Why do many rivers on the western coast form estuaries instead of large deltas?

Correct answer: A narrow coast, steep slope and tidal action limit deposition

Correct answer: A. An estuary is a river mouth where the river meets the sea and the mouth is often widened or funnel-shaped, with freshwater mixing with seawater. Much of India’s western coastal plain is narrow, and many west-flowing rivers descend relatively quickly from the Western Ghats to the Arabian Sea. The steep gradient encourages water to move swiftly, while waves and tides can carry away or redistribute sediment. Therefore, there may not be enough calm, shallow space for large delta deposits to accumulate. Option B is plainly wrong because the western coast borders the Arabian Sea. Option C is wrong because these rivers generally rise in the Western Ghats, not all in the Himalayas. Option D is an exaggerated and unsupported claim; sediment does not always become a mountain. Memory cue: narrow, steep, tidal west coast favours estuaries.