Tapi River

The Tapi river basin lies in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. It is a major river of central India and lies in the south of the Narmada river. The total length of the Tapi river is 724 km.

FACTS ABOUT TAPI RIVER SYSTEM

• Tapi river originates near Multai reserve forest in Madhya Pradesh’s Betul district.

• It is teh 2nd largest west flowing river of the Peninsular river.

• Suki, Arunavati and Gomain joins the river from right.

• Mona, Sipna, Vaghur, Amravati, Bori, Girna, Panjhara, Buray and Purna meets the river from left side.

• The total area of the Tapi river basin is 65145 sq. Km.

• 80% of the drainage area lies in Maharashtra.

• Satpura range is on the north of the river basin while Ajanta range and Satmala hills bound it from southern side.

• Mahadev hills are on the eastern side of the Tapi river basin while the Arabian Sea is on the west.

• The first 282 kilometres of Tapti are in Madhya Pradesh, with 54 kilometres serving as a shared border between Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

• The Tapti river flows for 228 kilometres through Maharashtra before entering Gujarat.

• The Tapti River flows across Gujarat for 214 kilometres before merging with the Arabian Sea through the Gulf of Cambay/Khambat after passing through Surat.

• The Tapti river is also subjected to tidal effect for over 25 kilometres upstream from the mouth.

• Upper Tapi Project's Hathnur Dam in Maharashtra is built over Tapi river.

• In Gujaarat, Ukai Project's Kakrapar weir and Ukai Dam are built on the waters of Tapi river.

• Girna and Dahigam Weir dam of Girna Project are also built on Tapi river in Maharashtra.

• Textile plants in Surat and paper and newsprint factories in Nepanagar are important industries along the Tapi river basin.

TRIBUTARIES OF TAPI RIVER

Tapi river has 14 major tributaries joining the river from both the sides.

River Name Length(Km)

Tapi river - 778

Purna river - 379

Girna river - 346

Bori river - 149

Panjhra river - 142

Aner river - 74

Arunavati river - 64

Gomai river - 58

Purna River

The Purna river has a total drainage area of 18,929 square kilometres.

The Purna is the Tapti's most important tributary.

Purna is the only river in Tapti's upper basin that has a year-round flow.

Purna originates in the Gawilgarh hills and runs south-westerly for roughly 60 kilometres through a steep forest area before entering the Purna plains.

The Purna river joins the Tapti river to the northwest of Adilabad after flowing mainly west for about 274 kilometres.

Girna River

The Goddess Giraja (Parvati) has inspired the name of this river.

The Girna river begins at Kem peak in the Nashik District's Western Ghats range, flows east to Jamda, and then turns north. After that, it travels west to Nandra, until joining the Tapi river on the left near Nanded.

The Girna river flows approximately 260 kilometres and drains 10,061 square kilometres, accounting for one-sixth of the Tapti river's total catchment area.

Geographically, the Girna river basin is located on the Deccan Plateau, and its valley boasts good soils that are actively farmed.

Bori River

The Bori river rises in the Malegaon sub-division of Nasik district's northwestern corner.

It flows east first, then north, before joining the Tapti river to the east of Betavad on the left bank.

The Bori river flows for 130 kilometres and drains 2,580 square kilometres.

Panjhra River

From the peak of the Sahyadri highlands, the Panjhra river rises near the little village of Pimpalner.

Just after its beginning, a small reservoir named Latipada dam is built.

The Panjhra river travels east for 99 kilometres before turning north and joining the Tapti to the south of Thalner.

The Panjhra river flows about 138 kilometres and drains 3,257 square kilometres.

Aner River

The Aner river is the Tapti river's longest right bank tributary.

The Aner river originates on the Satpura hills' southern slope.

It flows about 74 kilometres in a south-westerly direction before joining the Tapti on the right, south of Hol.

The drainage area of the Aner River is 1,702 square kilometres.

Arunavati River

The Arunavati river also originates on the southern slope of the Satpura hills.

The Arunavati River flows approximately 64 kilometres in a southwesterly direction before joining the Tapti River from the left to the east of the settlement of Virdel.

It has a drainage area of 935 square kilometres.

Gomai River

The Gomai river also originates on the southern slopes of the Satpura hills.

It flows southwest about 58 kilometres before joining the Tapti on the right near the settlement of Prakasha.

The Gomai River drains an area of 1,148 square kilometres.

Vaghur River

The Vaghur river springs in the Ajanta hills and travels north for about 96 kilometres before joining the Tapti river on the left.

The river Vaghur has a drainage area of 2,592 square kilometres.

Buray River

The Buray river emerges from the Satmala highlands.

It flows east for 64 kilometres before turning north-east and flowing for another 23 kilometres to join the Tapti river to the north-east of Sindhkheda.

The drainage area of the Buray river is 1,419 square kilometres.