Kankai River
Encyclopedia
The Kankai River is a trans-boundary river
flowing through Nepal
and India
. It is a tributary of the Mahananda River
.
n state
of Bihar
to join the Mahananda in Kishanganj district
.
The Kankai is a rainfed perennial river of eastern Nepal. The area has warm temperate rainy climates with mild winters. Upper part of the basin basically consists of granitic gneiss of Cambro-Ordovician age and the lower part consists of Quaternary rocks. The Kankai is gravelly river with more than 60% gravel of gneiss and remaining other are of different metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. The sediment yield of the river is estimated to be 0.148 million ton/year.
The Kankai has a drainage area of 1148 square kilometres (443.2 sq mi).
district located at the south-eastern corner of Nepal. Its command area is flanked by the Kankai in the east, the Khrisna River in the west, the Mahendra Highway
in the north and the Indian border in the south. A detailed feasibility study of the project was completed in 1970 with the technical assistance of ADB. The construction was carried out in two phases. The first phase was initiated in 1973 and completed in 1981 with substantial delays and cost overruns. The second phase, to irrigate an additional 3 000 ha, started in 1980 and was completed in 1991, bringing only 2000 hectares (4,942.1 acre) of land under irrigation. Thus irrigation infrastructure has been developed for a total of 7000 hectares (17,297.4 acre) of land. The total cost of the project was NRs 310 million, 63 percent of which came from an Asia Development Bank loan.
The diversion structure of the system is an ogee-type, concrete weir
constructed at the debouching point of the Kankai. It has a 126 metres (413.4 ft) long, 1.85 metres (6.1 ft) high weir.
The canal system consists of a three-tier network of canals. The main canal length is 34 kilometres (21.1 mi) with 74 kilometres (46 mi) of secondary canals and 110 km of tertiary canals. The first 11.5 kilometres (7.1 mi) reach of the main canal is lined with a design capacity of 10.15 m3/s; the other reaches are unlined and their capacity decreases from 7.25 to 1.75 m3/s.
The density of structures in the system is quite high. The canal network crosses many flashy rivers, hence many cross drain structures (siphons) have been built in the system. Steel gates have been built at all off-take points from the main canal and at all tertiary off-takes from secondary canals. The total number of such regulating structures is 322. Including all other subsidiary hydraulic structures, the structural density is as high as 0.2 per ha.
The command area consists of flat land (average slope of 1/800) with fertile soil. The soil texture varies from loamy to sandy loam. Alluvial soils exist in most parts of the command area. Brown forest soil is found in the northern part of the command while paddy soil exists in the southern parts.
After the completion of the second phase of the project, financial assistance from ADB ceased and in 1993 the Kankai Development Board, formed in 1973 for the implementation of the construction works, was dissolved. Since then, the Kankai irrigation office, under the Department of Irrigation, is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the system.
, is one of the perennial rivers. Erosion of banks and inundation during rains cause problems for the residents of its catchment area near Satasidham
and Panchganchi
village development committees. The protection works being carried out with Government of India assistance of NRs.2.67 crores will help to control floods and save habitation and valuable agricultural land of over 31,000 people along its banks of the catchment area. The project is being implemented by Department of Water Induced Disaster Prevention, Ministry of Water Resources, Government of Nepal with the participation of local users.
and Ilam
districts of Nepal. While the reservoir and its catchment lies in Ilam district, the irrigation command area is in Jhapa district. A net area of 67450 hectares (166,672.4 acre) will be irrigated. The projet includes a 38 MW power plant. The project is part of the Kosi-Mechi link. The project has been stalled because of objections from India.
, the first day of the tenth month Magh
of the Nepali calendar.
Trans-boundary river
A trans-boundary river is a river that crosses at least one political border, either a border within a nation or an international boundary. The country of Bangladesh has the greatest number of these rivers, almost all of which cross national boundaries....
flowing through Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It is a tributary of the Mahananda River
Mahananda River
The Mahananda River is a trans-boundary river that flows through the Indian states of West Bengal and Bihar, and Bangladesh. Right bank tributary Mechi forms part of Nepal's eastern boundary with West Bengal and the Kankai crosses out of Nepal.-Course:...
.
Course
The Kankai originates in the Mahabharat Range in Nepal. It flows through Nepal and then flows through the IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
to join the Mahananda in Kishanganj district
Kishanganj District
Kishanganj district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India, and Kishanganj town is the administrative headquarters of this district. Kishanganj district is a part of Purnia division.-History:...
.
The Kankai is a rainfed perennial river of eastern Nepal. The area has warm temperate rainy climates with mild winters. Upper part of the basin basically consists of granitic gneiss of Cambro-Ordovician age and the lower part consists of Quaternary rocks. The Kankai is gravelly river with more than 60% gravel of gneiss and remaining other are of different metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. The sediment yield of the river is estimated to be 0.148 million ton/year.
The Kankai has a drainage area of 1148 square kilometres (443.2 sq mi).
