The Irrigation & Waterways Department having jurisdiction over 10 nos. of block of Cooch Behar district is mainly interested with the task of river bank protection in the district. There are more than 30 nos. of large rivers flowing through the jurisdiction of Cooch Behar irrigation division.
At present 28% of the river bank in the district remains protected from erosion. Cooch Behar district is a major river erosion prone district. Large chunks of valuable cultivable land is being eroded and washed away every year much to the distress and agony of our farmers. This is in deed a major source of concern and challenge for this district. The department has send several proposals for anti erosion schemes to the Govt. An apex body called Board of Technical Consultants to North Bengal Flood Control Commission examines the schemes and accords approval. As per availability of fund the schemes are then executed.
Jurisdiction
Except Haldibari and Mekhliganj Bolcks entire Cooch Behar district is within the jurisdiction of this Division.
There are more than 30 rivers flowing through the jurisdiction of Cooch Behar Irrigation Division. Among these there are 6 major rivers like Jaldhaka, Torsa, Raidak and Gangadhar with numerous medium size (7 nos) tributaries like Dhrala, Mujnai, Sutuga, Gadadhar etc. including 17 nos. of minor rivers spread through out the district. The total length of these rivers account for about 800 km with the total river bank length of 1600 km. it is seen that as on 09.07.2010 the existing protection work of the Irrigation & Waterways Department has been provided to about 440 km of the river bank. This measure has been able to protect about 470.75 sq. km. of the district land.
Activities
Cooch Behar Irrigation Division is entrusted with the task to protect river banks from erosion by executing anti-erosion schemes. Anti-erosion schemes are framed as per necessity and demand of people. An apex body called Board of Technical Consultants to North Bengal Flood Control Commission examine the schemes and accords approval. As per availability of fund the schemes are then executed. About 28% of the river bank is protected. Another 25.75 Km of river bank is taken-up for protection with Rs. 27.84 Crore during this year. Numbers of locations are 39 Nos. Heads of fund are RIDF-XIV/RIDF-XV/UUP/BADP/CORE STATE PLAN. Numbers of BTC approved schemes pending for execution are 35 nos. And, total cost of the schemes is Rs.3779.51 Lakh.
Implementation of Minor Irrigation Schemes
Cooch Behar is an irrigation deficient district. There are no major irrigation schemes worth mentioning in the district. At present about 35% of the cultivable area is under irrigation. The benefit of the Teesta irrigation cannels for the district is perhaps distant possibility due to the topographical reasons. The district is however blessed with large nos. of perennial rivers, khals, beels and water bodies. These resources are being utilized as a source of surface irrigation through a number of RLI and Mini RLI schemes. However, most of these RLI often remain unutilized or underutilization due to yearly flooding, meandering and heavy siltation of these rivers. But the ground water potential of the district is very high. No doubt pump operated shallow tube well is the most viable and popular irrigation scheme among the farmers of this district.
The Ground Water based Minor Irrigation is being looked into by the one Agri-Irrigation Sub-Division only with headquarters at Cooch Behar. This Sub-Division is attached with the Cooch Behar (Agri-Irrigation) Division at Cooch Behar. The SurfaceWater based Minor Irrigation is being looked into by the one Agri-Mechanical Sub-Division only with headquarters at Cooch Behar & Mathabhanga. This Sub-Division is attached with the Cooch Behar (Agri-Mechanical) Division at Cooch Behar.