock of rice in a granary. Once, a
cow entered his granary and ate up the rice. When the rishi tried to ward the cow away with Durbha grass, it fell dead.
The rishi wanted to relieve himself of the sin of Gohatya. He worshipped Lord Shiva and requested him to bring the
Ganges to purify his hermitage. Lord Shiva pleased with the rishi appeared as Triambaka and brought along the river
Ganges. Since the Ganges was brought down to Triambakeshwar by Sage Gautama, it is known here as Gautami. It
is also known as Godavari because the river helped Sage Gautama to relieve his sins.
Nashik Municipal Corporation fined
for releasing sewage into Godavari
The Maharashtra Pollution Control
Board (MPCB) has penalised the
Nashik Municipal Corporation for
polluting the Godavari river. The MPCB's
regional office has forfeited Rs1.25 lakh
from the NMC's bank guarantee for
various discrepancies in the operations
related to sewage treatment plants.
The MPCB has taken the action
against the civic body for not
maintaining the quality of treated
sewage water released into the river, for
improper operations and maintenance of
sewage treatment plants and for not
treating sewage generated in the city.
Thousands of dead fish found
floating in Godavari river

Thousands of dead fish were found
floating in the Godavari river here, a
local Congress corporator said on July
8, 2012, demanding an inquiry into the
incident. Corporator Vikrant Mate said
the fish were found floating in the river
near Asaram Bapu Ashram on
Gangapur Road here.
"It should become clear whether the
fish died due to chemicals and effluents,
released into the Godavari river by
industrial units or was there any other
reason behind this," he said.
Godavari in Hindu religion
The Godavari river is one of the most sacred holy rivers of India among Ganga () , Yamuna ( ) , Narmada (
} and Kaveri. According to mythology, Godavari, the sister of river Ganga, emerged from the ata of Lord Shiva who
was meditating on the mountain. The place is hence considered holy and revered.Every Hindu believes that a dip in
any of these five rivers washes their sins, The Godavari River is sacred to Hindus and has several temples built on its
banks. It has been held as a special place of pilgrimage for many thousands of years. Many famous devotees
including Baladeva (5000 years ago) and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (500 years ago) have visited here. Godavari is
considered the Dhakshin (Southern) Ganges and Rajahmundry Dhakshin Kasi. Every twelve years, Pushkaram fair is
held on its banks of the Godavari river.
Maha Shivaratri () was celebrated in Trimbakeshwar with religious fervor on February 20, 2012. Around
two lakh devotees gathered in the small town of Trimbakeshwar at the foothills of Brahamagiri mountain. The temple of
Trimbakeshwar is known for its shivalinga, also revered as one of the 12 jyotirlingas. Trimbakeshwar is the only
temple, where the lingam is not cylindrical upwards but is inward like a bowl, which is considered as the unison of
Bramha, Vishnu *) and Shiva ()

The banks of Godavari river has many pilgrimage sites.
Film on Godavari about a true
incident
Maranthen Mannithen is an upcoming
bilingual, directed by Kumar Nagendra
starring Aadhi and Taapsee in the lead.
The film is about a true incident that
happened in 1980s on the banks of river
Godavari, when an unexpected flood
killed 75,000 people in the area. Will the
young lovers Adhi and Taapsee escape
the tragedy is the film, says the
director. It has some Titanic touch in
it, adds Kumar Nagendra.
The film also stars Lakshmi Manchu,
Suja Varunee and Sundeep Kishan in
pivotal roles. Isaignani Ilayaraja will do
the music and MR Palanikumaar wields
the camera.
Colours of Godavari river black in
Nashik

