Back

RIVER FLOW PATTERN

The River Chenab originates in the Kulu and Kangra districts of the Himachal Pardesh province of India. The two chief streams of the Chenab - the Chandra and the Bhaga - rise on opposite sides of Baralcha pass at an elevation of about 16,000 feet. These join at Tandi in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, nearly 9,090 feet above mean sea level. Fed by innumerable tributaries on the long journey from its headwaters, the river gains immense power and momentum on entering the Jammu / Kashmir region above Kishtwar.

From Kishtwar to Thathri (about 50 km) the Chenab runs through class V and VI gorges. The combined streams, traversing about 135 miles, take a sharp turn along Pir Panjal near Kishtwar. The Chenab then flows along the northern base of the Pir Panjal range before entering the Doda area of Jammu and Kashmir. It cuts across this range through a spectacular gorge and then flows along its southern base, before flowing southwards and entering the plains. After traversing about 400 miles of mountainous regions and flowing at nearly 39 feet per mile, the Chenab opens out into the plains near Akhnur. It enters Pakistan through the Sialkot district, near Diawara Village.

The Chenab flows through the alluvial plains of the Punjab province in Pakistan for a distance of 3,398 miles. It is then joined by the Jhelum River at Trimmu. 40 miles downstream of Trimmu, the River Ravi joins it. The Sutlej River joins Chenab upstream of Punjnad and finally at about 40 miles below Punjnad, the River Chenab meets the Indus at Mithankot.

IMPORTANT TRIBUTARIES & THEIR CATCHMENT AREAS

The Chenab has twelve major tributaries namely: Chandra, Bhaga, Bhut Nal1ah, Maru, Jammu Tawi, Manawar Tawi, Doara Nul1ah 1, Doara.Nullah 2, Halse Nallah, Bhimber Nullah, Palkhu Nullah and Aik and Bhudi Nullah. The last eight tributaries join the Chenab in Pakistan.

The total length of the river is about 772 miles, of which approximately 453 miles flow through Pakistan. The total catchment area of the river is about 26,035 miles2, of which 10,875 miles2 lie in the State of Jammu and Kashmir, 1,735 miles2 in India and 13,469 miles2 in Pakistan. The hilly catchment area above Marala Barrage is about 12,610 miles2.

Discharges of the Chenab starts rising in the later part of May and pass the 50,000 cusecs mark in June. A high flow above 50,000 cusecs continues till the middle of September, the peak discharge months being July and August.

STRUCTURES ON THE CHENAB

AVERAGE FLOWS IN CHENAB

The Indus River System Authority compiles the river flow data. The annual average flows are calculated by averaging the daily flows. The kharif data represents the April 01 - September 30 period and the rabi data is based on flows between October 01 - March 31 of the following year.

The data collected for the Chenab at Marala for the 40 years before Indus Water Treaty i.e. 1922-61, ten years after the treaty i.e. 1985-95 and recent year completed i.e. 2001-02 depicting drought conditions is as follows:

REFERENCES

1. Dr. Bashir A Chandio & Ms Nuzhat Yasmin, "Proceedings of the National Workshop on Water Resources Achievements and Issues in 20th Century and Challenges for the Next Millennium", Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources, June 1999.
2. Centre of Excellence in Water Resources Engineering, Lahore, "Proceedings - Water for the 21st Century: Demand, Supply, Development and Socio- Environmental Issues", June 1997.
3. Asian Development Bank - TA, Water Resources Sector Strategy, "National Water Sector Profile", April 2002.
4. Dr. Nazir Ahmad, "Water Resources of Pakistan", Miraj uddin Press, Lahore September 1993.
5. http://www.whitewaterwarriors.com/missions/chenab2001/history.htm
6. http://www.himaanchal.com/hydel_projects.htm
7. Partial data acquired from Indus River System Authority for flows of rivers in Pakistan.