Railway
The Kalpong, one of the few significant rivers of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, flows in:
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Answer: Option D — North Andaman
Detailed Solution
The Kalpong river, about 35 km long, flows in North Andaman Island. It is often described as the only major river of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
About the Kalpong river:
- It rises from the slopes of Saddle Peak (about 732 metres), the highest point of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, in North Andaman.
- It flows north-east and enters the sea near Diglipur, the main town of North Andaman.
- It is a perennial river, fed by the heavy rainfall of the islands.
Kalpong Hydroelectric Project:
A small hydroelectric project (about 5.25 MW) was built on the Kalpong river at Diglipur. It was the first hydroelectric project in the islands and supplies power to North Andaman, reducing dependence on diesel generators.
Why the islands have few rivers:
- The islands are small and hilly, so rivers are short and flow quickly to the sea.
- Most streams are seasonal, though heavy rainfall keeps some flowing throughout the year.
Other features of North Andaman:
- Saddle Peak National Park.
- Ross and Smith Islands, twin islands joined by a natural sandbar, near Diglipur.
- Diglipur is known for orange cultivation and for the mud volcanoes nearby.
Rainfall in the islands:
- The Andaman and Nicobar Islands receive about 3,000 mm of rain a year from both the south-west and north-east monsoons.
- They have tropical evergreen rainforests and mangroves.
Water supply:
Because rivers are few, drinking water for Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair) comes mainly from reservoirs such as the Dhanikhari Dam.
Great Nicobar Island:
The Galathea river flows in Great Nicobar Island, and a large development project, including a transshipment port, has been planned on the island.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Great Nicobar, Car Nicobar and Little Andaman are other islands of the group, but the Kalpong flows in North Andaman.
Quick tip
Remember: Kalpong = main river of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, in North Andaman (Diglipur); rises from Saddle Peak; small hydro project.
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Rivers, Lakes & Dams of India — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Rivers, Lakes & Dams of India, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers India's drainage system: the Himalayan rivers (the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra systems), the peninsular rivers (Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Narmada, Tapi and Mahanadi), their tributaries and origins, waterfalls, lakes, and the major dams and multipurpose river projects. Exams ask about the origin of a river, its tributaries, the cities on its banks, and the river on which a dam is built. For example, the Bhakra Nangal Dam is on the Sutlej, the Hirakud Dam on the Mahanadi, and the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada. Remember that the Narmada and Tapi flow west into the Arabian Sea, while most peninsular rivers flow east. Practise the rivers, lakes and dams of India questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.