Gosthani River
{{Short description|River in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Gosthani
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = India
| subdivision_type2 = State
| subdivision_name2 = Andhra Pradesh
| cities = Thagarapuvalasa
| mouth = Bay of Bengal
| mouth_location = Bheemunipatnam
| mapframe-caption = Course of the Gosthani River
| mapframe-zoom = 8
| image = A Boat in River Gosthani at Bheemunipatnam.jpg
| image_caption = Boat in River Gosthani at Bheemunipatnam
| image_alt = Boat in River Gosthani at Bheemunipatnam
| mapframe = yes
}}
The Gosthani river is a river in India. It rises in the Ananthagiri Hills of the Eastern Ghats and flows through the Borra Caves which lie near its source. It is the largest river flowing through Visakhapatnam city. It flows for 120 km before joining the Bay of Bengal through an estuary near Bheemunipatnam.{{cite journal|last=Ganesh|first=B|title=Studies on textural characteristics of sediments from Gosthani River Estuary - Bheemunipatnam, A.P., East Coast of India|journal=Journal of the Indian Geophysical Union|date=April 2013|volume=17|issue=2|page=139|url=http://www.igu.in/17-2/3ganesh.pdf|access-date=30 June 2013}}{{cite news|title=A journey into the heart of nature|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/on-campus/a-journey-into-the-heart-of-nature/article4602904.ece|access-date=27 June 2013|newspaper=The Hindu Businessline|date=10 April 2013}} The river basin drains the two coastal districts of Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam. The basin exhibits a subdendritic and dendritic pattern of drainage.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}} The Gosthani's is a minor river basin with a total drainage area of less than 2000 km2.{{cite book|title=Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem Project - Country Report on Pollution (India)|year=2011|page=18|url=http://www.boblme.org/documentRepository/BOBLME-2011-Ecology-07.pdf}} Much of the basin is covered by khondalite group of gneissic rocks. About 3% of the total area of the Visakhapatnam district is under the Gosthani basin.{{cite web|title=IRRIGATION PROFILE: VISAKHAPATNAM DISTRICT|url=http://irrigation.cgg.gov.in/dp/VishakapatnamDistrictProfile.jsp|publisher=Government of Andhra Pradesh|access-date=27 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820124526/http://irrigation.cgg.gov.in/dp/VishakapatnamDistrictProfile.jsp|archive-date=20 August 2010|url-status=dead}} The river is rainfed, receiving an average rainfall of 110 cm most of which comes from the south-west monsoon.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}} There are several red sand hills near Bheemunipatnam, where the Gosthani joins the Bay of Bengal, which are reminiscent of the Chambal ravines. These are thought to have been formed six millennia ago due to shifts in the river's course following tectonic activity.{{cite news|title=Protect the landmark for the future|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/03/28/stories/2009032850360300.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629090142/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/03/28/stories/2009032850360300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 June 2013|access-date=27 June 2013|newspaper=The Hindu|date=28 March 2009}} The river joins the Bay of Bengal at Bhimli where it forms an estuary.{{cite book|title=Indian Archaeology 2000-2001 - A Review|year=2006|publisher=Archaeological Survey of India|location=New Delhi|pages=2, 3|url=http://asi.nic.in/nmma_reviews/Indian%20Archaeology%202000-2001%20A%20Review.pdf}}
Historic places
Bheemunipatnam or Bhimli, located at the confluence of the river with the Bay of Bengal was one of the earliest outposts of the Dutch East India Company in India and there are many monuments from that era in the town.{{cite news|title=Fifteen decades of glory|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2010/09/25/stories/2010092552240300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101016060552/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2010/09/25/stories/2010092552240300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 October 2010|access-date=27 June 2013|newspaper=The Hindu|date=25 September 2010}}{{cite news|title=Andhra's English past|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/228219/F|access-date=27 June 2013|newspaper=Deccan Herald|date=19 February 2012}} Ancient Buddhist settlements at Pavuralakonda, near Bhimli and at Gudiwada have been excavated. The river is thought to have provided the inhabitants with drinking water and the estuary at Bhimli facilitated sea-borne trade.{{cite news|title=Evidence of Buddhist site found|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/evidence-of-buddhist-site-found/article3980627.ece|access-date=27 June 2013|newspaper=The Hindu|date=9 October 2012}}
