Hafilhafi at 16:13, 11 January 2026

2026-01-11T16:13:37Z

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{{short description|River in northwest India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Luni River
| native_name = {{native name list |tag1=sa|name1=Lavanavari |tag2=sa|name2=Lavanavati}}
| name_other = Sagarmati
| name_etymology =
| nickname = 
| mapframe = yes
| image =
| image_size =
| image_caption =
| image_alt = 
| map = Sarasvati river.jpg
| map_size = 232px
| map_caption = Course of River Luni or Lavanaravi river, south of the estimated route of the ancient Sarasvati river
| map_alt =
| pushpin_map =
| pushpin_map_size =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of the mouth of the river in India
| pushpin_map_alt = 
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = [[India]]
| subdivision_type2 = State
| subdivision_name2 = [[Rajasthan]]
| subdivision_type3 =
| subdivision_name3 =
| subdivision_type4 =
| subdivision_name4 =
| subdivision_type5 =
| subdivision_name5 = 
| length_km = 495
| width_min =
| width_avg =
| width_max =
| depth_min =
| depth_avg =
| depth_max =
| discharge1_location =
| discharge1_min =
| discharge1_avg =
| discharge1_max = 
| source1 =
| source1_location = [[Pushkar]] Valley near [[Ajmer]]
| source1_coordinates = 
| source1_elevation = {{cvt|550|m}}
| mouth =
| mouth_location = Near [[Nadabet]], [[Rann of Kutch]], [[Gujarat]]
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|24|39|N|71|11|E|display=it|region:IN_type:river_source:GNS-enwiki}}
| mouth_elevation =
| progression =
| image_map1 =
| river_system =
| basin_size_km2 = 37363
| basin_landmarks =
| basin_population =
| tributaries_left = [[Jawai River]], [[Sukri River]], [[Guhiya River]], [[Bandi River]], [[Liladi River]]
| tributaries_right = [[Jojari River]]
| waterbodies =
| waterfalls =
| bridges =
| ports =
| custom_label =
| custom_data =
| extra =
| district = [[Ajmer]], [[Barmer district|Barmer]]
| cities = [[Birami]], [[Raipur, Rajasthan|Raipur]]
}}
The '''Luni''' is the largest river in the [[Thar Desert]] in [[Northwest India]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last1=Carling|first1=Paul A.|last2=Leclair|first2=Suzanne F.|date=2018-07-16|title=Alluvial stratification styles in a large, flash-flood influenced dryland river: The Luni River, Thar Desert, north-west India|journal=Sedimentology|volume=66|issue=1|pages=102–128|doi=10.1111/sed.12487|issn=0037-0746|doi-access=free}}</ref> It originates in Naga hills<ref>{{Cite book |last=RajRAS |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AX6kDwAAQBAJ&dq=Luni+river&pg=PA83 |title=Rajasthan Geography |date=2018-01-17 |publisher=RajRAS |language=en}}</ref> of the [[Pushkar]] valley of the [[Aravalli Range]], near [[Ajmer]], passes through the southeastern portion of the Thar Desert, and ends in the marshy lands of [[Rann of Kutch]] in [[Gujarat]], after travelling a distance of {{cvt|495|km}}. It is first known as '''Sagarmati''', then after passing Govindgarh, it meets its tributary Sarasvati, which originates from [[Pushkar Lake]] and from then on it is called Luni.<ref name=lun>{{cite book|url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V16_217.gif|title=Luni River, The Imperial Gazetteer of India|year=1909|volume=16|pages=211–212}}, see also [[The Imperial Gazetteer of India]]</ref>

In 1892, Maharaja [[Jaswant Singh II]] of [[Jodhpur]] constructed 0 in Pichiyak village between [[Bilara]] and Bhawi of [[Jodhpur district]]. It is one of the largest artificial lakes in India and irrigates more than {{cvt|12000|acre|km2}}.<ref name=lun/> It is one of the internal drainage rivers in India; it does not meet with [[Arabian Sea]]. It is drained before it reaches the Arabian Sea.

==Etymology==
The Luni is also known as the Lavanavari or Lavanavati, which means '''"salt river"''' in [[Sanskrit]], due to the high salinity of its water.<ref name=lun/>

==Overview==
[[File:Luni river view from railway bridge of Luni town in Jodhpur district 01.jpg|left|thumb|Luni river view from railway bridge of [[Luni, Rajasthan|Luni town]] in Jodhpur district]]
The Luni River basin is 37,363 km<sup>2</sup>, which includes all or part of the [[Ajmer district|Ajmer]], [[Barmer district|Barmer]], [[Jalore district|Jalore]], [[Jodhpur]], [[Nagaur district|Nagaur]], [[Pali district|Pali]], and [[Sirohi district|Sirohi]] districts of [[Rajasthan]] and the [[Banaskantha district|Banaskantha]] and [[Patan district|Patan]] districts of northern Gujarat. Its major tributaries are the [[Sukri]], Mithri, [[Bandi River|Bandi]], [[Khari River|Khari]], [[Jawai River|Jawai]], [[Guhiya River|Guhiya]] and Sagi from the left and the Jojari from the right.<ref name=":0" />

The Luni River begins near [[Ajmer]], in the Pushkar valley of the western [[Aravalli Range]] at an elevation of about 550m. At this point, the river is also known as the Sagarmati. The river then flows in the southwest direction through the hills and plains of the Marwar region in Rajasthan. The river flows south-west and enters the Thar Desert before dissipating into the Rann of Kutch, traversing a total of 495 km. In spite of the high [[salinity]], it is a major river in the region and serves as a primary source of irrigation. The Luni is not saline until it reaches [[Balotra]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Honkimäki |first=Julia |date=2023-06-20 |title=मरुगंगा लूणी नदी का पानी पहुंचा बालोतरा, छतरियों का मोर्चा बीओटी पूल से पानी हुआ पार » Balotra News-बालोतरा न्यूज़ |url=https://www.balotranews.com/balotra/the-water-of-the-maruganga-luni-river-reached-the-balotra-umbrella-front-water-crossed-from-the-bot-pool/ |access-date=2023-06-21 |language=en-US}}</ref> where high salt content in the soil impacts the river.<ref name=":0" />

The Luni may have been the southern portion of the historic [[Ghaggar-Hakra]] river channel.<ref name=":0" />

==Tributaries==
[[File:Luni Riber Basin India.png|300px|thumb|Luni River Basin]]
The [[Jawai River|Jawai]], [[Sukri River|Sukri]], [[Guhiya River|Guhiya]], [[Bandi River|Bandi]] and [[Jojari River|Jojari]] rivers are the main tributaries of Luni river. The Jojari is the only tributary that merges to the right bank of the river while other 10 tributaries join its left bank. All the tributaries except Jojari originate from the [[Aravalli Range]].<ref name="indiatoday.in">{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/luni-mysterious-indian-river-in-west-rajasthan-facts-html-1380307-2018-11-01|title=Luni, the Indian river with saline water that doesn't drain into any sea or ocean: Facts you need to know|access-date=7 March 2020|work=India Today}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080326193503/http://www.rajirrigation.gov.in/3bluni.htm Luni Basin (Department of Irrigation, Government of Rajasthan)]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080419033829/http://www.rajirrigation.gov.in/3rivers5.htm Luni tributaries (Department of Irrigation, Government of Rajasthan)]</ref>

==Dams and irrigation==
The dams in Luni river are:<ref name="indiatoday.in"/>
*Jaswant Sagar Dam - built in 1892 by Maharaja Jaswant Singh.It is one of the largest artificial lakes in India.

The two major irrigation projects on Luni river are [[SardarSamand]] and Jawai dam.<ref name="indiatoday.in"/>
Sardar Samand dam was constructed in 1905.

==Flash floods==
Flash floods have occurred in the Luni river as the river flows on a shallow bed and the riverbank soil is easily flattened by the rain water.<ref name="indiatoday.in"/>

The worst flood happened in 2006, when the desert region received heavy rain. Flash floods caused water levels to rise to as high as {{convert|15|to|25| feet|m|0}} submerging many parts along the river in the [[Barmer district]]. A large number of people and animals died in the flood.<ref name="indiatoday.in"/>

In 2010, another flood occurred but there were fewer casualties.<ref name="indiatoday.in"/>

==Industrial Pollution Impact==

The degradation of the Luni River's water quality is primarily attributed to the discharge of hazardous pollutants by textile industries located along its banks, including [[Balotra]], [[Bithuja]], [[Jasol]], and [[Pali district|Pali]]. The pollution has resulted in the loss of the river's natural flow, transforming freshwater into saline water as it reaches Balotra. This pollution not only affects the river itself but also contaminates groundwater and surface water bodies in the surrounding areas.

=== Efforts to Combat Pollution ===

Several individuals and organizations have been actively involved in combating the pollution of the Luni River. The 'Pradushan Niwaran and Paryavarn Sanrakshan Samiti,' a voluntary organization, has been at the forefront of the fight against river pollution. Their efforts include advocating for the enforcement of green norms, raising awareness about the issue, and pushing for compensation to farmers whose crops have been damaged due to contaminated water.

=== Legal Interventions ===

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the Rajasthan High Court have played significant roles in addressing the pollution problem of the Luni River. The NGT, in response to a public interest litigation, declared the Luni water unfit for irrigation due to pollution from textile dyeing units. The court ordered the shutdown of around 800 textile units for violating green norms, and subsequent assessments were conducted to monitor the situation.

=== Ongoing Challenges ===

Despite legal interventions and efforts by various stakeholders, challenges persist in addressing the pollution of the Luni River. Textile industries continue to discharge pollutants into the river, and encroachments in the catchment area exacerbate the problem. The lack of full compliance with environmental quality standards by some industries and the failure to achieve zero liquid discharge (ZLD) remain areas of concern. Due to the absence of embankments around the river bank, saline water reaches the nearby fields during the rainy season, causing a decrease in fertility.

==Fish diversity==
The fish diversity assessment of Luni river led by ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Lucknow from October, 2018 - November, 2019 reported the occurrence of 27 species belonging to 22 genera, dominated by Cyprinids. The highest fish diversity of 12 species was reported in Samdhari and Gandhav. In this study, the wide distribution of Invasive Fish Species such as [[Clarias gariepinus|African Catfish]] (Clarias gariepinus) and [[Mozambique tilapia]] (Oreochromis mossambicus) were also reported from the river Luni.<ref>Pathak, A. K., Kantharajan, G., Saini, V. P., Kumar, R., Dayal, R., Mohindra, V., & Lal, K. K. (2020). Fish community and habitat diversity profiling of Luni, an ephemeral saline river from Thar Desert of India for conservation and management. Community Ecology. {{doi|10.1007/s42974-020-00033-4}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Hydrography of Rajasthan}}
{{Waters of South Asia}}

[[Category:Rivers of Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Barmer district]]
[[Category:Aravalli Range]]

Luni River - Revision history

Hafilhafi at 16:13, 11 January 2026