Barrage and Irrigation System of DVC
The river Damodar has a basin area of 58,480 sq. km. of which 32,110 sq. km. is in Jharkhand (erstwhile Bihar). A comprehensive programme of flood control, irrigation and power generation was planned under a corporation with participation of Bihar, West Bengal and Govt. of India. DVC was formed in 1948. Four dams situated in Jharkhand is complete though acquisition of some flood storage areas still remains incomplete. The irrigation and canal system of DVC has been handed over to the Govt. of West Bengal in 1964.
In the original project DVC canal system was designed mainly to provide irrigation in Kharif and Rabi period. Now, the system has started providing irrigation to summer paddy also. At present further work for increasing irrigation coverage by reducing transmission losses and changing cropping pattern has been taken up.
An irrigation potential of 4,83,500 ha. out of its ultimate irrigation potential of 5,10,110 ha. has been created through the project in the districts of Burdwan, Bankura, Hooghly and Howrah.
Salient Features
| Durgapur Barrage (DVC Project) | |
| Location | Durgapur, District Bankura & Paschim Burdwan on the river – Damodar |
| Catchment area | 19.547 sq. km. (7,635 sq. Mile) Damodar – Barakar Basin |
| Width Between Abutments | 692.20 m (2271 ft.) |
| No. of Weir Bays | 24 – Each width 18.29 m+ Under Sluice Bays – 10 (Each width 18.3 m) |
| Linear Waterway | 622 mm (2,040 ft.) |
| Design Discharge | 15,586 cumecs (5,50,000 cusecs) |
| Optimum Pond Level | 64.48 m (211.50 ft.) |
| Design Upstream Level | 64.47 m (211.46 -211.50) |
| Canal Discharge | Left - 260 cumecs (9,137 cusecs) Right - 64.30 cumecs (2,271 cusecs) |
| Irrigable Area | Kharif - 3,93,763 ha (9,73,010.00 acre) Rabi - 22,258 ha (55,000 acre) |
| Achievable Culturable Command Area | Kharif - 3,53,000 ha (8,72,280 acre) Rabi - 31,850 ha (78,702 acre) Boro - 65,724 ha (1,62,407 acre) |