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Impact of Tilpara barrage on backwater reach of Kushkarni River: a tributary of Mayurakshi River

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Abstract

Tilpara barrage over Mayurakshi River has exerted crucial impact on backwater reach of river Kushkarni (4.5 km upstream reach) which debouches to Mayurakshi River at immediate upstream head of this barrage. Study area is located at the Chota Nagpur plateau fringe highly erodible Rarh tract of Birbhum district of West Bengal. From this study, it is found that due to storage of water in the reservoir, backwater created and confluence part of the Kushkarni River is submerged. Stagnation of reservoir water reduced carrying capacity of channel by 26 %, and it is facilitated by declining trend of channel bed slope and velocity of flow. Depth of channel is attenuated by 17–71 cm depositing 919,342.6 m3 of coarser sediment load. In this circumstance, high flood level frequency in same inflow state has increased by 26.5 % and channel braiding has started to nucleate. Alternate textural sequence of materials from river bed reveals some irregular episodic inflow events within reservoir. Episodic discharge and consequent large flood have created thick sand splay cover in the left side of the channel and damaged agricultural land. Potential bank erosion hazard index or BEHI is considerably high (27.35–31.73) in this backwater reach, and the process is mainly triggered by liquefaction. Considering existing forms and functions of the study segment, it is evaluated with existing reservoir upstream channel morphology model of Skalak et al. (2013) and found to be proximate. Such alteration of channel morphology in this segment is linked with socio-ecological fabric of the surrounding area. Along with channel morphological readjustment, socio-ecological setup is also moving toward new adjustment.

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Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Source: Prepared by author based on relevant data sources mentioned in material and method section

Fig. 3

Source: By author using field measurement data

Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Source: By author using field measurement data

Fig. 6

Source: Prepared by author based on sand and soil sample collected from different sites and textural information extracted from digital sieve shaker

Fig. 7

Source: Prepared by author using field data

Fig. 8

Source: Prepared by author through field survey

Fig. 9

Source: Prepared by author based on sand and soil sample collected from different sites and textural information extracted from digital sieve shaker

Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Source: Constructed by author based on discharge and water level data

Fig. 12

Source: Prepared by author based on river course extracted from Google Earth image

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  1. Department of Geography, University of Gour Banga, English Bazar, Malda, PIN: 732103, West Bengal, India

    Swades Pal

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Pal, S. Impact of Tilpara barrage on backwater reach of Kushkarni River: a tributary of Mayurakshi River. Environ Dev Sustain 19, 2115–2142 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-016-9833-4

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