River

Aghanashini

1

Geography

River Aghanashini is located in Uttara Kannada District of Karnataka (Figure 1). Originating at Sirsi (Figure 2) (Ramachandra et al 2015). Aghanashini river origin in Sirsi and flows for a distance of nearly 117 km  before it joins Arabian Sea at Tadri, Belegadde/Kirubele-Kumta (Uttara Kannada) (Figure 2).
Tributaries of Aghanashini include, Bakurhole, Donihalla, Chandika hole, Masti mane halla, Benne holé, Badala, Divalli, Santeguli, Hulidevara kodalu and many more. Aghanashini river has a catchment area of 1449 sq.km spread across districts of Uttara Kannada (Kumta, Sirsi, Siddapura, Ankola) and Shimoga (Sorba).

Figure 1: Aghanashini River Location

Figure 2: Overlay of Google Earth

Figure 3: Topography

Topography of Aghanashini river catchment is as depicted in Figure 3, elevation ranges between < 0m and 786m w.r.t Mean Sea Level, slope of the catchment varies up to 119%. Very high slope we observed in the Ghats (Devi mane Ghat).
The variations in the terrain has led to formation of various water falls such as the Burude falls, Dabbe falls, Waate halla, Benne holé falls, Unchalli falls (Ramachandra et al 2015, Balachandran et al, 2012, www. welcomenri.com, www.dreamroutes.org) etc.
Rock types: Granites to schists, shale, quartzite’s, Phyllites.
Ores: Iron, limestone, bauxite, quartz, limestone, sand, clay, lime shell, Manganese, Asbestos, Mica.
Soil: Red Soil, Lateritic soils, Black soil, etc

2

Rainfall and Water Yield

Rainfall assessment in Aghanashini catchment (Figure 4) indicates that rainfall in the catchment is orographic with annual rainfall varying spatially between 2500mm at the plains of Sirsi, to over 6300 mm at the Ghats. Water yield in the catchment is about 28-41 TMC (and is showing declining trend with the changes in the land uses in the catchment)

Figure 4: Rainfall

3

Anthropology

Population in the catchment (Figure 5) has increased from 2,21,562 in 2001 to 2,41,884 in 2011 (Census of India) and is projected to increase to 2,53,135 in the year 2016 at a growth rate of 9.2% per decade. Population density in the catchment is 175 persons per square kilometer as on 2016. Major Population is contained at towns such as Sirsi, Gokarna and Kumta.
Communities: Kumri Marati, Goudas, Konkanis. Havyaka Brahmin, Namadhari Naik, Goud Saraswat Brahmin, Nadavas, Kurubas, Siddis, Daivajna, Muslims etc. (Chandran and Hughes 2000, Wikipedia, Gazetter of India-Uttara Kannada district). 

Figure 5: Population dynamics in Aghanashini river catchment

4

History, Culture, Heritage

River Aghanashini has history beyond the Himalayas i.e., 88 Million year compared to Himalayas (50 Million years). Mirjan was known as trading hub for spices such as pepper, cardamom, etc
The word Aghanashini means Destroyer of Sins.
Culture

• Festivals and Jatras: Uura habba (Village Festival), Nadi habba (River festival), Bandi habba, Vadya Panchami, Mahamay jatra, Durga devi jatra, Kannika parameshwari jatra, Shantika parameshwari jatra, Venkataramana jatra, etc
• Dance: Folk dances (suggi kunita), bharatha natya, Kolata, bedara kunita, dhamami kunita, Huli kunita, Yakshagana, Masti Kunita, Preta kuntia, Bedara kunita, Mandala kunita, etc
• Music: Folk Songs, Garatiya Haadu, Halliya Haadu, Nadapadagalu, Bingina pada, Gumatepada, Jogavve haadu, Doni pada, Jogi pada, Badi vadya etc.
• Traditional Games: Kallata, kavade, Channe mane, Karu aata, Katte aata, Hulighatta, Bandi aata, Devarata, Sariya mugila aata, Achchu aata, Chowkabara, Tabalamane, etc.

