Ravi River

Ravi River
Ravi river.
Origin	Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh, India
Mouth	Indo-Pak border into the Chenab River
Basin countries	India, Pakistan
Length	720 kilometres (450 mi)
Basin area	Afghanistan, India and Pakistan
River system	Indus River System
Left tributaries	Beas and Sutlej
Right tributaries	Chenab and Indus

The Ravi (Hindi: रावी, Punjabi: راوی ਰਾਵੀ, Sanskrit: इरावती, परुष्णि, Urdu: راوی) is a trans-boundary river flowing through Northwestern India and Northeastern Pakistan. It is one of the six rivers of the Indus System in Punjab region (name of Punjab means "Five Rivers").^[1]

After the partition of India in August 1947, the waters of the Ravi River, along with five other rivers of the Indus system (Beas, Sutlej, Chenab, Jhelum and Indus), divided India and Pakistan under the Indus Water Treaty, which was facilitated by the World Bank. Subsequently, Indus Basin Project has been developed in Pakistan and many Inter Basin Water Transfers, Irrigation, Hydropower and multipurpose projects have been built in India.

History

According to ancient history traced to the links of Zoroastrians of Iran and the Indus Valley Civilization, from the time of Darius son of Hystaspes (521–485 BC), the Ravi River was known as Iravati (also spelt Airavati). Its Vedic name was Purushni.^[2]

Part of the battle of the ten kings was fought on the Parushni River, which according to Yaska (Nirukta 9.26) refers to the Iravati River (Ravi River) in the Punjab. Macdonell and Keith write that "the name [Parushni] is certainly that of the river later called Ravi (Iravati)".^[3]

When Congress under the presidentship of Jawahar Lal Nehru changed its goal to Purna Swaraj, the national tricolor was unfurled at the bank of river Ravi at mid-night on 31 December 1929 amidst the Vande Mataram and Inquilab Zindabad Slogans.^[4]

Geography

The Ravi River, a trans-boundary river of India and Pakistan, is an integral part of the Indus River Basin and forms the headwaters of the Indus basin. The waters of the Ravi River drain in to the Indian Ocean through the Indus River in Pakistan. The river rises in the Rohtang Pass near Kullu in Himachal Pradesh, India. The river drains a total catchment area of 14,442 square kilometres (5,576 sq mi) in India after flowing for a length of 725 kilometres (450 mi). Flowing westward, it is hemmed by the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar ranges, forming a triangular zone.^[5]

River course

Source reach

Pir Panjal Range

Source of Budhil River, in Himachal Pradesh a major tributary of the Ravi River

The Ravi River originates in the Himalayas in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh, India. It follows a north-westerly course and is a perennial river.^[1] It is the smallest of the five Punjab rivers that rises from glacier fields at an elevation of 14,000 feet (4,300 m), on the southern side of the Mid Himalayas. It flows through Barabhangal, Bara Bansu and Chamba districts. It flows in rapids in its initial reaches with boulders seen scattered in the bed of the river. The Ravi River in this reach flows in a gorge with a river bed slope of 1:185 ft per mile, and is mostly fed by snow melt, as this region falls under rain shadow zone. Two of its major tributaries, the Budhil and Nai or Dhona join 40 miles (64 km) downstream from its source. The Budhil River rises in Lahul range of hills and is sourced from the Manimahesh Kailash Peak and the Manimahesh Lake (elevation 4,080 metres (13,390 ft)) below the peak, and both are visited as sacred Hindu pilgrimage sites. The entire length of Budhil is 45 miles (72 km) where it has a bed slope of 1:314 ft per mile. It flows through the ancient capital of Bharmwar, now known as Bharmour in Himachal Pradesh. During 1858–1860, the Raja of Bharmour had considered the Budhil valley as an excellent source of Deodar trees for supply to the British Raj. However, a part of the forest surrounding the temple was considered sacred and declared a reserved area. The second tributary, the Nai, rises at Kali Debi pass, flows for a length of 30 miles (48 km) (with a bed slope of 1:366 ft per mile) from its source at Trilokinath up to its confluence with the Ravi. This valley was also exploited for its forest wealth during the British period.^[6][7]

