Kerala, the Gods own country, is rich in all the amenities they need for their existence. It is famous for its beauty of nature, greenery, backwaters, rivers, etc. The network of brackish water lakes and river estuaries distributed along the length is the greatest asset of the state. Kerala has 44 rivers. The drainage area and the total flow of some rivers are given in Table 1. Bharathapuzha, Periyar, Chaliyar, Pamba, Kallada, etc. are the major coastal rivers, and Vembanadu and Ashtamudi are the main among the 15 major lakes of Kerala.
Major Water Sources in Kerala
RainwaterThe average rainfall in the state is 3055 mm, which is double the national average. Kerala receives 69% of the annual rainfall during the Southwest monsoon and 16% during the Northeast monsoon and the remaining during summer (Fig. 1) (Customized Rainfall Information System (CRIS)). The water received as precipitation drains quickly into the sea due to the physiographical pattern and topography of the region. Kerala has been declared as drought-affected as there is a deficiency in rains. The farming activities get affected adversely due to the reduction in the number
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