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Flood Management

Lower Damodar Drainage Scheme

Districts: Hooghly, Purba & Paschim Bardhaman, Bankura & Howrah

1. Project Overview

The irrigation network downstream of the Durgapur Barrage called Lower Damodar Sub Basin, developed over six decades ago, has deteriorated due to dilapidated structures, seepage losses and silted canals, resulting in reduced efficiency and water scarcity, particularly at tail reaches. The area also faces recurrent flooding owing to silted channels and rivers, inadequately protected embankments / banks.

Accordingly, Government of West Bengal has undertaken the West Bengal Major Irrigation & Flood Management Project (WBMIFMP) to modernize irrigation infrastructure over 3.764 lakh ha of the Damodar Valley Command Area within 42 Development Blocks in Hooghly, Purba & Paschim Bardhaman, Bankura & Howrah districts and promote sustainable conjunctive use of surface and groundwater.

The project also strengthens flood risk management and climate resilience across 1,078 sq. km of the Lower Damodar sub-basin, within 17 Development Blocks and 1 Municipality mostly in Hooghly and Howrah districts.

Fig: Index Map of Project Area

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2. Objectives

• De-siltation and re-sectioning of irrigation channels up to its design section

• Modernization of irrigation infrastructure to improve service delivery and reliability

• Promotion of conjunctive use of surface and groundwater and climate resilience

• Reduction of flood risk and inundation damages in the Lower Damodar sub-basin

3. Project Cost & Financing

• Original cost: USD 413 million (₹2,931.68 crore)

• Revised cost: ₹3,324.52 crore (approved up to Sept 2024)

• Funding: World Bank (IBRD) – 35%, AIIB – 35%, GoWB – 30%

• Implementation period: Feb 2020 – Nov 2025

4. Physical & Financial Progress (as on 30 Nov 2025)

• Physical progress: 100%

• Financial progress: 95%

• Expenditure incurred: ₹3,196.31 crore

• Loan disbursement: USD 270.57 million (93%)

5. Major Achievements

Irrigation Sector (Hooghly, Purba & Paschim Bardhaman, Bankura & Howrah)

• 2,651 km of irrigation canals re-sectioned

• 2,181 canal structures rehabilitated

• 4,955 new outlet gates installed

• PMIS, GIS & mobile applications operational

• SCADA-PLC systems at 44 locations

• Performance-based Irrigation Service Providers (ISPs) covering 1.97 lakh ha

• Groundwater monitoring through piezometers and DWLRs

• Cost: ₹1,503.87 crore

Flood Management (Hooghly & Howrah)

• 213.35 km of flood embankments strengthened

• 162.57 km of rivers and drainage channels desilted/re-sectioned

• 80.87 km improvement of embankments and bank protection works

• Cost: ₹1,611.88 crore

6. Benefits Realised

• 3.61 lakh ha already under improved irrigation (out of 3.76 lakh ha)

• Canal water reached tail reaches after nearly 30 years (≈7,500 ha)

• Additional 13,292 ha irrigated during Rabi 2025

• Reduced dependence on groundwater; 140.97 million kWh energy saved

• Farmer income doubled (≈₹36,000 to ₹72,000/year); paddy yield up 10–15%

• No major inundation up to 1.36 lakh cusecs discharge

• Embankment breaches reduced (4 in 2024 vs 35 in 2017)

• Inundation area reduced by 14% (vs 2017) and 9% (vs 2021)

• Faster drainage and reduced waterlogging duration in flood-prone blocks