Sabarmati River
Course
The Sabarmati River originates in the Aravalli Range in the Indian state of Rajasthan. The total length of the river is 371 km (231 mi). After travelling 48 km (30 mi) in Rajasthan it flows into the Indian state of Gujarat where it is joined by a left bank tributary, Wakal, near the village Ghonpankhari. From there, the river continues southwest to Mhauri and meets a right bank tributary, the Sei River. Continuing its journey, it is joined by a left bank tributary, the Harnav River, before entering the Dharoi reservoir. After the Sabarmati passes the Dharoi dam it meets another left bank tributary, the Hathmati River. From there, the river flows past the city of Ahmedabad and is joined by a left bank tributary, the Watrak River. The Sabarmati River continues to flow and drains into the Gulf of Khambhat, in the Arabian Sea.
Basin
The catchment area of the Sabarmati basin is 21,674 km (8,368 sq mi) out of which 4,124 km (1,592 sq mi) lies in Rajasthan State and the remaining 18,550 km (7,160 sq mi) in Gujarat. The basin is located in a semi-arid zone with rainfall ranging from 450 to 800 mm (18 to 31 in) in different parts of the basin. The river traverses three geomorphic zones: rocky uplands, middle alluvial plains, and lower estuarine zone.
The major tributaries are the Watrak, Wakal, Hathmati, Harnav, and Sei rivers. Average annual water availability in the Sabarmati basin is 308 m (10,900 cu ft) per capita, which is significantly lower than the national average of 1,545 m (54,600 cu ft) per capita.
The Sabarmati is a seasonal river whose flows are dominated by the monsoon, with little or no flows post-monsoon. An average flow of 33 m (1,200 cu ft) per second was measured at Ahmedabad during the period 1968–1979. Over the past century, the flood of August 1973 is considered to be the largest flood, when a flow of 14,150 m (500,000 cu ft) per second was measured at Dharoi.
Significance in Hinduism
In Rajasthan, it is believed that the Sabarmati River originated due to the penance of ascetic Kashyapa on Mount Abu. His penance had pleased Shiva and in return, Shiva gave ascetic Kashyapa the Ganges River. The Ganges River flowed from Shiva's hair onto Mount Abu and became the Sabarmati River. In another legend surrounding the origin of the river, Shiva brought the goddess Ganga to Gujarat and that caused the Sabarmati to come into being.
History
Rajashekhara's Kavya-mimamsa (10th century) calls the river Shvabhravati (IAST: Śvabhravatī). The 11th century text Shringara-manjari-katha calls it "Sambhramavati" (literally, "full of fickleness").
Jain Acharya Buddhisagarsuri has written many poems about the Sabarmati River.
During India's independence struggle, Mahatma Gandhi established the Sabarmati Ashram as his home on the banks of this river.
In 2018, an assessment by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) named the Kheroj-Vautha stretch of the Sabarmati among the most polluted river stretches in India.
Dams
There are several reservoirs on the Sabarmati and its tributaries. The Dharoi dam is located on the main river. The Hathmati, Harnav and Guhai dams are located on the tributaries meeting the main river upstream of Ahmedabad while Meshvo reservoir, Meshvo pick-ueir, Mazam and Watrak dams are located on tributaries meeting downstream. The Kalpasar is planned project in the Gulf of Khambhat.
In 2002, water from the Narmada river was released into the Sabarmati River through the Sardar Sarovar dam.
Economy
Sabarmati Riverfront
The Sabarmati Riverfront project is one of the most ambitious projects undertaken by the government to enrich the economy. As per the research conducted by couple of academicians, the main concern of the riverfront project was to reduce river pollution, increase tourism, and prevent future floods. As of 2020, the second phase of the project has received in-principle approval. KPMG has listed the Sabarmati Riverfront project in its top 100 most innovative global infrastructure projects.
Gallery
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Lithograph by Dutchman Philip Baldeus depicting Ahmedabad and Sabarmati River circa 1752 -
Sabarmati River in 1890 -
Watercarts in Sabarmati near Ahmedabad in 1890s -
View of the Harnav, a tributary of the Sabarmati -
Construction work going on near the river under the Sabarmati River Front Development Project -
River Sabarmati in Ahmedabad, Gujarat -
Sabarmati River near Ambod