Kashmir valley seen from satellite. Eastern sector of snow capped Pir Panjal range separates Beas and Ravi River basins from the Chenab valley

Another major tributary that joins the Ravi River, just below Bharmour, the old capital of Chamba, is the Seul River from the northern direction. The valley formed by the river was also exploited for its rich timber trees. However, the valley has large terraces, which are very fertile and known as "the garden of Chamba". crops grown here supply grains to the capital region and to Dalhousie town and its surrounding areas. One more major tributary that joins the Ravi River near Bissoli is the Siawa. This river was also exploited for its forest resources, (controlled by the then Raja of Chamba) originating from the Jammu region. The valley is also formed by another major tributary that joins Seul River, the Baira-Nalla. Its sub-basin is in the Chamba district, located above Tissa. Baira drains the southern slopes of the Pir Panjal Range. The valley has an elevation variation between 5,321 metres (17,457 ft) and 2,693 metres (8,835 ft).^[5][6][7]

Tant Gari is another small tributary that rises from the subsidiary hill ranges of the Pir Panjal Range to the East of Bharmour. The valley formed by this stream is U-shaped with a river bed scattered with boulders and glacial morainic deposits.^[7]

Main Ravi River

The main Ravi River flows through the base of Dalhousie hill, past the Chamba town. It is located at an elevation of 2,807 feet (856 m) (where a long wooden bridge existed to cross the Ravi River).^[8] It flows into the south-west, near Dalhousie, and then cuts a gorge in the Dhauladhar Range, before entering the Punjab plain near Madhopur and Pathankot. It then flows along the Indo–Pak border for80 kilometres (50 mi) before entering Pakistan and joining the Chenab River. The total length of the river is about 725 kilometres (450 mi).^[1]

Ujh River is another major tributary of the Ravi River. its source is located in the Kailash mountains at an elevation of 4,300 metres (14,100 ft), close to the Bhaderwah Mountains in Jammu district. After flowing for 100 kilometres (62 mi) stretch, it joins Ravi at Nainkot in Pakistan.

As the Ravi flows past Lahore in Pakistan (26 kilometres (16 mi) below Amritsar in India) it is called 'The river of Lahore' since that city is located on its eastern bank. After passing through Lahore the river takes a turn at Kamlia and then debouches into the Chenab River, south of the town of Ahmadpur Sial. On its western bank is the town of Shahdara Bagh with the tomb of Jahangir and the Tomb of Noor Jahan.^[1][5]

Change of river course

According to satellite imagery studies carried out over a period of 20 years (between 1972–1973 and 1991–1993), the river coursing along the India–Pakistan border meanders substantially in the alluvial plains of the Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts of Punjab. This has resulted in successive damage in the Indian Territory as a result of the river changing its course towards India. The reason attributed to this change in the course of the river is massive river training structures/bunds constructed by Pakistan in its part of the river, close to the old course of the river. the shift in the course of the river is reported to be 4.8 kilometres (3.0 mi) towards India.^[9]

River water pollution

In the trans-boundary Ravi River flowing from India to Pakistan, in urban areas of Lahore the pollution levels in the river discharge are reportedly very high, which is attributed to careless disposal of large amount of industrial and agricultural waste water and faulty drainage system in both countries.^[10].^[11] A 72 km stretch of the Ravi River from Lahore Siphon to Baloki headworks indicates heavy contamination of the water and sediment with Cd, Cr, Co and Cu. The river sediments are highly contaminated and have become secondary source for pollution of the river water, even though some control over unauthorized discharges in to the river have been checked. Hence, measures to check metal re-mobilization from sediments into the river flows needs attention.^[10] The worst affected drainage is the Hudiara drain, a tributary of the Ravi River. It is also a transborder problem involving both India and Pakistan. A UNDP funded a special programme was launched in 2006 to address the issue in both countries.^[11]

Vegetation

The Ravi valley in its upper reaches has Deodar, walnut, Quercus ilex, daphne, mulberry, alder, edible pine (Pinus gerardiana), twisted cypress (Cupressus torulosa), chinar (Platanus orientalis), daphne papyracea, cedrela serata, and sisso, olive and kakkar (raus).^[12]

Hydrology

The waters of the Ravi River are allocated to India under the Indus Waters Treaty, signed by India and Pakistan. Within India, the river is under the jurisdiction of the riparian states of Punjab, Haryana, Kashmir and Rajasthan, but management is presided by the Supreme Court of India and the Ravi Beas Tribunal, set up in 1986 for the purpose.

