UPSC Prelims 2023 GS Paper 1:

Q) Consider the following statements:

1. Jhelum River passes through Wular lake.
2. Krishna River directly feeds Kolleru Lake.
3. Meandering of Gandak River formed Kanwar Lake.
4. How many of the Statements given above are correct?

Jhelum River and Wular Lake

Wular Lake is the largest freshwater lake in India, located in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is located at the north end of the Vale of Kashmir, about 20 miles (32 km) north-northwest of Srinagar. The lake covers an area of 189 square kilometres during the monsoon season, but it can shrink to as small as 30 square kilometres during the dry season. The Jhelum River flows through the lake, and the lake controls the flow of the river. Statement 1 is correct.

Does Krishna River directly feed Kolleru Lake?

Kolleru Lake is the largest freshwater lake in India, located in the state of Andhra Pradesh. It is located between the Krishna and Godavari deltas, about 15 kilometres away from the city of Eluru and 65 kilometres from Rajamahendravaram. The river is fed by water from the Budameru and Tammileru streams, which are seasonal streams. The lake covers an area of 245 square kilometres during the monsoon season, but it can shrink to as small as 100 square kilometres during the dry season. Therefore, the Krishna River does not directly feed Kolleru Lake. Hence, Statement 2 is incorrect.

Kanwar Lake and Gandak River

Kanwar Jheel is part of an extensive floodplain wetland complex formed in the lower reaches of Gandak – Kosi interfan in North Bihar. Located at a distance of 21 km from Begusarai town. Kanwar is the largest of a series of shallow permanent and ephemeral wetlands formed in the depression between River Burhi Gandak and the palaeochannel of River Bagmati. It has not been formed due to the meandering of the Gandak River. So, statement 3 is not correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

Subject: Geography | Drainage Basins