TR-131 : Hydrological aspects of the river Tawi

Abstract

The river Tawi originating from Kali Kundi Glacier at an elevation of 4000 m. traversing a distance of about 141 km to outfall at the river Chenab in Pakistan, is an Western Himalayan river. The river basin consisting of 2168 sq. km. is characterised by rugged mountainous topography, low hills and aggradational plain like many Western Himalayan rivers. On Tawi and its tributaries very few hydrological studies have since been made. The river is mostly in boulders stage, carrying maximum discharge of about 4.3 lath cusecs. Since last few decades, number of water resources projects for irrigation, hydropower and domestic water supply schemes have come up. Some more projects on the river Tawi were earlier formulated but due to inadequate data and informations the projects could not be taken up. After the recent flood of Sept. 1988, which surpassed all the earlier recorded discharges, most of the hydrological aspects of project works on Tawi need review. The increasing demand for development of Tawi water for beneficial uses of about 18 lath population of three districts of Jammu, Udhampur and Doda, calls for immediate and systematic hydrologic studies for the river for effective planning of such schemes. This report attempts to review the various hydrometeorologic studies, works already done or proposed by various state and central agencies, essentially required as an initial input to project planning for water resources development.