Read the following Assertion (A) and Reason (R) carefully and choose the correct option:
Assertion (A): The eastern coastal plains of India are wider and flatter than the western coastal plains.
Reason (R): Large rivers like the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri have created extensive deltas along the eastern coast.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Answer: Option (1) is correct.
Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation:
India's Eastern Coastal Plains, situated between the Bay of Bengal and the Eastern Ghats, are significantly wider and flatter than the Western Coastal Plains. Assertion (A) is entirely true. The primary reason for this width is the depositional activity of India's major east-flowing rivers. Large rivers such as the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri carry vast quantities of sediment and form extensive deltas before draining into the sea. Due to the continuous expansion of these deltas and the residual nature of the Eastern Ghats, these plains have widened to between 80 and 120 km. In contrast, the rivers of the Western Coast (such as the Narmada and Tapi) are shorter; owing to the steep gradient, they form estuaries rather than deltas, resulting in the Western Plains remaining relatively narrow (averaging 64 km).
Additional Points:
Eastern Coastal Plains: Its northern section is known as the 'Northern Circars,' while the southern section (extending from the Krishna River to Kanyakumari) is called the 'Coromandel Coast.' Important lagoon lakes, such as Chilika and Pulicat, are located here.
Western Coastal Plains: This serves as an example of a 'submerged coast,' a characteristic that creates favorable conditions for the development of natural harbors. It is divided into three major sections: Konkan, Kannada, and Malabar.
Soil and Agriculture: Due to deltaic deposits, alluvial soil predominates in the Eastern Plains, making it ideal for the cultivation of paddy (rice).
Potential Exam Questions and Answers:
Question: Which of India's coastal plains is referred to as the 'Rice Bowl'?
Answer: The Eastern Coastal Plains (specifically the coastal region of Andhra Pradesh).
Question: 'Kayals' (or backwaters) are a distinctive feature of which of India's coasts?
Answer: The Malabar Coast (Kerala). Question: Wheeler Island (now Abdul Kalam Island) is part of which coastal plain of India?
Answer: The Utkal Plains (the Eastern Coastal Plains near Odisha).