Vamsadhara River
Encyclopedia
River Vamsadhara (also called Bansadhara in Orissa) is an important east flowing river
between Mahanadi
and Godavari
, in Southern Orissa
and North Eastern Andhra Pradesh
states in India
.
It is situated in the geographic co-ordinates of 18 15 to 19 55 north latitudes and 83 20 84 20 east longitudes.
The river originates near Lanjigarh village in Kalahandi
district of Orissa and runs for a distance of about 254 kilometers and joins the Bay of Bengal
at Kalingapatnam
, Andhra Pradesh
.
The total catchement area of the river basin is about 10,830 square kilometers.
Tourist attractions of Mukhalingam
and Kalingapatnam
in Srikakulam district are located on the banks of this river.
Name of this river originates from words bansa (bamboo) and dhara (water flow). This river originates from forests with bamboo trees. So, it was named as Bansadhara in Oriya
and transliterated as Vamsadhara in Telugu
.
Vamsadhara river basin occupies 8015 square kilometers in Orissa and rest 2815 sq. km. lies in Andhra Pradesh. This river basin receives high annual average rainfall of magnitude 1400 mm. The portion lying in Orissa is predominantly hilly and tribal populated area. Andhra Pradesh and Orissa roughly estimated that 115 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) water is available for use in the river. They entered in to agreements to use the available river water in 50:50 ratio. Andhra Pradesh has taken up Gotta barrage and Neredi barrage projects to put its share of water for use. However Orissa has not taken up new projects in the basin area to utilize its share of water. In fact it is diverting Vamsadhara river waters to adjacent Rushikulya river basin by constructing reservoir at Adaba town without taking prior consent from Andhra Pradesh. Also, Orissa has raised objections to Neredi barrage project on the grounds of land submergence in its territory.
Approximately 25% of the available water in this basin is being utilized during monsoon period by constructing barrages across the river. Reservoirs up to 100 TMC water storage capacity, are to be constructed for the non-monsoon period irrigation requirements by which 100% water utilization can be achieved. Peculiar situation of this river is that most of the land to be irrigated is located in Andhra Pradesh while the possible storage reservoirs are located in Orissa. Recently, Vamsadhara River water disputes tribunal is constituted under Interstate River Water Disputes Act to resolve river water sharing issues between the two states. The tribunal should study how best the total water available in the river can be utilized fully by constructing adequate storage reservoirs.
Project was constructed on Vamsadhara river.
Vamsadhara is the main river of Uttarandhra. The Uttarandhra region consists of three north coastal districts in Andhra Pradesh state in India. This region is also called Kalingandhra. Vamsadhara project is designed to meet the irrigation needs of Uttarandhara.
The Vamsadhara project has two canals viz., the left main canal (LMC), irrigating about 148000 acres (598.9 km²), and the right main canal (RMC) covering an ayacut of 62280 acres (252 km²). The left main canal was completed long back. The right main canal was delayed due to various reasons. Gotta Reservoir feeds the right main canal. About 166 villages in seven mandals viz., L.N. Peta
, Hiramandalam
, Burja, Amadalavalasa
, Gara
, Sarubujjili
and Srikakulam
will be benefited from the RMC.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
between Mahanadi
Mahanadi River
The Mahanadi in East Central India. It drains an area of around 141,600 km2 and has a total course of 858 km. The river flows through the states of Chhattisgarh and Orissa.-Source:...
and Godavari
Godavari River
The Godavari is a river that runs 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 , that runs within the country and also the longest river in South India...
, in Southern Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
and North Eastern Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
states in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
It is situated in the geographic co-ordinates of 18 15 to 19 55 north latitudes and 83 20 84 20 east longitudes.
The river originates near Lanjigarh village in Kalahandi
Kalahandi
Kalahandi, , is a district of Orissa in India. The region had a glorious past and great civilization in ancient time. Archaeological evidence of stone age and Iron Age human settlement has been recovered from the region. Asurgarh offered an advanced, well civilized, cultured and urban human...
district of Orissa and runs for a distance of about 254 kilometers and joins the Bay of Bengal
Bay of Bengal
The Bay of Bengal , the largest bay in the world, forms the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. It resembles a triangle in shape, and is bordered mostly by the Eastern Coast of India, southern coast of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to the west and Burma and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the...
at Kalingapatnam
Kalingapatnam
-History:Kalingapatnam is a panchayat and mandal headquarters located in Srikakulam district, where the River Vamsadhara meets the Bay of Bengal and It is one of the safe and clean beach resorts in North Andhra....
, Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
.
The total catchement area of the river basin is about 10,830 square kilometers.
