Previous Year Question
Rivers that pass through Himachal Pradesh are
Beas and Chenab only
Beas and Ravi only
Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej only
Beas, Chenab, Ravi, Sutlej and Yamuna
Correct Answer: D
Detailed Solution
Himachal Pradesh has five principal river catchments—the Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Chenab and Yamuna. The first four belong to the Indus river system, whereas the Yamuna belongs to the Ganga river system.
1. Beas River
It originates from Beas Kund, near the Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh.
It flows through the Kullu Valley and then towards the Mandi and Kangra regions.
Its important tributaries within Himachal Pradesh include the Parvati, Uhl, Sainj, Tirthan and Binwa.
The Pong Dam on the Beas has created the Maharana Pratap Sagar Reservoir.
At the Pandoh Dam, part of the Beas water is diverted towards the Sutlej river system.
2. Chenab River
The Chenab is formed by the confluence of the Chandra and Bhaga rivers at Tandi in the Lahaul-Spiti district.
Within Himachal Pradesh, it is also known as the Chandrabhaga.
The Chandra is associated with the Chandratal-Baralacha region, while the Bhaga originates in the Suraj Tal region.
It flows through Lahaul and the Pangi Valley before entering Jammu and Kashmir.
It is a major perennial, glacier-fed river of Himachal Pradesh.
3. Ravi River
The Ravi originates in the Himalayan region near Bara Bhangal in the Kangra area of Himachal Pradesh.
It is the principal river of the Chamba Valley.
The Budhil and Siul are among its important tributaries.
Hydroelectric projects such as Chamera-I, Chamera-II and Chamera-III are situated in the Ravi river system.
4. Sutlej River
The Sutlej originates in Tibet near the Kailash-Manasarovar region.
It enters India near Shipki La.
It flows westward through Kinnaur and drains several regions of Himachal Pradesh.
The Spiti, Baspa and Nogli are important tributaries.
Major projects such as Nathpa Jhakri, Karcham Wangtoo and Bhakra are associated with the Sutlej river system.
The Bhakra Dam has created the Govind Sagar Reservoir.
5. Yamuna River
The Yamuna originates from the Yamunotri Glacier in Uttarakhand.
It flows along the southeastern boundary of Himachal Pradesh, touching the Sirmaur and Paonta Sahib region.
The Giri, Bata and Tons river systems are associated with the Yamuna drainage of Himachal Pradesh.
Thus, the Yamuna itself flows along the state boundary and drains the southeastern part of Himachal Pradesh.
Options (a), (b) and (c) are incomplete because they do not include all five principal river systems of Himachal Pradesh.