Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements:
Jhelum River passes through Wular Lake.
Krishna River directly feeds Kolleru Lake.
Meandering of Gandak River formed Kanwar Lake.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Only one
Only two
All three
None
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Solution
Statements 1 and 3 are correct, while Statement 2 is incorrect.
Statement 1: Correct
The Jhelum River passes through Wular Lake.
The Jhelum originates from the Verinag spring near Anantnag in the Kashmir Valley.
After flowing through Srinagar, it enters Wular Lake and subsequently emerges from the lake.
Wular is a large natural freshwater lake situated in the Bandipora region of Jammu and Kashmir.
The lake acts as a natural reservoir that regulates the flow of the Jhelum.
During periods of high discharge, it stores water and helps moderate floods downstream.
The origin of Wular Lake is generally associated with tectonic activity.
It was designated a Ramsar Site in 1990.
Siltation, encroachment, agricultural expansion and pollution are among its major environmental threats.
Statement 2: Incorrect
The Krishna River does not directly feed Kolleru Lake.
Kolleru Lake is situated in Andhra Pradesh between the deltas of the Krishna and Godavari rivers.
It is a natural freshwater lake.
It is principally fed by smaller rivers and streams such as the Budameru and Tammileru, along with agricultural runoff from the surrounding region.
The Krishna River does not directly flow into Kolleru Lake.
Excess water from Kolleru drains towards the Bay of Bengal through an outlet known as Upputeru.
During floods, the lake acts as a natural flood-balancing reservoir between the Krishna and Godavari delta regions.
It was designated a Ramsar Site in 2002.
The lake is an important habitat for migratory birds and aquatic biodiversity.
Statement 3: Correct
Kanwar Lake was formed by the meandering of the Gandak river system.
Kanwar Lake is also known as Kabar Tal or Kanwar Jheel.
It is situated in Begusarai district of Bihar.
It is an oxbow lake.
It developed when an old meander of the Burhi Gandak became cut off from the principal river channel.
When a river forms pronounced bends across a plain, the neck of a meander may eventually be cut through, leaving a crescent-shaped water body called an oxbow lake.
The Burhi Gandak is a tributary of the Ganga and forms part of the broader Gandak river system.
Kabar Tal was designated a Ramsar Site in 2020, becoming Bihar’s first Ramsar Site.
The wetland is important for migratory waterbirds, local fisheries and flood regulation.
Conclusion
Statement | Status | Reason |
1 | Correct | The Jhelum passes through Wular Lake |
2 | Incorrect | Kolleru is mainly fed by the Budameru and Tammileru |
3 | Correct | Kanwar is an oxbow lake formed from a Burhi Gandak meander |