Tourist attractions of Mukhalingam
Mukhalingam
Mukhalingam or Srimukhalingam is a village panchayat in Jalumuru mandal of Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, India.-Geography:Mukhalingam is located at...
and Kalingapatnam
Kalingapatnam
-History:Kalingapatnam is a panchayat and mandal headquarters located in Srikakulam district, where the River Vamsadhara meets the Bay of Bengal and It is one of the safe and clean beach resorts in North Andhra....
in Srikakulam district are located on the banks of this river.
Name of this river originates from words bansa (bamboo) and dhara (water flow). This river originates from forests with bamboo trees. So, it was named as Bansadhara in Oriya
Oriya language
Oriya , officially Odia from November, 2011, is an Indian language, belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. It is mainly spoken in the Indian states of Orissa and West Bengal...
and transliterated as Vamsadhara in Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
.
Vamsadhara river basin occupies 8015 square kilometers in Orissa and rest 2815 sq. km. lies in Andhra Pradesh. This river basin receives high annual average rainfall of magnitude 1400 mm. The portion lying in Orissa is predominantly hilly and tribal populated area. Andhra Pradesh and Orissa roughly estimated that 115 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) water is available for use in the river. They entered in to agreements to use the available river water in 50:50 ratio. Andhra Pradesh has taken up Gotta barrage and Neredi barrage projects to put its share of water for use. However Orissa has not taken up new projects in the basin area to utilize its share of water. In fact it is diverting Vamsadhara river waters to adjacent Rushikulya river basin by constructing reservoir at Adaba town without taking prior consent from Andhra Pradesh. Also, Orissa has raised objections to Neredi barrage project on the grounds of land submergence in its territory.
Approximately 25% of the available water in this basin is being utilized during monsoon period by constructing barrages across the river. Reservoirs up to 100 TMC water storage capacity, are to be constructed for the non-monsoon period irrigation requirements by which 100% water utilization can be achieved. Peculiar situation of this river is that most of the land to be irrigated is located in Andhra Pradesh while the possible storage reservoirs are located in Orissa. Recently, Vamsadhara River water disputes tribunal is constituted under Interstate River Water Disputes Act to resolve river water sharing issues between the two states. The tribunal should study how best the total water available in the river can be utilized fully by constructing adequate storage reservoirs.
The Vamsadhara Project
Boddepalli Rajagopala RaoBoddepalli Rajagopala Rao
Boddepalli Rajagopala Rao was a veteran parliamentarian in India.-Political History:Boddepalli Rajagopala Rao represented Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh for six terms between 1952 to 1967 and 1971 to 1984...
Project was constructed on Vamsadhara river.
Vamsadhara is the main river of Uttarandhra. The Uttarandhra region consists of three north coastal districts in Andhra Pradesh state in India. This region is also called Kalingandhra. Vamsadhara project is designed to meet the irrigation needs of Uttarandhara.
The Vamsadhara project has two canals viz., the left main canal (LMC), irrigating about 148000 acres (598.9 km²), and the right main canal (RMC) covering an ayacut of 62280 acres (252 km²). The left main canal was completed long back. The right main canal was delayed due to various reasons. Gotta Reservoir feeds the right main canal. About 166 villages in seven mandals viz., L.N. Peta
Lakshminarasupeta
Lakshminarasupeta is a village and a Mandal in Srikakulam district in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India....
, Hiramandalam
Hiramandalam
Hiramandalam is a village and a Mandal in Srikakulam district in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India.-Geography:Hiramandalam is located at . It has an average elevation of 27 meters .-Demographics:...
, Burja, Amadalavalasa
Amadalavalasa
Amudalavalasa is a 3rd Grade Municipality and a Mandal headquarters in Srikakulam district in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is 13 kilometres far from Srikakulam town. Amadalavalasa Municipal administration is under the jurisdiction of the Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority...
, Gara
Gara
Gara is a bilingual newspaper published in the city of San Sebastián in the Basque Autonomous Community...
, Sarubujjili
Sarubujjili
Sarubujjili is a village and a Mandal in Srikakulam district in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India.Sarubujjili mandal is bordered by Burja, Seethampeta, Hiramandalam, Jalumuru and Narasannapeta mandals of Srikakulam district.-Features:...
and Srikakulam
Srikakulam
Srikakulam is a town, municipality and headquarters of Srikakulam district in the north-eastern Andhra Pradesh, India. It is part of Srikakulam Assembly constituency and Srikakulam Parliament Constituency. Srikakulam was formerly called as Gulshanabad during Muslim rule and was headquarter of...
will be benefited from the RMC.