Kanhan River

Kanhan River (कन्हान नदी)
River
Kanhan River near Ramakona.
Country	India
States	Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra
Region	Vidharba
Districts	Chhindwara District, Madhya Pradesh, Nagpur District, Maharashtra
Tributaries
- left	Pench River, Sand River
- right	Bel River, Jam River, Kolar River, Nag River
Cities	Damua, Sausar, Kamthi
Landmarks	Waki, Jaoli, Kekranala
Source	Satpura Range
- location	Chindwara District, Madhya Pradesh
- coordinates	22°14′N 78°25′E / 22.233°N 78.417°E / 22.233; 78.417
Mouth	Wainganga River
- location	Ambora, Nagpur district, Maharashtra
- coordinates	21°04′N 79°35′E / 21.067°N 79.583°E / 21.067; 79.583Coordinates: 21°04′N 79°35′E / 21.067°N 79.583°E / 21.067; 79.583
Length	275 km (171 mi)

The Kanhan River is an important right bank tributary of the Wainganga River draining a large area lying south of Satpura range in central India. Along its 275 km run through the Indian States of Maharashtra & Madhya Pradesh, it receives its largest tributary - Pench River, a major water source for the metropolis of Nagpur.

Kanhan was surprisingly not mentioned in the 2001 list of notified rivers in Maharashtra which has led to unrestricted exploitation in the form of sand mining along the river bed. This failure to recognise its presence has been viewed as a deliberate attempt at unregulated economic gains.The catchment area has also seen large scale coal mining in recent years. Efforts are currently underway to notify the river to prevent further environmental damage.This has been undermined by plans for construction of a barrage. The river was perennial until a few decades ago, but now goes dry by February every year.

The Kanhan rises on the slopes of the hills at the southern edge of the Satpura range to the north of Damua, a town in Madhya Pradesh, India. The source lacks clear documentation and is not celebrated or considered holy, unlike most other rivers of a similar size.

The Kanhan is Wainganga's longest tributary, at 275 km. It rises in the southern spurs of the Satpura Range in the north-western region of Chindwara District. Flowing south from its origin, Damua is the first town it encounters. Here it intersects the town and allows for its flow to be controlled by means of a dam.It then runs along a south & southeastern direction, meandering through the countryside of Chindwara District where it has been productively harnessed for growing Tur dal and cotton. The river comes to lie about 5 km to the south of Deogarh fort where it humbly receives an insignificant tributary.Upon reaching the town of Ramakona it is crossed by a rail bridge as well as another road bridge which supports NH-26 B. Nearly at the end of its course in Madhya Pradesh, it is joined by Jam River, and for a short distance provides a natural boundary with adjoining state Maharashtra.