Water Resources Development Projects in Subarnarekha

The SMP comprises of two dams (Chandil and Icha), two barrages (Kharkai and Galudih) and a network of canals from these, and a canal from the Galudih barrage to carry water to Orissa; all these lie in Jharkhand state. Three small storage reservoirs and a network of canals from these reservoirs are in Orissa. The main objectives of the SMP are: i) to provide reliable water supply to agricultural lands of 1,600, 900 and 50 km² in Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal, respectively, ii) to provide 740 MCM/year of water for M&I uses in Jharkhand; and iii) to reduce flood damage in Orissa and West Bengal by providing 463 MCM of flood-storage capacity for the Chandil dam. Orissa and West Bengal will construct embankments in their respective territories along the flooding reaches of the river and generate 30 MW of hydroelectric power through medium, mini and micro-hydroelectric projects located at various points of the canal system.

Phase I of the SMP envisaged the partial construction of the Chandil dam (50%) with its main canal (30%) partial construction of the Icha dam (20%) and its right and left bank canals (20%); and partial construction of the Galudih Barrage (36%) and its right bank canal (22%). It also envisaged the construction of three distributaries under Kharkai Barrage (not included in Phase I) and partial completion of the micro-distribution system (210 km²) besides establishing a Water and Land Management Institute (WALMI), irrigation research stations, and pilot water management and pollution control programs. None of the components was planned for full completion in Phase I of the project. This was due to several reasons including: (1) insistence by the co-basin states to take up all components simultaneously; (2) the inability of the World Bank to fund an implementation plan for more than 4 years; and (3) the physical impossibility of completing all these components in 4 years.

Started in 1982-83, SMP multipurpose project was planned for irrigation, hydropower generation and water supply at 75, 95 and 100% reliability, respectively. However, attempts to implement all project components simultaneously and consequent delays has rendered the project infeasible and has reduced its economic viability, the economic rate of return in Bihar had decreased from 17.8% in 1981-82 to 8.6% in 1989. A lack of funds also has been a major problem though a significant amount has been spent (Rs. 9,528 million by June 2001). However, no benefits for the irrigation or household sectors have been generated. The lack of irrigation benefits can be attributed to the failure to deliver irrigation water because of the incomplete canal system. In addition, the increasing demand for irrigation, drinking water, industrial uses and other uses has further complicated the situation.

Although the estimates of project benefits in all categories are very large, significant benefits have accrued only in terms of the mitigation of flood damage and the generation of non-farm employment. In terms of physical achievements, the Chandil dam and Galudih barrage are almost complete, but other components are still incomplete. Partial storage is available in the Chandil reservoir and that is providing M&I water supply to the industrial city of Jamshedpur.

Subernarekha Multipurpose project (Phase I): direct benefits pertaining to the entire scheme when complete.

SN	Indicator	Appraisal estimate	Closing date Estimate	Estimate at full Development
1	Directly benefiting farm families (number)	130,000	0	232,000
2	Increased irrigated area (ha)	255,000	0	255,055
3	Increased food grain production (1,000 tonnes / year)	700	0	700
4	Increased municipal and industrial water supply (MCM/year)	700	0	607
5	Moderation to flood damage (Rs. million/ year)	18.5	21.2	21.2
6	Generated farm employment (number of jobs)	138,000	0	190,000
7	Generated non-farm employment (number of jobs)	24,800	27,715^a	39,300
8	Value added in agriculture (Rs million/year)	1,485	0	2,254
9	Reduction in farm families below poverty line (percent)	53	42^b	58

Phase I of SMP was implemented with financial assistance from the World Bank. It was to be followed immediately by Phase II. However, the implementation of Phase II got delayed and it is now in progress. The components are in different stages of completion.

Getalsud Reservoir

Getalsud reservoir is located at 23° 27' N and 85° 33' E, across the Subernarekha River, 40 km east of Ranchi city, now the capital of Jharkhand State. Completed in 1971, this multi-purpose reservoir was envisaged mainly to meet municipal water demands of Ranchi town, industrial needs of the Heavy Engineering Corporation and other factories. The reservoir has a maximum surface area of 34.59 km² and a capacity of 288.5 Mm³ at the FRL of 595.70 m. At the lowest level, the area is only 9.87 km². Getalsud dam has a catchment area of 717 km² and is located at about 50 km from the origin of the Subernarekha River. The height of the dam is 35.5 m. Two power houses, namely Subernarekha I & II, have been commissioned. Both the power houses have one unit of 65 MW each and have a firm power of 9.5 MW and 5.0 MW respectively.

Getalsud Reservoir