The Ganga River Basin, spread across 11 states, covers about 26% of India’s geographical area and supports over 40% of India’s population (~520 million people, 2011 Census).

Distribution and Density Pattern

1. Upper Ganga Basin (Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh)
   • Low density due to rugged relief, narrow valleys, and limited cultivable land.
   • Settlements concentrated in valleys (Haridwar, Dehradun).
2. Middle Ganga Basin (Uttar Pradesh, Bihar)
   • Very high density (800–1100 persons/km²).
   • Extensive alluvial plains, fertile soils, and perennial water availability.
   • Cities like Kanpur, Lucknow, Patna show urban-industrial concentration.
3. Lower Ganga Basin (West Bengal)
   • Extremely high density (>1000 persons/km²), especially in the deltaic plains.
   • Fertile deltaic alluvium, abundant water for irrigation, and proximity to ports (Kolkata, Howrah).

Role of Land, Soil, and Water Resources

Land Resources

1. Extensive Alluvial Plains – Flat, fertile Indo-Gangetic plains provide ideal conditions for dense settlement.
2. Favorable Relief – Gently sloping terrain encourages agriculture, irrigation, and transport networks.
3. Deltaic Land Advantage – supports rice cultivation, jute, and fisheries. Eg– West Bengal (Kolkata–Howrah region).

Soil Resources

1. Highly Fertile Alluvium – Soils rich in nutrients, renewed annually by floods, support intensive agriculture. Eg– Bihar’s Sone–Gandak plains known as India’s “granary belt.
2. Diverse Soil Types – Khadar (new alluvium) supports rice, wheat, sugarcane; Bhangar (old alluvium) sustains orchards and pulses.
3. High Agricultural Productivity – Fertility allows multiple cropping, sustaining high rural density. Eg– Rice–wheat belt in eastern UP and Bihar.

Water Resources

1. Perennial River Network – Ganga and tributaries (Yamuna, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi) ensure year-round water supply.
2. Irrigation Infrastructure – Canals (Upper & Lower Ganga Canal), tube-wells, and pumps enable irrigated farming.
3. Groundwater Abundance – Shallow water table supports irrigation and drinking water. Eg– Punjab & western UP use intensive groundwater irrigation.
4. Fisheries and Inland Navigation – Rivers support livelihood diversification beyond farming.
5. Hydropower and Urban Water Supply – Eg– Tehri Dam in Uttarakhand; Kolkata draws water from Hooghly.

The Ganga River Basin is India’s “population heartland”. Ensuring sustainable resource management is vital to balance livelihood security with ecological health.