After 60 years, state plans to repair Durgapur Barrage

Kolkata: The state Irrigation and Waterways department has chalked out an elaborate scheme to repair Durgapur Barrage for the first time since its construction almost six decades ago.

The foundation stone of the barrage on river Damodar in Bankura was laid by the then Chief Minister Dr BC Roy.

The construction began in 1955 and it ended in 1960.

As the barrage was not repaired since ages its condition deteriorated from bad to worse.

The state Irrigation and Waterways department has chalked out an elaborate scheme to immediately repair it. Once the repair work is completed the barrage will prevent inundation on vast areas.

Bridge and Roof has been assigned to do the job at an estimated cost of Rs 98 crore.

The scheme has been named "Rehabilitation and Strengthening of the Damaged Divide Wall and Downstream Floor of Durgapur Barrage".

There are 34 gates at the barrage that are operational. Due to lack of maintenance massive perforations have developed on the gates which cause huge leakage of water.

In the upstream, divers have been deployed to carry out the necessary repair and plug the perforations.

Necessary steps will be taken to revive the health of the dividing wall. Due to monsoon work cannot be carried out from June-July to October-November.

In the downstream massive erosion has taken place on the bed of river Damodar. Necessary steps will be taken to check the erosion process.

This apart, the state Irrigation and Waterways department has come up with an important scheme to repair the bridges on the canals of river Damodar.

Under the scheme 31 bridges in Bankura, Birbhum and Bishnupur will be repaired by Bridge and Roof.

The estimated cost of the project is Rs 50 crore. Most of the bridges need immediate repair. Work is being carried out in this regard and it is

likely to be completed by monsoon.