Major temples in the catchment of Aghanashini includes: Veknateshwara Temple (Majguni - one of the origin of river Aghanashni), Gokarna, Babbru lingeshwara (worshiped by fishermen), Devi mane, and many deities of the sacred groves. Places like Mirjan fort once provided defenses at the coasts

5

Land use dynamics

Land use analysis between 1970’s till 2016 show that the catchment forest cover is reducing due to intense anthropogenic activities such as logging, plantation, etc. Figure 6 depicts FCC in the catchment of 1975 and 2016. Figure 7 and Table 1 depicts land use changes in the catchment between 1973 and 2016.

Figure 6: False colour composite (FCC) of the River basin

Figure 7: Land use dynamics in Aghanashini Catchment
Table1: Land use dynamics in Aghanashini Catchment

6

Agriculture, Irrigation

Variety of Paddy, Sugar cane, Banana, Arecanut, Coconut, Mango, spices, etc.

7

Diversions

Fortunately, senseless river diversion has not happened. However, there is now illogical proposal (by individuals who lacks knowledge of river hydrology and people’s livelihood and known for mismanagement of natural resources) to divert water to dying city - Bangalore

8

Bio Diversity

Aghanashini river has no diversion works or dams along the river, due to which the estuary is highly productive with rich diversity of Fishes yielding over 43 crore rupee per annum (Mahima et al, 2012), Insects (Balachandran et al, 2012), Bivalves (Table 4) yielding over rupee 5 crores per year (Boominathan et al, 2008), Flora (http://wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in/biodiversity/database_new/) .
Fishes: Mahima et al, 2012
Ambassis commersoni , Apogon hyalosoma, Arius arius, Arius sps, Austrobatrachus dussumeri, Carangoides sps, Carangoids chrysophrys, Carangoids preustus, Caranx praeustus (Marine), Cephalophalis boenak, Cybium commersoni, Cynoglossus macrostomus,  Eel, Etroplus suretansis, Gerres limbatus, Gerries filamentosus, Glossogobius giuris, Lactarius lactarius, Lates calcarifer EST-MAR, Liza parsia, Lutjanus argentimaculatus, Lutjanus johni, Lutjanus ruselli, Monopterus albus, Mugil cephalus, Nemipterus japonicas, Opisthopterus tardoore, Otolithus ruber, Pampus argenteus, Paraplagusia biliniata, Parastromateus niger, Platax orbicularis, Platycephalus scaber, Pomadasys maculatus, Pseudorhombus javanicus, Rastrilliger kanagurta, Rhinobatus halavi, Rhinobatus sps, Sardinella fimbriata, Scatophagus argus, Scolidon sps, Secutor insidator, Siganus vermiculatus, Sillago sihama, Sphyraena barracuda, Sphyraena obtusata, Sphyraena spp, Stoliphorus commersoni, Stoliphorus indicus, Strongylura leiura, Synaptura commersoniana, Terapon jarbua.
Insects: Balachandran et al, 2012.
Isonychia  sp., Choroterpes sp., Thraulus sp., Isca sp., Notophlebia sp., Edmundsula sp., Petersula sp., Afronurus sp., Thalerosphyrus sp., Cinygmina sp., Ephemerella (Torleya) sp., Ephemerella (Drunella) sp., Baetis sp., Platybaetis sp., Caenis sp., Clypocaenis bisetosa, Cheumatopsyche sp., Hydropsyche sp., Lepidostoma sp., Helicopsyche sp., Psychomyia sp., Wormaldia sp., Neoperla sp., Naucoris sp., Micronecta sp., Eubrianax sp., Noterus sp.,Stenocolus , Dineutus sp., Orectochilus sp., Laccobius sp., Euphaea sp., Heliogomphus sp., Lamelligomphus sp., Crocothemis sp., Hexatoma sp., Pilaria sp., Chironomus sp., Simulium sp., Coridalus sp.
Bivalves: Boominathan et al, 2008
Paphia malabarica, Katelysia opima, Meretrix meretrix, Meretrix casta, Villorita cyprinoides, Arca granosa, Crassostrea sp., Perna viridis.
Flora: http://wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in/biodiversity/database_new (Sirsi, Kumta, Siddapura Taluks) Forest types found in the district are: Evergreen, Semi Evergreen, Moist Deciduous, Scrub, Thorny, un wooded with following species.
