Why in news?
Heavy monsoon rains in 2025 caused the Beas and Sutlej rivers in Punjab to swell, threatening villages such as Marar in Tarn Taran district. Persistent erosion and flooding have raised concerns about river management.
The Beas River
- Origin: The Beas rises near Rohtang Pass in the southern Pir Panjal range of Himachal Pradesh at an elevation of about 4,062 metres.
- Course: The river flows through the districts of Kullu, Mandi and Kangra in Himachal Pradesh before entering Punjab, where it meets the Sutlej at Harike. Its total length is around 460–470 kilometres.
- Basin: The Beas basin covers roughly 20,300 square kilometres.
- Significance: Known in the Vedic period as Vipasa and to the Greeks as Hyphasis, the river is crucial for irrigation, drinking water and hydro‑power generation. In its lower reaches the Beas splits into distributaries before reuniting.
The Sutlej River
- Origin: The Sutlej originates from the Mansarovar–Rakastal lake system in western Tibet at about 4,570 metres. It is known as Langqen Zagbo in Tibetan.
- Course: Flowing northwest, the river crosses the India–Tibet border at Shipki La, cuts through deep gorges in the Himalayas and enters the Punjab plains at Ropar. It meets the Beas at Harike and later joins the Indus River in Pakistan.
- Catchment area: The Sutlej drains about 56,860 square kilometres, of which 20,000 square kilometres lie in India.
- Key features: The Bhakra Dam, built on the Sutlej at Naina Devi Dhar, is one of India’s highest gravity dams. The river forms about 120 kilometres of the India–Pakistan border in Punjab. Major tributaries include the Beas and Ravi.
Managing these Himalayan rivers requires a mix of engineering solutions, ecological restoration and community awareness to mitigate flooding and erosion, especially as climate change increases rainfall variability.