Waterworks
The Gosthani's waters are diverted for agricultural and industrial purposes and the river is the chief source of drinking water to the cities of Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}} Several infiltration wells have been sunk on the Gosthani's riverbed to extract water especially during the summer months.{{cite news|title=Visakhapatnam's water problems may continue|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/04/12/stories/2006041203700200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060419152236/http://www.hindu.com/2006/04/12/stories/2006041203700200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 April 2006|access-date=27 June 2013|newspaper=The Hindu|date=12 April 2006}} The Thatipudi Reservoir Project with a capacity of 3 TMC was built on the Gosthani during 1963-68 and is located in the Gantyada Mandal of the Vizianagaram district. It irrigates {{convert|15378|acre|km2}} of land in Vizianagaram district and provides drinking water to Visakhapatnam.[http://irrigation.cgg.gov.in/dp/VizayanagaramDistrictProfile.jsp Irrigation profile of Vizianagaram district. Thatipudi Reservoir Project] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928020758/http://irrigation.cgg.gov.in/dp/VizayanagaramDistrictProfile.jsp |date=2007-09-28 }} The Chaparai Falls, situated in a verdant valley, is on the Gosthani river.{{cite news|title=Green valley of delight|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/325675/green-valley-delight.html|access-date=27 June 2013|newspaper=Deccan Herald|date=14 April 2013}} The Visakhapatnam to Srikakulam leg of the Golden Quadrilateral Highway crosses the Gosthani at Tagarapuvalasa where a new bridge was inaugurated in 2003.{{cite news|title=New bridges to be inaugurated in AP|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2003/12/11/stories/2003121102781700.htm|access-date=27 June 2013|newspaper=The Hindu Businessline|date=11 December 2003}}
Environmental issues
The decision to grant bauxite mining leases in Visakhapatnam by the Government of Andhra Pradesh has drawn criticism from local people, activists and the Central Government who fear severe environmental damage along the source and catchment areas of the river due to the mining.{{cite news|title=Death Of Red Earth Foretold|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?280388|access-date=27 June 2013|newspaper=Outlook|date=9 April 2012}}{{cite news|title=Tribal minister Kishore Chandra Deo to urge governors to use special powers to cancel mining leases in tribal areas|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-11/india/34386487_1_tribal-areas-tribal-affairs-5th-schedule|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629090142/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-11/india/34386487_1_tribal-areas-tribal-affairs-5th-schedule|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 June 2013|access-date=27 June 2013|newspaper=The Times of India|date=11 October 2012}} The decision to lease out the Gosthani's river bed to a private company for the extraction of groundwater through the sinking of borewells is thought to have had serious consequences on the water table and water security of over 100,000 people in the region.{{cite journal|title=Beyond the last frontier|journal=Frontline|date=11–24 September 2004|volume=21|issue=19|url=http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl2119/stories/20040924006400800.htm|access-date=27 June 2013}}
Image Gallery
File:Gosthani River during rains near Borra Caves 01.jpg|Gosthani River during monsoon near Borra Caves
File:River Gosthani at Bhimasingi.jpg|River Gosthani at Bhimasingi
File:River Gosthani at Thagarapuvalasa 1.JPG|River Gosthani at Thagarapuvalasa
File:Sunset over River Gosthani at Thagarapuvalasa.jpg|Sunset over River Gosthani at Thagarapuvalasa
File:A train passing a railway bridge on Gosthani.jpg|A train passing on a bridge over Gosthani near Bhimasingi
File:Boat view at Bheemili beach 01.jpg|Boat in River Gosthani at Bheemunipatnam beach
File:Buddhist sites Map of Andhra Pradesh.png|Many Important Buddhist sites lie along the basin of River Gosthani as Pavurallakonda, Gudiwada Dibba, Pellikonda and Boni
File:Eastern Ghats view over Gosthani Reservoir at Tatipudi.jpg|Eastern Ghats view over Gosthani Reservoir at Tatipudi
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Gosthani River}}
{{Hydrography of Andhra Pradesh}}
{{Eastern Ghats |state=expanded}}
{{coord missing|Andhra Pradesh}}
Category:Rivers of Andhra Pradesh
Category:Geography of Visakhapatnam