Water Resources and Irrigation in Karnataka

• Cauvery originates at Talacauvery in Kodagu district and flows 804 kms through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu eastward and join the Bay of Bengal.

• Cauvery flows for only 380 kms in Karnataka. Many tributaries join this river. 

The Krishna River is one of the longest rivers in India, with a total length of approximately 1400 km. The specific length often cited in textbooks for its course is 1392 km.

• The Krishna river's source is near Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra and empties into the Bay of Bengal at Hamsaladeevi near Koduru in Andhra Pradesh.
  

The Krishna River basin is a vital source of water for North Karnataka, supporting extensive irrigation projects and major hydro-electric power stations like the Almatti and Narayanpur dams.

• The Kaveri (or the Cauvery) is the largest river in Karnataka and originates from the district of Coorg.

• Krishna river originates near Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra.
  
• It flows 480 km through the breadth of North Karnataka.

• Cauvery river has supported irrigated agriculture for centuries and served as the  main river for irrigation, water for household consumption and the generation of electricity.

The Bhima, Koyna, Tungabhadra, Ghataprabha, and Malaprabha are all major tributaries of the Krishna River.

The Pennar and Palar rivers originate in the Kolar district of Karnataka before flowing into neighboring states.

The Shimsha River is a tributary of the Cauvery River, and the Shimsha Falls are located on this river in the Mandya district.

The process of providing water to crops is known as irrigation. 

According to standard Karnataka geography textbooks, approximately 26.2% of the cultivable land in Karnataka is under irrigation.

Because the west-flowing rivers of Karnataka descend rapidly from the Western Ghats to the coastal plains, they create numerous waterfalls along their course.

• Bandaje falls is a waterfall located in Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka. 
  
• Bandaje falls is formed by a tributary of Netravati river. 

The Malnad region, which encompasses the Western Ghats, is the source for many west-flowing rivers in Karnataka that eventually join the Arabian Sea.

The primary sources of irrigation in Karnataka are canals, wells (including borewells), and tanks, which have historically been important for agriculture.

Raichur district has the largest area under canal irrigation in Karnataka, largely due to the Tungabhadra project and the Krishna River irrigation schemes.

• Most of these rivers flow out of Karnataka eastward into the Bay of Bengal. 
  
• A large number of dams and reservoirs are constructed across these rivers which richly add to the Irrigation and Hydel power generation capacities of the state.
  

The Shivanasamudra hydro-electric power station, established in 1902, was the first of its kind in Asia and was built specifically to supply electricity to the Kolar Gold Fields.

Shivamogga district has the highest concentration of tank irrigation in Karnataka, owing to its topography and rainfall patterns.

Karnataka ranks 9th among Indian states in terms of the total area under irrigation.

The first hydro-electric power station in Asia was established at Shivanasamudra in Karnataka in 1902. This project pioneered the use of hydro-electric power in India.

Belagavi district has historically held a leading position in total land area under irrigation in Karnataka due to its large size and various irrigation projects.

• The erstwhile Mysore State held the distinction of establishing the first major hydroelectric power generating station at Shivanasamudra.
  
• The first hydro electric power station became operational on June 30, 1902.

Belagavi district has a high concentration of well irrigation facilities, contributing to its status as a major agricultural district in the state.

Kodagu is a hilly, forest-rich district with high rainfall, which results in a lower percentage of land under traditional irrigation compared to the plains districts.

The Mahatma Gandhi Hydro-Electric Project, located at Jog Falls, was commissioned in 1947 to harness the power of the Sharavathi river.

The Shivanasamudra project is built on the Cauvery river, utilizing the natural waterfalls to generate electricity.

The Gerusoppa project, also known as the Sharavathi Tail Race project, is constructed on the Sharavathi river.

The Kali river originates in the Western Ghats and flows westwards into the Arabian Sea, unlike the other rivers listed which flow eastwards towards the Bay of Bengal.

Karnataka is a leading state in India for hydro-electric power generation due to its extensive river systems and favorable topography.

The Cauvery river basin covers Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and the Union Territory of Puducherry.

The Mahatma Gandhi Hydro-Electric project is located near the famous Jog Falls on the Sharavathi river.

• The Almatti Dam is a hydroelectric project on the Krishna river in North Karnataka which was completed in July 2005. 
• The dam is located on the edge of Bijapur and Bagalkot districts.
  

The Krishna river basin spans Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.

The project established near Jog Falls in 1948 is the Mahatma Gandhi Hydro-Electric project.

Belagavi (often spelled Belgaum) district has the largest area under irrigation in Karnataka.

Kodagu has the least irrigated land due to its high rainfall and mountainous terrain, which relies more on rain-fed agriculture.

Raichur district, served by the Tungabhadra project canals, has the largest area under canal irrigation in Karnataka.

Wells and tube wells constitute the most significant source of irrigation in Karnataka, covering a large portion of the state's irrigated area.

The Shivanasamudra hydro-electric station was commissioned in 1902, making it the first of its kind in India.

The Malaprabha river is a tributary of the Krishna river, and they meet at Kudalasangama.

The Cauvery river flows eastwards across the Deccan Plateau into the Bay of Bengal, while the others listed are west-flowing rivers.

Shivanasamudra is recognized as the first hydro-electric power generating station in Karnataka and India.

The Krishna river water dispute involves Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh regarding the sharing of its water resources.

Shivamogga district has a large number of traditional tanks, making it the leader in tank irrigation in Karnataka.

Cauvery water dispute has arisen between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The water stored in Krishanasagar dam in Karnataka is used for irrigation and for meeting the needs of the people of Bangalore. The water stored in Meetur dam in Tamil Nadu is used for crops grown in the delta region of Tamil Nadu.

The Tungabhadra Dam is one of the largest multipurpose projects in Karnataka, serving irrigation, power generation, and flood control.