Pre-partition utilization

A map of the Punjab region ca. 1947 showing the doabas formed by Ravi River with other rivers of the Indus River system.

On the Ravi River, the earliest project built was the Madhopur Headworks, in 1902. It is a run-of-the river project (no storage envisaged) to divert flows through the Upper Bari Doab Canal (also known as Central Bari Doab Canal) to provide irrigation in the command area of the then unified India. Doabas formed by the Ravi River are known as the Rechna Doab – between the Chenab and the Ravi River, and the Bari Doab or Majha – between the Ravi and the Beas River. Government of India has assessed the pre-partition utilization in India (Punjab) as 1.476 MAF.^[13]

Hydropower

Chamera Lake and dam

The Hydropower potential of Ravi River system has been assessed as 2294 MW.^[14] The hydropower potential developed since 1980s is through installation of Baira Suil Hydroelelectric Power Project of 198 MW capacity, the Chamera-I of 540 MW capacity commissioned in 1994, the Ranjitsagar Multipurpose Project (600 MW) completed in 1999 and the Chamera-II of 300 MW capacity in the upstream of Chamera-I commissioned in 2004.^[15]

Multipurpose development

The major multipurpose project (Irrigation, Hydropower, Flood Control, development of Fisheries, Tourism and so forth) built on the river is the Ranjit Sagar Dam (also known as Thein dam as it is located in Thein village). The left bank is in Punjab and the right bank is in Jammu and Kashmir. It is located on the main stem of the Ravi River, about 24 kilometres (15 mi) upstream of Madhopur Headworks (built during pre-partition time). The project is an outcome of the development plan conceived for the utilization of the waters of three eastern rivers allocated to India under the Indus Treaty, namely the Sutlej, the Beas and the Ravi, for irrigation, hydropower generation and other consumptive uses.^{[16][17][18][19]}

A proposal for building a storage dam on the Ravi River was initially planned in 1912, envisaging a 200 feet (61 m) high dam. A committee later conducted a survey of the area, but it wasn't until 1954 that geologists fully inspected the project area. In 1957, a storage Dam was proposed on the Ravi River for irrigation purposes only. The power generation aspect was not considered then. It was only in 1964 that the project was conceived for multipurpose development and submitted to Government of India for approval. Finally, in April 1982, the project was approved for construction by the Government of India.

The project, as built now, has a 160 metres (520 ft) high earth gravel shell dam with a gross irrigation potential of 348,000 hectares (860,000 acres) of land and power generation of 600 MW (4 units of 150 MW capacity each).^[16][18][19]

The geomorpohological setting of the river basin, which has a large number of terraces between Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal ranges, is attributed to the truly Himalayan characteristics of the river reflecting the "cis-Himalayan tectonic; structural, lithological and climatic conditions. Obviously it is different from the antecedent Indus and Sutlej".^[20]

International Water Sharing Treaty

The Indus River system comprising the rivers, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej, Chenab, Jhelum and Indus- a shared legacy between India and Pakistan

The upper reaches of the main Indus River and its tributaries lie in India whereas the lower reaches are in Pakistan. Following the partition of India in August 1947, a dispute arose between India and Pakistan on sharing of the waters of the Indus River Basin. The dispute was resolved with the intervention of the World Bank and a treaty was signed in 1960 on sharing of the Indus waters between India and Pakistan.^[21][22]

