The correct option is (a).
Explanation
The Godavari is the largest river system in Peninsular India and the second largest in India after the Ganga. Due to its size and extent, it is often referred to as the 'Dakshin Ganga'.Statement 1 is Correct: The Godavari is the largest Peninsular river. It has a length of approximately 1,465 km, covering a vast area of the Deccan Plateau.
Statement 2 is Correct: The river rises from the slopes of the Western Ghats near Trimbakeshwar in the Nashik district of Maharashtra.
Statement 3 is Incorrect: The Godavari basin extends over Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha, with smaller parts in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Puducherry. Approximately 49-50 per cent of the basin area lies in Maharashtra, while the remaining area is distributed among the other states. It is not 90 per cent.
Statement 4 is Incorrect: The Godavari is an East-flowing river. It traverses the Peninsular plateau from west to east and drains into the Bay of Bengal, forming a fertile delta.
Key Takeaway: The Godavari is the longest Peninsular river, originating in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra and flowing east into the Bay of Bengal. Its basin is shared primarily by Maharashtra (approx. 50%), Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha.