Role of Multipurpose Projects on Distribution of Cropping Intensity and Canal Irrigation: A Study on DVC Projects of the Middle Damodar River Valley of West Bengal

Abstract

The river valley projects with many objectives are called multipurpose project. Multipurpose project in the Damodar River played a major role not only as a flood controller but also as a source of canal irrigation. Middle and lower course of the river are the most prominent area where irrigation systems are largely controlled by DVC projects of Damodar River. Several canal systems has also developed after construction of dams in DVC project of Damodar River Valley. The study area falls under the area in between Panchet Dam and Burdwan Town. It is extended up to 23º28’ N to 23º41’N latitude and 86 º 44 ’E to 87 º 18’ E longitudes. Total length of the area is approximately 70 km. the avg. height of this area is 110 m from the sea level. To show the increase of Agricultural Land in downstream section Damodar River Basin, block wise Cropping Intensity distribution has been calculated for showing locational and temporal. In this river valley, the area under Agricultural Land has been drastically increased (15%) from 1990 to 2010 but there are slightly increase in the Built up areas. The western side of the basin have the low cropping intensity in the Burdwan District. Upper reaches are less fertile that is why production is also low and reverse condition are found in the lower reaches of the river basin area. The downstream of the river valley are pure alluvial track of the Ganga River system and this region are more fertile than the upstream region. Whole basin area is bounded with agricultural and industrial activities. Irrigation also can put impetus on the agricultural output of this valley region especially in the downstream areas of the valley. Thus the dams are severally interlinked with the human settlement and landscapes of the Damodar Valley Region.

Keywords: Multipurpose DVC projects, Agriculture, Dam and Barrage, Land use/land cover change, Cropping Intensity, Damodar River Valley