The Indus System of Rivers comprises the three Western Rivers in the Indus, the Jhelum and Chenab together with three Eastern Rivers; the Sutlej, the Beas and the Ravi. To establish the ownership of these waters, an International Water Treaty was signed between India and Pakistan on April 1, 1960, under monitoring of the World Bank, under the title "Indus Water Treaty". The treaty, under Article 5.1, envisages the sharing of waters of the rivers Ravi, Beas, Sutlej, Jhelum and Chenab which join the Indus River on its left bank (eastern side) in Pakistan. According to this treaty, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej, which constitute the eastern rivers, are allocated for exclusive use by India before they enter Pakistan. However, a transition period of 10 years was permitted in which India was bound to supply water to Pakistan from these rivers until Pakistan was able to build the canal system for utilization of waters of Jhelum, Chenab and the Indus itself, allocated to it under the treaty. Similarly, Pakistan has exclusive use of the Western Rivers Jhelum, Chenab and Indus but with some stipulations for development of projects on these rivers in India. Pakistan also received one-time financial compensation for the loss of water from the Eastern rivers. Since March 31, 1970, after the 10-year moratorium, India has secured full rights for use of the waters of the three rivers allocated to it.^[23][24] The treaty resulted in partitioning of the rivers rather than sharing of their waters.^[25]

Under this treaty, the two countries also agreed to exchange data and co-operate in matters related to the treaty. For this purpose, treaty envisaged creation of the Permanent Indus Commission, with a commissioner appointed by each country.^[24] The Indus Waters Treaty is the only International treaty that has been implemented over the last 60 years with due diligence and sincerity by both India and Pakistan, in spite of many wars fought between the two countries (the treaty was not revoked by India during the 1965 or the 1971 war with Pakistan).^[21][26]

Inter-State Water Dispute

Even prior to the partition of India in August 1947, India had developed projects on the river Ravi and Beas River system. When the treaty was under debate, India had taken advance action to develop the three rivers, which were eventually allocated to it under the treaty. According to a directive of the Government of India, planning for development of the Ravi and Beas rivers was initiated concurrently with the treaty negotiations, which involved four riparian states of Punjab, PEPSU (this was merged with Punjab and subsequently Punjab was divided, and additionally the Haryana state was created), Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) within the ambit of the already developed Bhakra Nangal Dam project on the Sutlej River. A review of the flows in the two river systems revealed that prior to partition of the country and up to the time of the signing of the Indus Treaty, 3.13 MAF of water was under utilization through major irrigation systems such as the Upper Bari Doab Canal System (1959) and the Lower Bari Doab Canal System (1915). The unused flow in the two river systems was assessed at 15.58 MAF, which was planned to be developed by the four states of J&K, PEPSU, Punjab and Rajasthan. However, with the merger of PEPSU with Punjab and subsequent bifurcation of Punjab into two states, a dispute arose on the allocation of Ravi and Beas waters for which a Tribunal was set up under the Inter-State Water Disputes Act.^[13][27]

Following the reorganization of the state of Punjab in 1966, Haryana State was created. This was followed by a notification by the Government of India dated 24 March 1976 allocating the surplus waters between Punjab and Haryana in due consideration of the powers conferred by Sub Section (I) of Section 78 of the Punjab Reorganization Act, 1966 (31 of 1966). The allocation was challenged in the Supreme Court by Haryana. A tripartite agreement followed on 31 December 1981, based on the revised mean annual flows from the flow series of 1921–60 assessed as 20.56 MAF (including prepartition use of 3.13 MAF and transit losses in the Madhopur Beas Link of 0.26 MAF) vis-a-vis the figure of 15.85 MAF assessed in earlier allocation, which was based on the flow series of 1921–45. The revised assessed surplus supplies of 17.17 MAF (from flow and storage) was allocated as^[13]:

Share of Punjab 4.22 MAF; Share of Haryana 3.50 MAF ; Share of Rajasthan 8.60 MAF; Quantity earmarked for Delhi Water supply 0.20 MAF; Share of Jammu & Kashmir 0.65MAF with some specific provisions.^[13]

However, the legality of this agreement was challenged by Punjab. This was followed by another accord titled "the Punjab settlement" signed by the then Prime Minister of India Rajeev Gandhi and Sant Harchand Singh Longowal, President of the Shiromani Akali Dal, on the 24th July, 1985. This accord stipulated that

The farmers of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan will continue to get water not less than what they are using from the Ravi Beas system as on 1.7.1985. Waters used for consumptive purposes will also remain unaffected. Quantum of usage claimed shall be verified by the Tribunal referred to in paragraph 9.2 below. 9.2 The claim of Punjab and Haryana regarding the shares in their remaining waters shall be referred for adjudication to a Tribunal to be presided over by Supreme Court Judge. The decision of this Tribunal will be rendered within six months and would be binding on both parties. All legal and constitutional steps in this respect to be taken expeditiously; 9.3 The construction of Sutlej Yamuna Link (S.Y.L.) canal shall continue. The canal shall be completed by August 1986.^[13]