Acronychia pedunculata,  Actinodaphne hookeri,  Actinodaphne sp,  Aglaia ananmallayana,  Aglaia lawii,  Aglaia roxburghiana,  Aglaia sp,  Ailanthus excelsa,  Alseodaphne semicarpifolia,  Alstonia scholaris,  Ancistrocladus hamatus,  Antiaris toxicaria,  Antidesma menasu,  Aporosa lindleyana,  Archidendron bigeminum,  Artabotrys hexapetalus,  Artocarpus gomezianus,  Artocarpus heterophyllus,  Artocarpus hirsutus,  Atlantia racemosa,  Beilschmiedia fagifolia,  Bischofia  javanica,  Blachia sp,  Bombax ceiba,  Bridelia crenulata,  Buchania lanzan,  Calicopteris floribunda,  Callicarpa tomentosa,  Calophyllum apetalum,  Calophyllum polyanthum,  Calophyllum tomentosum,  Canarium strictum,  Canthium dicoccum,  Carallia brachiata,  Careya arborea,  Carissa inermis,  Caryota urens,  Casearia championii,  Casearia sp,  Cassia fistula,  Cassine glauca,  Chrysophyllum roxburghii,  Cinnamomum macrocarpum,  Cinnamomum malabathricum,  Cinnamomum verum,  Cinnamomum zeylanicum,  Clausena SP,  Cleidion javanicum,  Combretum latifolium,  Cryptocarya wightiana,  Dalbergia latifolia,  Dalbergia rubiginosa,  Dalbergia sp,  Dalbergia sympathetica,  Derris scandens,  Derris sp,  Dillenia pentagyana,  Dimocarpus longan,  Diospyros assimilis,  Diospyros buxifolia,  Diospyros candolleana,  Diospyros crumenata,  diospyros ebenum,  Diospyros melanoxylon,  Diospyros montana,  Diospyros oocarpa,  Diospyros paniculata,  Diospyros pruriens,  Diospyros saldanhae,  Diospyros sp,  Diospyros sylvatica,  Dipterocarpus indicus,  Drypetes confertiflora,  Drypetes venusta,  Dysoxylum,  Dysoxylum binectariferum,  Dysoxylum malabaricum,  Elaeagnus conferta,  Elaeocarpus serratus,  Elaeocarpus tuberculatus,  Emblica officinalis,  Entada pursaetha,  Ervatamia heyneana,  Erycibe paniculata,  Euonymus indicus,  Ficus callosa,  Ficus nervosa,  Flacourtia montana,  Garcinia gummi_gutta,  Garcinia indica,  Garcinia morella,  Garcinia talbotii,  Glochidion johnstonei,  Glochidion sp,  Glochidion zeylanicum,  Gnetum ula,  Grewia sp,  Grewia tiliifolia,  Gymnacranthera canarica,  Harpullia imbricata,  Holigarna arnotiana,  Holigarna beddomii,  Holigarna ferruginea,  Holigarna grahamii,  Homalium ceylanicum,  Hopea parviflora,  Hopea ponga,  Hopea wightiana,  Hydnocarpus laurifolia,  Ixora arborea,  Ixora brachiata,  Knema attenuata,  Lagerstroemia lanceolata,  Lagerstroemia microcarpa,  Lepisanthes tetraphylla,  Linociera malabarica,  Litsea floribunda,  Litsea laevigata,  Litsea mysorensis,  Litsea wightiana,  Lophopetalum wightianum,  Macaranga peltata,  Madhuca longifolia,  Mallotus phillipinesis,  Mammea suriga,  Mangifera indica,  Margaritaria indica,  Mastixia arborea,  Meiogyne pannosa,  Meliaceae sp,  Memecylon talbotianum,  Memecylon umbellatum,  Mesua ferrea,  Mimusops elengi,  Moullava spicata,  Murraya paniculata,  Myristica dactyloides,  Myristica malbarica,  Neolitsea scrobiculata,  Nothapodytes  foetida,  Nothopegia colebrookeana,  Nothopegia racemosa,  Odina wodier,  Olea dioica,  Pajanalia longifolia,  Palaquim ellipticum,  Persia macarantha,  Phyllanthus emblica,  Pittosporum dasycaulon,  Polyalthia fragrance,  Polyalthia sp,  Pongamia pinnata,  Prunus ceylanica,  Pterocarpus marsupium,  pterospermum acerifolium,  Pterospermum diversifolium,  Pterospermum reticulatum,  Randia dumetorum;,  Randia rugulosa,  Sageraea laurina,  Salacia macrosperma,  Salacia oblonga,  Sapindus emarginatus,  Schleichera oleosa,  Semecarpus Kathlekanensis,  Sterculia guttata,  Stereospermum personatum,  Stereospermum tetragonum,  Strombosia ceylanica,  Symplocos racemosa,  Syzigium caryophyllatum,  Syzygium cumini,  Syzygium gardneri,  Syzygium hemesphericum,  Syzygium laetum,  Syzygium macrocephala,  Syzygium sp,  Tectona grandis,  Terminalia alata,  Terminalia bellirica,  Terminalia chebula,  Terminalia paniculata,  Tetrameles nudiflora,  Tetrastigma gamblei,  Toddalia asiatica var  floribunda,  Toona ciliata,  Trewia nudiflora,  Vateria indica,  Ventilago madraspatana,  Vepris bilocularis,  Vitex altissima,  Walsura  trifoliolata,  Xantolis tomentosa,  Xeromorphis spinosa,  Xylia xylocarpa, 
Fauna: : http://wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in/biodiversity/database_new
Mammals: Tiger, Black Panther, Leopard, Bison, Gaur, Hare, Wild Boar, Sloth Bear, Deer, Thar, Bonnet Macaque, Lion Tailed Macaque, Giant Squirrel, Hanuman Languor.
Reptiles: Snakes (Vipers, Cobra, Rat snake, Crate, King cobra, Python, Wolf snake, etc), Monitor Lizard.

