WRID

This Department executes Excavation of Ponds, Tanks & Reservoirs, Harvesting of rainwater in any kind of water bodies, Artificial Recharge and Rain Water Harvesting, Check Dams, Water Harvesting Tanks, Surface Flow Minor Irrigation Schemes and formulates different capacities of Tube well schemes viz., Heavy Duty Tube Well, Medium Duty Tube Well & Light Duty Tube Well and Solar operated Minor Irrigation schemes, etc.

About the schemes:

Water Resources Development Directorate is responsible for the development of the existing potential of water resources available in the State through construction and maintenance of various types of MI schemes utilizing groundwater as well as surface water resources. The schemes which are implemented by this directorate for the development of water resources under the M.I. sector may be categorized as below :

1.  Surface Water Development Minor Irrigation Schemes: Surface water resources are being utilized through irrigation tanks, storage, permanent and temporary diversions. The water of these detention storage reservoirs & Perennial sources is utilized for irrigation during the period of no rain. A small portion of surface water runoff of each watershed is being utilized yet.
   1. Surface Flow Irrigation Schemes: These schemes use rainwater for irrigation purposes either by storing it or by diverting it from a stream, nala, or river. Sometimes, permanent diversions are constructed for utilizing the flowing water of a stream or river. Temporary diversions are also constructed in many areas which are usually washed away during the rainy season.
      1. Diversion schemes: These schemes aim at providing gravity flow irrigation by mere diversion of stream water supply without creating any storage. An obstruction (weir) is constructed across the stream for raising and diverting water through the artificial channel.
      2.  Drainage-cum-Irrigation Schemes: These schemes are constructed mainly to drain water from low-lying areas which are waterlogged due to the tidal action of the river. The reversal flow of water of the river enters into and inundates the agriculture. To control the entry of water, a sluice gate is constructed at the outlet of the natural drainage channel of the area. By way of construction of this type of scheme two-fold facilities namely (i) drainage and (ii) irrigation are obtained. According to the requirement of water for irrigation during Rabi / Boro season, a portion of water is preserved in the existing channel instead of draining it out.
      3. Boro Bundh Scheme: Boro Bundh Schemes are taken up in some low-lying areas of Midnapore, Hooghly, and Howrah districts where no cultivation is possible during the rainy season and topography and characteristics of the river do not permit to construct a permanent storage work. These schemes are temporary in nature. Earthen bundhs are constructed across the river in the month Oct-Nov every year to harvest water for utilization in boro crops. Before on-set of the monsoon, these bundhs are removed to restore the natural waterway.
      4. Water Harvesting Tank: Rain Water Harvesting is being done by excavating topsoil and part of the weathered mantle down to a shallow depth below ground level, creating a reservoir for storage of rainwater as surface resources and simultaneously enriching soil moisture as well as sub-surface resources with natural percolation. Re-excavation of old tanks is made to augment their capacities for harvesting rainwater during monsoon and for subsequent utilization of the same in irrigation during dry seasons. Re-excavation also augments recharge to the water basin thereby increasing the availability of groundwater.
2. Ground Water Development Minor Irrigation Scheme:
   1. Deep Tube Wells: These schemes are constructed for utilization of groundwater resources in areas where irrigation is not covered through surface water resources & where the water table is usually more than 7 meters below ground level and electrically operated submersible pump sets are required to be used for lifting water.
      1. Heavy Duty Tube Well (HDTW): These are capable of discharging 200 cubic meters per hour to irrigate and culturable a command area of 40 hectares through underground pipelines emanating from an elevated distribution chamber. A large number of such structures are existing and are being operated by Govt. machinery. However, as per the policy of the State, these types of structures are being handed over to the users for subsequent operation, management & maintenance.
      2. Medium Duty Tube Well (MDTW): These are capable of discharging 100 cubic meters per hour to irrigate and culturable a command area of 20 hectares through underground pipelines emanating from an elevated distribution chamber. A large number of such structures are existing and are being operated by Govt. machinery. However, as per the policy of the State, these types of structures are also being handed over to the users for subsequent operation, management & maintenance.
      3. Light Duty Tube Well (LDTW): These structures are suitable for areas where the water table is usually more than 7 meters below ground level and electrically operated submersible pump sets are required to be used for lifting water. These are capable of discharging 30 cubic meters per hour to irrigate an area of 4 to 6 hectares through open channels. These structures are installed in a cluster of 5 to 6 tube wells. It has been found that such structures can be managed very efficiently and economically by the users. This scheme may be electrically / Solar operated. 

Required Eligibility for applying the schemes:

 Following are the eligibility criteria:- 

• The beneficiaries of all schemes should be small and marginal farmers.
• Schemes should be for irrigation water supply purpose only.
• For Tube well schemes: 
  • Criteria for minimum distance between tube wells to be maintained as per rule of SWID.
  • Necessary land is to be donated for the construction of Pumphouse etc.
  • The site should be approachable and the nearest 11KVA line should be within 1 km.
  • To be in the safe block as per SWID criteria.

•  For Surface-water schemes :
  • The owner of a Canal or water body should give the necessary undertaking for excavation & construction purposes.
  • There should be open places for the dumping of extra excavated earth

Method of applying for the scheme:

The following is the method for applying for the schemes –

• The beneficiaries (small and marginal farmers) of the schemes may apply in plain paper along with recommendations of local Panchayet & Panchayet Samity or local representatives. Following documents should also be attached – i) Mouza map, ii) Undertaking for donating land (for tube well scheme only), iii) For private land undertaking for allowing excavation & construction purposes.

Till 31.07.2021, the following is the Statistics/Achievements:

For any kind of grievances redressal, one can apply to the following offices:

• Office of the Assistant Engineer (A-I), Howrah (A-I) Sub-Division, 37 Panchanantala, Howrah-711101, Phone No – (033) 26376327, email No – aeaihwsd[at]gmail[dot]com.
• Office of the Assistant Engineer (A-I), Udaynarayanpur (A-I) Sub-Division, Jangalpara , Udaynarayanpur, Howrah-711226, Phone No – (03214) 257039, email No – aeaiunpur[at]gmail[dot]com