The Netravati River (Tulu: ನೇತ್ರಾವತಿ ತುದೆ )(Kannada: ನೇತ್ರಾವತಿ) (or Nethravathi River) has its origins at Gangamoola in Kudremukh in Chikkamagaluru district of Karnataka, India. This river flows through the famous pilgrimage place Dharmasthala and considered as one of the Holy rivers of India. It merges with the Kumaradhara River at Uppinangadi before flowing to the Arabian Sea, south of Mangalore city. This river is the main source of water to Bantwal and Mangalore. The Netravathi railway bridge is one of the known bridges which serve as the gateway to Mangalore.
Earlier in the last century it was known as the Buntwal River; the important town of Bantwal is seen on its banks. A reference to the River Nettrawutti, as unfordable during the South-West Monsoon, can be seen in the Gazetteer of Southern India,, published in 1855. It has an apparent breadth of about 200 yards with a bed encumbered by large rocky masses, chiefly of hornblende rock, containing spangles of mica and small garnets. Sienites also occur, as fragments of a beautiful pegmatite with flesh coloured feldspar are seen in the beds of rivulets. The Netravati River is navigable by small country craft for many miles.
Often Bantwal has been submerged in bygone years during the monsoon by overflowing river Netravati. Many residents left the town, settled elsewhere, and prospered. The major floods remembered by the elders of the town occurred in 1928 and 1974.
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Netravati river originates in the Western Ghats near Ballalrayana Durga in Karnataka State. The river drains an area of about 1,353 square miles.[1] The Kumaradhara River, which originates in the Subramanya range of Western Ghats, meets the Netravati river near Uppinangadi village.[2]
Many mini hydroelectric projects have been set up on this river, causing damage to environment of this ecologically sensitive region; and more projects are in the planning stages. A recent controversy has arisen, from a proposal to change the path of the river so that the dry land areas above the Western Ghats can be irrigated.[3] Changing the path of the river might lead to unforeseen environmental disasters according to some experts. For example, it might affect the marine life,the expert say, due to redu which is full of natural resources, flowing into the sea. Also some opposition has arisen to the proposed hydro electric projects on Netravathi river.[4]
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