Brahamaputra Basin

Brahamaputra Basin
The lengths of the major rivers draining in Brahmaputra Basin draining within the Indian teritory are
listed in the Table 4.
Table 4. Length of major rivers
North bank tributaries
South bank tributaries
Sl. NO. River Name Length (km) Sl.NO. River Name
Length
(km)
1 Subansiri 347.84 1 Dibru 108.20
2 Kameng (Jiabharali) 205.72 2 Buri-Dihing 236.12
3 Ranganadi 136.19 3 Disang 208.5
4 Puthimari 104.73 4 Dikhow 239.67
5 Pagladiya 119.98 5 Jhanji 155.29
6 Buri Dihing 214.14 6 Dhansiri 395.98
7 Teesta 270.59 7 Kopili 256.95
8 Jaldhaka 174.06 8 Kulsi 137.66
9 Torsa 106.85 9 Krishnai 98.55
10 Champamati 104.84 10 Jinjiram 89.86
11 Noa Dehing 168.03
*GIS calculated length
c) Lower Reach: It covers the lower portion of the river for a length of 337 km from the Indo-
Bangladesh border to its outfall into the Bay of Bengal.The whole portion of the lower reach of the
river falls within Bangladesh.Near the Indo-Bangladesh border, the Brahmaputra River takes a turn
towards south and flows mostly in the southern direction with a little eastward trend. The river
flows 225 km from the Indo-Bangladesh border upto Goalundo. In the reach from the confluence of
the Teesta River near Bahadurabad to Goalundo, the Brahmaputra River is known as Jamuna. At
Goalundo, the Brahmaputra (Jamuna) joins another major river, Ganges-Padma, coming from west
and the combined river flows as Ganga-Padma for 80 km. Near Rajabari, another major tributary
Meghna coming from north-east joins it and the combined river flows for 32 km as Meghna River. A
little down stream, the Meghna River trifurcates in three channels forming a delta. The three
channels are: Sandwip (the east channel), Shahbaz (the central), and Tutulia (the western channel).
These channels ultimately outfall into the Bay of Bengal forming broad estuaries.Practically, there is
no notable tributary on its east (left) bank, except the Meghna River.Important tributaries on its
right bank are Ridak, Jaldhaka (Dharla), Teesta and Torsa.
The important tributaries of Brahmaputra, lying in Indian Territory, are described below:
(i) Subansiri: Subansiri is among the largest tributaries of the Brahmaputra. It is a snowfed
perennial trans-Himalayan river rises in the mountains of Tibet. In India, the river drain 347.84
km and the rest part falls in Tibet. It drains an area of 37,700 Sq.km. Subansiri has a maximum
discharge of 18,799 cumec and minimum of 131 cumec. It contributes 7.92% of the total yield
of the Brahmaputra.
(ii) Kameng (Jiabharali): The Kameng rises from the hills of the Himalayas presumably in the
territory of Tibet beyond the Aka & Duffa Hills. The river Kameng flows for 55 km in south
westerly direction and then reaches Bhalukpong where it ends its hilly journey. The river is
nearly 205.72 km long.
16