Ghaghara-Yamuna Link Canal - A river linking attempt in Uttar Pradesh

P.S.Pipal’ and Dr. Mridul Srivastava^

Introduction 2004). The total length of the link canal from its offtake, about 8 km downstream of The National Perspective Plan (NPP) Chispani Dam (Nepal), to the Yamuna river contemplates development and optimum is about 430.50 km, out of which 112.5 km utilisation of water resources of the country lies in Nepal and balance 318km in India. through detailed studies of the quantum of The canal passes through the Upper water available in various river systems, that Ganga Plain lying between the Peninsular- can be transferred to other basins / states Shield in the south and the Himalaya in the after meeting their reasonable needs in the north (Bisaria et al, 1996, Kumar, 2003; foreseeable future. Surveys and Fig.1). The 3 to 5 km wide area along the investigations of the feasible storage sites Yamuna river presents dissected and interconnecting links of Peninsular and topography due to gully erosion and ravine Himalayan rivers have been entrusted to the formation. The Ganga Plain of Uttar Pradesh National Water Development Agency comprises a thick pile of Post Siwalik (N.W.D.A.), an organisation under the Quaternary alluvial sediments, classified Ministry of Water Resources of the into Older Alluvium comprising Banda Government of India. Alluvium and Varanasi Alluvium, and Newer Under the Himalayan River Development Alluvium consisting of Fan Alluvium, Terrace Component, the N.W.D.A. have already Alluvium and Recent.Alluvium. The area prepared the pre-feasibility report of the along the canal alignment lies between Ghaghara-Yamuna and the Sarda-Yamuna elevations 154 and 182 m above msl and link schemes and the pre-feasibility studies is widely cultivated . Palaeo-channels are are under way for the Gandak-Ganga link common features as found near villages scheme. The geotechnical assessment of Bahrauli, Tilmas, Gurgawan, Lambikhera, the interlinking projects of N.W.D.A. has Bholapur and Purankhag in Bareilly District. been done by Geological Survey of India. The area falls in Zone III of Seismic Zoning The present short paper is an attempt to Map of India with seismic events of the order briefly outline the geotechnical highlights of of 5 to 6 on Richter scale. the Ghaghara-Yamuna Link Canal Scheme The execution of the canal and its (GYLC). appurtenant structures will involve stratified The Ghaghara-Yamuna Link Canal sand, silt, clay and their hybrid variants, with Scheme envisages diversion of about 28430 low bearing capacity and highly varying MCM surplus water of the Ghaghara river permeability characteristics. Special design to the commands of the Sarda and the measures against seepage and pore Lower Ganga canal systems and balance pressures appear necessary for the to the Yamuna river (Pipal and Srivastava, proposed canal in the sections where it cuts

'Geologist (Jr.), ’Asstt. Gelogist, E.a DIvn. Op. UP & UTT, 7-B, Vasundhara'. Geological Survey of India, Sector E, Aliganj, Lucknow 226 024 LEG END

1 3 ACTIVE FLOOD PUUM FLOOD OLDER FLOOD PLAIN PLAIN

fyT] a llu via l fan

VARANASI PLAIN UPLAND is BANDA P la in OCKY SURFACE H R 6.Y.UNK CANAL * 2 0 0 Km.

(Reproduced ofter BIsoria et.al. 1996)

Fig.1: Layout of the GYLC across Varanasi plain. across palaeo-channels and waterlogged foundation grades of cross drainage zones. About 70 cross drainage and level structures below the obligatory 1.5 times of crossing structures like aqueduct, canal scour depth, in conjunction with bearing siphons, barrages, etc. are envisaged capacity test reports, geological along the canal alignment. investigation on availability of competent In general, the cross drainage structures beds from lithologs may be a good guiding would be founded mostly on older and active factor. Considering the magnitude of the flood plains, Involving loosely consolidated size and water carrying capacity of the sediments. The level crossing structures canal, appropriate seismic designing of the other than these, may mostly be founded structures may be an important over better consolidated beds belonging to consideration. During DPR and construction Varanasi Alluvium. While deciding the stages, site specific detailed geotechnical Ghaghara-Yamuna Link Canal - A river linlting attempt in Uttar Pradesh 53 investigations would be required for deciding critical scrutiny of the paper and techno-economic designs of the structures. suggestions offered. In this connection, it may be noted that many of the proposed sites for cross drainage structures have existing bridges. It would be References worthwhile to collect the foundation grade geotechnical data like lithology and SPT/ Bisaria, B.K., Pandey, B.N., Khan, A.U., bearing capacity from owner agencies of the Bhartiya, S.P. (1996): Geomorphology existing structures. and evolution of Ganga Plain in Uttar Pradesh. Proc. Symp. N.W. Himalaya and Foredeep, Geol.Surv.Ind. Spl. Pub. Acknowledgements 21(2), 209-214 Kumar, Gopendra (2003) Quaternary The authors express sincere gratitude to the Stratigraphy of the Indo-Gangetic Plain, Deputy Director General, Northern Region, India : A review. Proceeding GEOSAS- Geological Survey of India, for according IV, 31-50 the permission to publish and present the Pipal, P.S., Srivastava, Mridul (2004): A paper in the ISEG workshop on “ Interlinking report on pre-feasibility stage geological of River Basins" at Lucknow. They are investigations for Ghaghara-Yamuna oblidged to S/Sh. Y. Deva, Director and S.V. Link Canal Scheme, Uttar Pradesh. Kumar Geologist (Sr.), EG Division, Op. Unpub. Rep. Geol. Sur. Ind. (2001- U.P.&UTT, N.R., G.S.I., Lucknow, for the 2004)