Conservation of River Damodar

Conservation of River Damodar is being prioritized by the state of Jharkhand to address severe contamination and restore the river’s health.

About River Damodar:

• The Damodar River is a rain-fed river that flows through the Indian states of Jharkhand and West Bengal.
• It originates in Khamarpat Hill on the Chotanagpur Plateau in Palamau district of Jharkhand.
• It flows eastward through the states of Jharkhand and West Bengal before joining the Hugli River (a distributary of the Ganges) near the city of Kolkata.
• It was also known as the “Sorrow of Bengal” due to the devastating floods it caused in the plains of West Bengal.
  • Construction of dams on the Damodar and its tributaries has helped control some of the flooding.
• The valley is rich in mineral resources and is renowned for large-scale mining and industrial activity.
• The Damodar River is fed by several tributaries and subtributaries, including Barakar, Konar, Bokaro, Haharo, Jamunia, Ghari, Guaia, Khadia, and Bhera.
• The severe contamination of Damodar River water is primarily due to the mixing of urban-industrial and agricultural effluents, resulting in elevated levels of BOD, DO, fecal coliform, COD, fluoride, TSS, and turbidity in the river water.

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