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The banks of Godavari river has many pilgrimage sites.
* Trimbakeshwar, One of the twelve Jyotirlingas and ancient temple of Lord Shiva .
* Nashik - One of the four Sinhastha Kumbh Mela
* Paithan - Saint Eknath's native place, famous Jayakwadi dam , and a beautiful garden - Sant Dnyneshwar Udyan.
* Nanded - Takht Sri Hazur Sahib, One of the five most sacred places in Sikhism
* Basar - Sri Gyana Saraswati temple is situated on the banks of Godavari.
* Dharmapuri, Andhra Pradesh - Hindu Temple of Lord Narasimha
* Kaleshwaram - Sri Kaleswara Mukhteswara swamy Temple on Triveni sangamam of godavari and pranahita.
* Bhadrachalam - Hindu Temple of Lord Rama.
* Rajahmundry - Center for Telugu Literature.
* Pattiseema - A village where a Hindu temple is located on a small hill on an island in the river.
* Antarvedi - Laxmi Narasimha Swamy temple.
* Konaseema - Picturesque delta of Godavari.
Economy
The River Godavari is very important for the economically development of this region. The river water is heavily used
for agriculture, as it is the only available water source. Over half of the river basin (18.6 million ha), is categorized as
cultivable land. Most of the rivers water is drawn for irrigation purposes. Application of fertilizers is very high at 49.34
kg/hectares,
almost double the countrys average. However, the river's water has turned the fertile soil toxic with heavy metals. The
soil contains heavy metals like iron, nickel, zinc, copper, cobalt and cadmium.
Ecology
The Coringa mangrove forests in the Godavari delta are the second largest mangrove formation in the country. Part of
this has been declared as the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, renowned for its reptiles. They also provide an important
habitat to a wide variety of fish and crustaceans. These forests also act as barriers against cyclones, tropical stroms
and tidal waves thus protecting the nearby villages. The Krishna Godavari basin is one of the main nesting sites of the
endangered Olive Ridley turtle.
Godavari river development
The Godavari river development are the policies and rules to keep the banks of the river clean and developed. The
Godavari River features huge resources and potential for the development of the region. The Godavari river
development was designed to keep the banks and water of the river clean and usable for resource needs.
Nearly a dozen projects were started in 2005 as part of Jalayagnam, but till date, none has been completed in spite
of pumping in huge sums. The government is likely to revise the existing action plan to ensure early completion of
irrigation projects based on the waters of the Godavari.

On August 1, 2012 the Godavari river
suddenly turned black in colour and
emitted bad odour, as the heavy rains
from Sunday onwards carried the
sewage into the river. Whenever the rain
water overflows in the river from its
catchment area, it is muddy in colour.
On Tuesday, no water was released
from the dam either, as the dam level is
itself very low.
The stagnated water which flowed into
the river from the catchment of
Gangapur was a mixture of the sewage
from the city and the effluents from the
industrial area.
"The river is being polluted with the
release of sewage and effluents from the
city. It was all of the sewage that has
been gathering in the river over months,"
said Rajesh Pandit, member of the
NGO Godavari Gatarikarn Virodhi
Manch, who has been fighting a social
and legal battle to stop the pollution of
Godavari. With rising pollution, the city
is grossly falling short of sewage
treatment system. While the provision
has been made, the system is not
yet ready. Thus the sewage is released
into the river, untreated. Due to this the
river was covered with hyacinths in May
and June. While cosmetic treatment of
removing the hyacinths was applied, the
cause remained untreated.
Tributaries of River Godavari
The tributaries of Godavari River are Pravara, Indravati , Wainganga , Wardha, Pench, Kanhan and Penuganga rivers,
discharge an enormous volume of water into the Godavari system. Its tributaries include Indravati, Manjira River,
Bindusara River and Sabari River
Environment Protection
Polavaram Project on river Godavari as National Project, said N.Kiran Kumar reddy ,Chief Minister of Andhra
Pradesh. This project was already in PM package and declaration as national project would help to get ninety percent
funds from the centre. The Technical Advisory Committee and had approved the project and received environmental
protection clearance. would be cleared soon , he added .
Residents of the Panchavati (Nasik) area are unhappy over the pollution in the Godavari River, including Ramkund,
Laxmankund and nearby areas. Situated on the banks of the river Godavari, Panchavati is one of the oldest areas of
the city and a centre of pilgrimage, as thousands of the tourists and devotees visit it daily. Hundreds of small and big
ancient temples are located in the area, one of the only four places in the country where the Kumbh Mela is held.
Encroachment around temples is another problem. Temples along the river must be free of hawkers and permission
to shops or hawkers should be given after proper planning, but this does not happen. A vegetable market is set up on
the river banks every Wednesday. In some places, vendors even sell meat on open spaces.
The Tourism and Finance Corporation of India (TFCI) has pointed out that the reasons for Godavari pollution included
the release of untreated sewage in the river by the Nashik Municipal Corporation, encroachments and the absence of
cleanliness and sanitation measures on the river bank. The survey was conducted recently and the problem is only
expected to worsen during the Kumbh mela, when lakhs of people will be bathing in the water.
Google map Godavari
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