9

References

• Survey of India Topographic Sheets, 1:50000 scale.
• Water Resource Information System of India, http://www.india-wris.nrsc.gov.in.
• Google Earth, https://www.google.com/earth/.
• Ramachandra, T.V., Chandran, M. D, S., Joshi, N. V., Karthick, B., and Vishnu, D. M., 2015, Ecohydrology of Lotic Systems in Uttara Kannada, Central Western Ghats, India, Environmental Management of River Basin Ecosystems – Earthy System Science, 621-655.
• Census of India, 2001 and 2011, censusindia.gov.in.
• Wild Wonderful Karnataka, http://www.dreamroutes.org/western/burudefalls.html.
• Balachandran, C., Dinakaran, S., Chandran, M. D. S., and Ramachnadra, T. V., 2012, Diversity and Distribution of Aquatic Insects in Aghanashini River of Central Western Ghats, India, National Conference on Conservation and Management of Wetland Ecosystems – LAKE 2012, 6th to 8th November 2012, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala.
• Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sirsi,_Karnataka.
• Mahima, B., Nayak, V. N., Chandran, M. D. S., and Ramachnadra, T. V., 2012, Impact of Hydroelectric Dams on Fisheries in the Sharavathi Estuary of Uttara Kannada District, National Conference on Conservation and Management of Wetland Ecosystems – LAKE 2012, 6th to 8th November 2012, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala.
• Boominathan, M., Chandran, M. D. S., and Ramachandra, T. V., 2008, Economic Valuation of Bivalves in the Aghanashini Estuary, West Coast, Karnataka, Sahyadri Conservation Series 9, ENVIS Technical Report: 301, November 20082, Energy & Wetlands Research Group, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012.
• Chandran, M. D S., Ramachandra, T. V, Joshi, N. V., Rao, G. R, Prakash, N. M., Balachandran, C., and Sumesh, N. D., 2012. Conservation Reserve Status to Lateritic Plateaus of Coastal Uttara Kannada., Sahyadri Conservation Series 21, ENVIS Technical Report: 51, November 2012, Energy & Wetlands Research Group, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012.
• ENVIS Sahyadri Web Portal, http://wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in/biodiversity/database_new/
• Chandran, M. D. S., and Hughes, J. D., 2000, Sacred Groves and Conservation: The Comparative History of Traditional Reserves in the Mediterranean Area and in South India, Environment and History, 6, 2, 169–186.
• Gazetter of India, Uttara Kannada district, 1985
• https://www.researchgate.net/profile/T_V_Ramachandra/publications
• http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy
• http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/biodiversity