// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did the Ganol River say? I'm flowing with ideas.
| Ganol River Kalu | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Meghalaya |
| District | West Garo Hills |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Length | 50 kilometres |
The Ganol River is a river flowing through the West Garo Hills district in the Indian state of Meghalaya. The river originates at the Tura Peak in the Garo Hills and flows toward the west. It is approximately 50 kilometers long and has a winding course.[1] People locally call the river Kalu. Its main tributaries include the Dilni and Rongram rivers.[2]
The Ganol River forms part of the Nokrek National Park and the Nokrek Biosphere Reserve.[3] Leptobrachella nokrekensis, also known as Nokrek's spadefoot toad, has only been found in the Ganol River within the reserve.[4]
In 2020, the Mandal Wari Fish Sanctuary was created in a stretch of the river at Ganol A'pal, near Tura. The sanctuary is intended to be maintained by local people and to support populations of six varieties of mahseer in the region.[5]
As well as being high in biodiversity, the Ganol River is an important water source for the local population, providing water for drinking, washing, irrigation and domestic purposes.[2] It is also a popular area for recreation, with picnickers and anglers visiting the Pelga Falls and Chibragre.[6]
The Ganol Small Hydro Power Project is a hydroelectric power plant on the river with three units, producing an estimated 65 gigawatt-hours of energy per year. The project was begun in 2014, inaugurated in January 2023 and had all three units in operation by July 2023.[7] The lake created by the plant's dam also draws tourists to the area.[8]
Pollution is a serious threat to the river's ecosystem. A study published in 2024 showed that the water quality had declined continuously between 2014 and 2020.[9] Commercial and domestic waste dumped into the river not only damages the natural environment, but also risks damaging the hydroelectric plant. The local government has tried to solve the problem with awareness campaigns and cleanup work.[8][10][11]
References
[edit]- ↑ "West Garo Hills district". Archived from the original on 2026-08-13. Retrieved 2026-08-25.
- 1 2 Pranita Hajong, Papiya Ramanujam (2017). "Effect of anthropogenic activities on algal community in Ganol River, West Garo Hills, Meghalaya" (PDF). Bulletin of Environment, Pharmacology and Life Sciences. 6 (9): 109–120.
- ↑ "Nokrek National Park (18285)". Key Biodiversity Areas. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
- ↑ "Conservation Needs Assessment Summary: Nokrek's Spadefoot Toad". Conservation Needs Assessments. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
- ↑ "Fish sanctuary along Ganol River inaugurated by CM's adviser". Highland Post. West Garo Hills. 8 December 2020. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
- ↑ "Places of Interest". West Garo Hills District. West Garo Hills District. Archived from the original on 10 July 2026. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
- ↑ "3 units of Ganol power project synchronized to grid". Highland Post. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
- 1 2 "Ganol River Dam in Meghalaya's West Garo Hills Choked by Garbage, Raising Concern Over Ecological and Tourism Threat". Northeast Live. 21 May 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
- ↑ Das, Gayatri; Bharali, Biswadeep (5 January 2024). "An integrated study of water quality in the Ganol River Basin, India: Application of hydro-chemical, multivariate statistical, and water quality index techniques". Environmental Quality Management. 33 (4). Wiley Periodicals, LLC.: 955-966. doi:10.1002/tqem.22171. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
- ↑ "Polluted Ganol River: WGH admin imposes fine on Rongram Bazaar Committee, to begin clean-up". Hub News. North East Media Hub. 22 June 2023. Archived from the original on 6 December 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
- ↑ "Ganol Dam under threat from trash". Highland Post. 23 May 2025. Archived from the original on 12 April 2026. Retrieved 29 August 2026.