Kaladan River

Kaladan, also known as Chimmtuipi Lui in local language is the biggest river in Mizoram with its origin in the Chin state in Burma. This river coordinates between 22°55'25" North   92°58'16" East. It also connects the Arakan and Chin states flowing for about 250 kilometers in length (220 miles) from Mizoram until the fertile plains of the Araka state. It also forms an international border between India and Burma where its tributary Tyao River joins between 22° 47′ 10" North and 22° 11′ 06" North.

The 130kilometer length of Kalandar river valley is also called as the “Rice Bowl” of Araka states, proving itself as the most useful rivers of Mizoram. It passes through the southern tip of Mizoram via the district of Saiha and Lawngtlai and flows back to the Rakhine state in Burma entering Akyab which pays entry to the Bay of Bengal at Sittwe, a famous port in Myanmar. It has an elevation of 2,564 meters (8,412 ft) at west flank of Mount Zinghmu and coordinates at its mouth at 20°06′00″North and 92°54′09″East (near Bay of Bengal). It discharges an average of 3,468 m3/s (122,471 cu ft/s) water every year. At present the Kaladan River is the fifth largest river in the world to remain un-fragmented by any dams and /or catchments.

Government is planning to have two hydro electricity projects on the two tributaries of Kaladan River – the Lunglend and the Chimmtuipui which will be followed by another similar project in the down streams of the river. This project will also take place in the boundary regions of India and Myanmar involving few submerged regions without impacting the other Kaladan projects. The Kaladan Multi Modular Transit project between Silchar to Sittwe is yet another project aimed at connecting the Indian mainland with North Eastern state of Mizoram.

Course

The Kaladan River rises in central China region and is joined by the Chal River as it flows southwards. It is then called as Boinu river and continues to flow south until it is joined by the Twe river in at 22° 08′ 40″ North and 93° 34′ 30″ East thereby swinging towards the west direction. As it continues west, its direction takes the north east path passing below Mount Phabipa at 22° 11′ 06″ North and 93° 09′ 29″ east. At this point it forms the border country river between India and Burma. This international border continue flowing along with the Tyao river in the North, and as it gets a new name “Boinu” it heads northwest towards Mizoram, this river later gets its local name as the Kaladan river.

As it reaches the north most point and takes a promising south west direction it is joined by the Tuichong River from its right. As it flows it is again joined by the Mat River at 22° 43′ 39″ North and 92° 54′ 46″ east, and Kawrthingdeng from its right side. This flow redirects the river towards its place of origin, the Chin State , at 22° 03′ 40″ N 92° 51′ 05″ E – in the northwest region of Khenkhar. This time it is joined by the Mi River at 21° 06′ 56″ N 92° 57′ 42″ E from the left side. As it reaches Ngame, it enters Burma’s Rakhine State continuing its flow southwards towards Sittwe and enters the Bay of Bengal.

Tributaries

Kaladan River, being the biggest river in Mizoram has many tributaries to its left and right.

Left Tributaries are Kyegu River, Twe River,Kalabon River, Mi River and right tributaries are Kawrthingdeng River , Chal River, Tuichang  River, Tyao River, Mat River,Twe River coordinates between 22°11'45"N   93°34'47"E flowing via Kalay, Tiddim in ChKawrthingdeng River is said to be a representative of the drainage system in the entire south west region of the Mizoram state.

Tuichang River is a tributary of the Khawthlangtuipui River flowing in the northeast direction of Mizoram

This river originates in the Lushai hills of Mizoram, flowing towards Bangladesh and ends itself in the Bay of Bengal
Chal River

The Chal River coordinates at 22°39'24"North and 93°32'24"East from the capital city of Chin State, Falam and flows in Tiddim and Kayal regions. It joins the Timit Rivers and gets a new name as Boinu River.

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