Understanding River Deltas

A delta is a landform created by deposition of sediment that is carried by a river as the flow leaves its mouth and enters slower-moving or standing water. Rivers that form deltas typically carry significant amounts of sediment and flow relatively slowly as they approach the sea, allowing sediment to build up.

Indian Rivers and Delta Formation

• East-flowing rivers in India, such as the Cauvery, Godavari, and Krishna, generally form large deltas. These rivers traverse long distances across the plains, carrying substantial sediment load before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.
• West-flowing rivers, including the Narmada and Tapti, flow through steep terrains and empty into the Arabian Sea.

Why Narmada Does Not Form a Delta

• The Narmada river is a West-flowing river.
• It flows through a rift valley and has a steep gradient near its mouth.
• Instead of a delta, the Narmada forms an estuary where its freshwater mixes with the saltwater of the Arabian Sea. Estuaries are funnel-shaped tidal mouths of rivers, often deeper than deltas, and do not involve significant land formation at the mouth.

Therefore, the Narmada is the river among the options that does not form a delta.