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Gangavali / Bedthi River

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Geography

River Gangavali (also known as Bedthi or Gangavalli) is spread across in Uttara Kannada, Dharwad, Haveri Districts of Karnataka (Figure 1). Originating at Dharwad district (Huble- Bedti stream, Dharwad-Shalmal stream) (Figure 2), Gangavali flows for a distance of nearly 161 km (Survey of India Topographic sheets, Uttara Kannada District – Gazetteer of India) before it joins Arabian Sea at Manjguni-Ankola (Uttara Kannada) (Figure 2).
Tributaries of Gangavali include, Gangavali, Bedthi, Vibuthi holé, Huli devara kodlu, Yenne hole, Shalmala, Sonda  and many more. Gangavali river has a catchment area of 3935 sq.km spread across districts of Uttara Kannada (Sirsi, Mundgod, Ankola), Dharwad (Hubli, Dharwad, Kundgol) and Haveri (Shiggaon).

Figure 1: Gangavali River Location

Figure 2: Overlay of Google Earth

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Topography

Topography of Gangavali river catchment is as depicted in Figure 3, elevation ranges between < 0m and 834m w.r.t Mean Sea Level, slope of the catchment varies up to 536.8%. Very high slope we observed in the Yellapura (Arabial Ghat).  The variations in the terrain has led to formation of various water falls such at the Ghats as the Magod, Vibuthi, etc. Flatter terrains in the plain land have led to creation of large number of lakes (Figure 1).
Rock types: Granites to schists, shale, quartzite’s, Phyllites, Dolerite rocks including granite, basalt, etc.
Ores: Iron, limestone, bauxite, quartz, limestone, sand, clay, lime shell, Manganese, Asbestos, Mica.
Soil: Red Soil, Lateritic soils, Black soil, etc.

Figure 3: Topography

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Rainfall and Water Yield

Rainfall assessment in Gangavali catchment (Figure 4) indicates that rainfall in the catchment is orographic with annual rainfall varying spatially between 1000mm at the plains of Hubli, to over 4500 mm at the Ghats of Yellapura (Arabial Ghats). Water yield in the catchment is 45 to 70 TMC

Figure 4: Rainfall

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Demography

Population in the catchment (Figure 5) has increased from 879809 in 2001 to 1014711 in 2011 (Census of India) and is projected to increase to 1092504 in the year 2016 at a growth rate of 15.3% per decade. Population density in the catchment is 277.5 persons per square kilometer as on 2016. Major Population is contained at towns such as Ankola, Yellapura, Hubli, Dharwad, Mundgod, Sirsi, etc.
Communities: Ambiga, Arer, Bandi, Bedar, Bandaris, Brahmins, Devadiga, Devalis, Gabit, Ganiga, Gouli, Gudikar, Harikanta, Hulsvara, Kahrvi, Vaishyas, Maratha, Kumri Maratha, Lingayath,, Maratha Kubri, Nadava, Namdharis, Padits, Gidbudukis, Siddis, Buddists, Jains, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians,etc. (Chandran and Hughes 2000, Wikipedia, Gazetter of India-Uttara Kannada district). 

Figure 5: Population dynamics in Gangavali river catchment

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History, Culture, Heritage

• 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 Gangavali includes: Mari Kamba, Someshewara, Ganga Temple, Chandramauleshwara, Navagraha teertha,

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Land use dynamics

Land use analysis of 2013 show that the catchment forest cover is about 32.16 % (about 18.17% covered with evergreen species). Figure 6 depicts FCC of the catchment, Figure 7 and Table 1 depicts land use in the catchment as on 2013. The catchment is dominated by agriculture in the plains (34.89% of total area)

Figure 6: False colour composite

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

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Agriculture, Irrigation

Variety of Paddy, Sugar cane, Banana, Arecanut, Coconut, Mango, spices, Jowar, Ragi, Ground Nut, Cotton, etc.

