Godavari River Changes Colour Near Polavaram

A noticeable change has occurred in the colour of the Godavari River near Polavaram. From July until the first week of October, the water appeared reddish, brownish and copper-coloured as heavy monsoon flows carried water from upstream areas. By mid-October, however, the river had taken on a blue hue as the intensity of the flood flow decreased. The change has drawn attention to the seasonal variations in the river’s appearance.

Heavy rainfall in upstream areas brought soil and sand particles from hills and streams into the Godavari, giving the water its copper-like appearance. As rainfall eased and flood levels subsided, the amount of sediment entering the river declined. Suspended particles also gradually settled on the riverbed, contributing to the change in appearance. Water flowing into the Godavari from the Sileru River is also blue, making the colour change more noticeable near the Polavaram spillway. The river is now flowing under more normal conditions.