Following the above accord, Ravi & Beas Waters Tribunal (RBWT) came to be set up in April 1986, in pursuance of paragraphs 9.1 & 9.2 of Punjab Settlement (Rajiv-Longowal Accord, 1985) inter-alia to adjudicate the claims of Punjab and Haryana in Ravi-Beas waters. The Terms of Reference was set and also the time for submission of the report. The Tribunal submitted its report on 30 January 1987. However, the report was contested as Rajasthan also moved an application "seeking explanation and guidance regarding the report of this Ravi Beas waters Tribunal, 1987". The Tribunal is further examining the matter. It is yet to submit its further report to the Government on the pleas submitted by the party States and the Central Government also seeking explanation/guidance on its earlier report. In the mean time, a Presidential reference on Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004 is pending before the Honorable Supreme Court. Hence, the further hearings of the Tribunal and its final report are now enjoined on the outcome of the Supreme Court hearing of the Presidential reference.^[13][28]

Inter-basin water transfer

Transfer of surplus water from one basin to another, termed as Inter Basin Water Transfer has been effectively implemented on the Ravi River. The surplus waters of the Ravi River have been transferred directly first to the Beas River through the Ravi-Beas Link. A further link from Beas River to the Sutlej River by the Beas Sutlej Link augments storage of the Bhakra reservoir in India.^[29]

Notes

References

• Cleghorn, H. (2001). Report upon the forests of the Punjab and the Western Himalaya. Indus Publishing. pp. 109–112. ISBN 8173871205. http://books.google.com/?id=jFuj3u4Clm0C&pg=PA109&dq=Ravi+River&q=Ravi%20River. Retrieved 2010-04-14. 
• Garg, Santosh Kumar (1999). International and interstate river water disputes. Laxmi Publications. pp. 54–55. ISBN 8170080681. http://books.google.com/?id=nrcqGF3agsEC&pg=PA98&dq=Ravi+River&q=Ravi%20River. Retrieved 2010-04-14. 
• Gupta, Om (2006). Encyclopaedia of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Gyan Publishing House. p. 2054. ISBN 8182053897. http://books.google.com/?id=wzuWWPTpwTYC&pg=PA2054&dq=Ravi+River&q=Ravi%20River. 
• Jain, Sharad.K.; Pushpendra K. Agarwal and Vijay P. Singh (2007). Hydrology and Water Resources of India. Springer. pp. 481–484. ISBN 1402051794. http://books.google.com/?id=ZKs1gBhJSWIC&pg=PA483&dq=Ravi+River&q=Ravi%20River. Retrieved 2010-04-14. 
• The Indian geographical journal, Volume 60. Indian Geographical Society. 1985. p. 188. http://books.google.com/?id=WWFDAAAAYAAJ&q=Ravi+River&dq=Ravi+River. Retrieved 2010-04-14. 

See also

• Sapta Sindhu
• Indus Water Treaty
• Ranjit Sagar Dam Project

Punjab Geography Beas River · Chenab River · Chhachh · Cholistan Desert · Doaba · Ganji Bar · Ghaggar-Hakra river · Indus River · Jhelum River · Kachhi · Kallar Kahar · Khewra Salt Mines · Kirana Bar · Kirana Hills · Majha · Malwa · Margalla Hills · Murree · Neeli Bar · Pothohar Plateau · Powadh · Ravi River · Salt Range · Sandal Bar · Sivalik Hills · Soon Valley · Sulaiman Mountains · Sutlej River · Thal Desert · Trimmu

Geography of Himachal Pradesh Lakes Renuka Lake · Maharana Pratap Sagar · Gobind Sagar · more... Rivers Beas · Chenab · Ravi · Sutlej · Yamuna Districts Bilaspur · Chamba · Hamirpur · Kangra · Kinnaur · Kullu · Lahaul and Spiti · Mandi · Sirmaur · Shimla · Solan · Una Other Climate of Himachal Pradesh · Protected areas of Himachal Pradesh · List of peaks in Himachal Pradesh