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Diversions/Storage Structures

Numerous small scale diversions (check dams, bunds) can be found along the valley (the plains are dominated by lakes namely Neersagara, Devargudihal, etc…)

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Bio Diversity

Fishes: Mahima et al 2016
Cephalopholis boenak, Caranx ignobilis, Trichiurus lepturus, Colletteichthys dussumieri, Nemipterus japonicus, Sardinella fimbriata, Opisthopterus tardoore, Stolephorus commersonnii, Thryssa mystax, Siganus vermiculatus, Sillago sihama, Otolithes ruber, Sphyraena barracuda, Lactarius lactarius, Eubleekeria splendens, Lobotes surinamensis, Secutor insidiator, Johnius belangeri, Sphyraena obtusata, Lutjanus johnii, Lutjanus russellii, Synaptura commersonnii, Grammoplites scaber, Arius arius, Tricanthus biaculeatus, Arothron stellatus, Etroplus suratensis, Monopterus albus, Pisoodonophis cancrivorus, Mugil cephalus, Liza parsia, Scatophagus argus, Lutjanus argentimaculatus, Glossogobius giuris, Gerres filamentosus, Eleutheronema tetradactylum, Terapon jarbua, Gerres limbatus, Secutor ruconius, Lates calcarifer, Ambassis ambassis, Apogon hyalosoma and Cynoglossus punticeps, etc.
Bivalves: Boominathan et al, 2014, Ramesha et al 2013
Paphia malabarica, Katelysia opima, Meretrix meretrix, Meretrix casta, Villorita cyprinoides, Perna viridis, Tegillarca granosa, Polymesoda erosa,. L. marginalis, Parreysia corrugate, P. favidens, P. rajahensis, P. theobaldi
Flora: Ramchandra et al, 2012,
http://wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in/biodiversity/database_new (Sirsi,  Yellapura, Ankola, Hubli Taluks) Forest types found in the district are: Evergreen, Semi Evergreen, Moist Deciduous, Scrub, Thorny, un wooded with following species.
Endemic Flowering Species (Trees, Shrubs, Plants):
Actinodaphne hookeri, Aerides maculosum, Aerides crispa, Aglaia anamalayana, Ancistrocladus heyneanus, Arenga wightii, Argostemma courtallense, Artocarpus hirsuta, Arundinella metzii, Asystastia dalzelliana, Begonia integrifolia, Begonia malabarica, Beilschmiedia fagifolia, Blepharis asperrima, Boesenbergia pulcherrima, Calamus thwaitesii, Canscora decurrens, Canscora perfoliata, Canthium parviflorum, Casearia rubescens, Chrysophyllum roxburghii, Cinnamomum macrocarpum, Cleisostoma tenuifolium, Connarus wightii, Crotalaria filipes, Crotolaria heyneana, Cryptocoryne spiralis, Curcuma neilgherrensis, Cyanotis papilionaceae, Cyanotis tuberosa, Cyclea peltata, Dimeria hohenackeri, Dimorphocalyx beddomei, Diospyros assimilis, Diospyros candolleana, Diospyros paniculata, Diospyros saldanhae, Drypetes elata, Dysoxylum malabaricum, Erinocarpus nimmonii, Ervatamia heyneana, Euonymus indicus, Flacourtia montana, Garcinia indica, Glochidion johnstonei, Grewia umbellifera, Holigarna arnotiana, Holigarna ferruginea, Holigarna grahamii, Hopea ponga, Hydnocarpus laurifolia, Jasminum malabaricum, Knema attenuata, Linociera malabarica, Litsea floribunda, Litsea laevigata, Mammea suriga, Memecylon talbotianum, Memecylon umbellatum, Memecylon wightii, Myristica malabarica, Neanotis foetida, Nothopegia colebrookeana, Oberonia brunoniana, Oberonia recurva, Oberonia santapaui, Ochlandra scriptoria, Orophea zeylanica, Pittosporum dasycaulon, Polyalthia fragrans, Porpax reticulata, Porpax jerdoniana, Psychotria dalzellii, Psychotria flavida, Psychotria truncata, Pterospermum reticulatum, Sageraea laurifolia, Strobilanthus heyneanus, Symplocos racemosa, Syzygium laetum, Syzygium macrocephala, Tragia hispida, Vepris bilocularis, Walsura trifolia.
Trees:
Acacia spp, Actinodaphne hookeri, Adina cordifolia, Aglaia anamalayana, Aglaia roxbhurgii, Ailanthus excelsa, Alangium salvifolium, Albizzia lebbeck, Alstonia scholaris, Alseodaphne semecarpifolia, Anacardium occidentale, Annonaceae sp, Anogeissus latifolia, Antidesma menasu, Aporosa lindleyana, Artocarpus hirsuta, Artocarpus gomezianus, Atlantia racemosa, Bauhinia foveolata, Beilschmiedia fagifolia, Bombax ceiba, Bridelia crenulata, Buchanania lanzan, Butea monosperma, Careya arborea, Carallia brachiata, Caryota urens, Cassine glauca, Cassia spp, Casuarina spp, Chrysophyllum roxburghii, Cinnamomum macrocarpum, Dalbergia latifolia, Dillenia pentagyna, Diospyros assimilis, Diospyros buxifolia, Diospyros candolleana, Diospyros ebenum, Diospyros melanoxylon, Diospyros buxifolia, Diospyros montana, Diospyros oocarpa, Diospyros paniculata, Diospyros spp, Dysoxylum malabaricum, Ervatamia heyneana, Euphorbiaceae spp, Ficus benghalensis, Ficus drupacea, Ficus nervosa, Ficus racemosa, Ficus spp, Ficus tsjahela, Flacourtia montana, Garcinia gummi-gutta, Garcinia indica, Garcinia morella, Gliricidia sepium, Gmelina arborea, Grewia tiliaefolia, Heterophragma roxburgii, Hiptage benghalensis, Holigarna arnotiana, Holigarna ferruginea, Holigarna grahamii, Hopea ponga, Hydnocarpus laurifolia, Ixora arborea, Ixora brachiata, Knema attenuata, Lagerstroemia microcarapa, Lannea coromandelica, Lepisanthes tetraphylla, Linociera malabarica, Litsea spp, Lophopetalum wightianum, Macaranga peltata, Madhuca latifolia, Mallotus philippensis, Mangifera indica, Mimusops elengi, Mitragyna parviflora, Myristica malabarica, Olea dioica, Pajanalia longifolia, Persea macrantha, Phyllanthus emblica, Polyalthia fragrans, Pterospermum diversifolium, Pterocarpus marsupium, Randia dumetorum, Saccopetalum tomentosum, Santalum album, Sapindus laurifolia, Saraca asoca, Schleichera oleosa, Scutia myrtina, Sageraea laurifolia, Semecarpus anacardium, Sapium insigne, Spondias pinnata, Steriospermum personatum, Sterculia guttata, Strychnos nux-vomica, Symplocos racemosa, Syzygium caryophyllatum, Syzygium cumini, Syzygium gardnerii, Syzygium hemesphericum, Syzygium laetum, Tectona grandis, Terminalia bellirica, Terminalia chebula, Terminalia paniculata, Terminalia alata. etc…
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, etc.
Reptiles: Snakes (Vipers, Cobra, Rat snake, Crate, King cobra, Python, Wolf snake, etc), Monitor Lizard, Crocodile.

