What is Godavari River?
[[File:Godavari river near Achanta.jpg|thumb|Godavari river near Achanta, West Godavari.]] The '''Godavari''', also known as '''Dakshina Ganga''', is the second longest [[river]] in [[India]] which flows for 1,465 kilometers and covers about 10% of [[India]]'s total area.<ref>{{Cite web|title=|url=http://cwc.gov.in/sites/default/files/admin/About-Godavari-Basin-kgbo.pdf|access-date=2023-12-11|archive-date=2021-08-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210808105201/http://cwc.gov.in/sites/default/files/admin/About-Godavari-Basin-kgbo.pdf|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref> It originates in [[Trimbakeshwar]], [[Nashik]], [[Maharashtra]], and flows through several states, ultimately emptying into the [[Bay of Bengal]]. With a large basin, the Godavari is one of the biggest [[River|rivers]] in [[India]], only surpassed by the [[Ganges]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-09-23|title=Basins -|url=http://www.india-wris.nrsc.gov.in/wrpinfo/index.php?title=Basins|access-date=2023-12-11|archive-date=2015-09-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923002429/http://www.india-wris.nrsc.gov.in/wrpinfo/index.php?title=Basins|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref> The [[river]] has [[Culture|cultural]] and [[Religion|religious]] importance in [[Hindu scripture|Hindu scriptures]] and is known as the ''Dakshina Ganga''.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-01-18|title=Dakshina Ganga (Ganga of South India) - River Godavari - Important India|url=http://www.importantindia.com/10222/dakshina-ganga/|access-date=2023-12-11|archive-date=2016-01-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160118171303/http://www.importantindia.com/10222/dakshina-ganga/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Over the years, [[Dam|dams]] and barrages have been constructed on the [[river]], impacting its [[Nature|natural]] flow and increasing the risk of [[Flood|flooding]] in its [[River delta|delta]] region.<ref>{{Cite web|title=|url=http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/file/Shrinking_and_sinking_delta_major_role_of_Dams_May_2014.pdf|access-date=2023-12-11|archive-date=2016-0