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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.
• Mahima, B., Nayak, V. N., Chandran, M. D. S., and Ramachandra, T. V., 2016,  Inventory of fishes of Gangavali estuary in Uttara Kannada, Karnataka state, Journal of Marine Biology Association of India, 58 (1), 69 – 74 (http://mbai.org.in/php/journaldload.php?id=2381&bkid=115)
• Boominathan, M., Ravikumar, G., Chandran, M. D. S., and Ramachandra, T. V., 2014, Impact of Hydroelectric Projects on Bivalve Clams in the Sharavathi Estuary of Indian West Coast, The Open Ecology Journal,7, 52 – 58.
• Ramesha, M. M., Sophia, S., and Muralidhar, M., 2013, Freshwater bivalve fauna in the Western Ghats rivers of Karnataka, India: Diversity, distribution patterns, threats and conservation needs, International Journal of Current Research, 5(9), 2500 – 2505
• Ramachandra, T. V., Chandran, M. D. S., Prakash, M., Rao, G. R., Bharath, S., Bharath, H. A., Harsish, R. B., Sumesh, N. D.,Gautham, K., Sudarshan, P. B., Boominathan, M., Balachandran, C., Vishnu, D. M., and Shrikant, N.,, 2012, Biological Diversity, Ecology and Environment Impact Assessment with Mitigation Measures: Hubli-Ankola New Broad Gauge Railway line, CES Technical Report 125, Energy & Wetlands Research Group, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012.
• Census of India, 2001 and 2011, censusindia.gov.in.
• Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sirsi,_Karnataka.
• ENVIS Sahyadri Web Portal, http://wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in/biodiversity/database_new/
• http://www.karnataka.gov.in/Gazetteer
• 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