Irrigation system
The Kankai irrigation system was developed for the purpose of irrigating 8000 hectares (19,768.4 acre) of agricultural land in Jhapa, a TeraiTerai
The Terai is a belt of marshy grasslands, savannas, and forests located south of the outer foothills of the Himalaya, the Siwalik Hills, and north of the Indo-Gangetic Plain of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and their tributaries. The Terai belongs to the Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands ecoregion...
district located at the south-eastern corner of Nepal. Its command area is flanked by the Kankai in the east, the Khrisna River in the west, the Mahendra Highway
Mahendra Highway
Mahendra Highway also called East West Highway runs across the Terai region of Nepal, from Kankarbhitta in the east to Mahendranagar in the west, cutting across the entire width of the country. It is the longest highway in Nepal.-Overview:...
in the north and the Indian border in the south. A detailed feasibility study of the project was completed in 1970 with the technical assistance of ADB. The construction was carried out in two phases. The first phase was initiated in 1973 and completed in 1981 with substantial delays and cost overruns. The second phase, to irrigate an additional 3 000 ha, started in 1980 and was completed in 1991, bringing only 2000 hectares (4,942.1 acre) of land under irrigation. Thus irrigation infrastructure has been developed for a total of 7000 hectares (17,297.4 acre) of land. The total cost of the project was NRs 310 million, 63 percent of which came from an Asia Development Bank loan.
The diversion structure of the system is an ogee-type, concrete weir
Weir
A weir is a small overflow dam used to alter the flow characteristics of a river or stream. In most cases weirs take the form of a barrier across the river that causes water to pool behind the structure , but allows water to flow over the top...
constructed at the debouching point of the Kankai. It has a 126 metres (413.4 ft) long, 1.85 metres (6.1 ft) high weir.
The canal system consists of a three-tier network of canals. The main canal length is 34 kilometres (21.1 mi) with 74 kilometres (46 mi) of secondary canals and 110 km of tertiary canals. The first 11.5 kilometres (7.1 mi) reach of the main canal is lined with a design capacity of 10.15 m3/s; the other reaches are unlined and their capacity decreases from 7.25 to 1.75 m3/s.
The density of structures in the system is quite high. The canal network crosses many flashy rivers, hence many cross drain structures (siphons) have been built in the system. Steel gates have been built at all off-take points from the main canal and at all tertiary off-takes from secondary canals. The total number of such regulating structures is 322. Including all other subsidiary hydraulic structures, the structural density is as high as 0.2 per ha.
The command area consists of flat land (average slope of 1/800) with fertile soil. The soil texture varies from loamy to sandy loam. Alluvial soils exist in most parts of the command area. Brown forest soil is found in the northern part of the command while paddy soil exists in the southern parts.
After the completion of the second phase of the project, financial assistance from ADB ceased and in 1993 the Kankai Development Board, formed in 1973 for the implementation of the construction works, was dissolved. Since then, the Kankai irrigation office, under the Department of Irrigation, is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the system.
Embankments
The Kankai, flowing through the central part of the Jhapa DistrictJhapa District
Jhapa District, a district of Mechi Zone, is one of the seventy-five districts of Nepal. The district, with Chandragadhi as its district headquarters, covers an area of 1,606 km² and has a population of 688,109.-Location:...
, is one of the perennial rivers. Erosion of banks and inundation during rains cause problems for the residents of its catchment area near Satasidham
Satasidham
Satasidham is a village development committee in Jhapa District in the Mechi Zone of south-eastern Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 20,809 people living in 3842 individual households....
and Panchganchi
Panchganchi
Panchganchi is a village development committee in Jhapa District in the Mechi Zone of south-eastern Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 9,906 people living in 1857 individual households....
village development committees. The protection works being carried out with Government of India assistance of NRs.2.67 crores will help to control floods and save habitation and valuable agricultural land of over 31,000 people along its banks of the catchment area. The project is being implemented by Department of Water Induced Disaster Prevention, Ministry of Water Resources, Government of Nepal with the participation of local users.
Kankai Multipurpose Project
The Kankai Multipurpose Project is proposed to be located in JhapaJhapa District
Jhapa District, a district of Mechi Zone, is one of the seventy-five districts of Nepal. The district, with Chandragadhi as its district headquarters, covers an area of 1,606 km² and has a population of 688,109.-Location:...
and Ilam
Ilam District
Ilam district of 282,806. It is about 600 km from Kathmandu. The highest point is Sandakpur with an elevation of 3000m. Ilam attracts many researchers who come to study rare birds and the Red Panda...
districts of Nepal. While the reservoir and its catchment lies in Ilam district, the irrigation command area is in Jhapa district. A net area of 67450 hectares (166,672.4 acre) will be irrigated. The projet includes a 38 MW power plant. The project is part of the Kosi-Mechi link. The project has been stalled because of objections from India.
Culture
The Kankai River in Jhapa is a famous pilgrimage site. Devotees from various parts of the country and even from India throng the Kankai. People worship this river as Kankai Mai, the goddess Kankai. The western bank of this river is known as Maidhar and the eastern one is known as Kotihom. Kankai Mela, probably the biggest mela of eastern region, is held here every Maghe SankrantiMaghe sankranti
Maghe sankranti is a Nepalese festival observed on the first of Magh in the Bikram Samwat Nepali calendar bringing an end to the ill-omened month of Poush when all religious ceremonies are forbidden. Maghe Sakranti is the Nepalese version of the Indian Makar Sankranti. On this day, the sun is...
, the first day of the tenth month Magh
Magh (Nepali calendar)
Magh is the tenth month in Bikram Sambat or B.S., the official and Hindu religious calendar of Nepal. This month approximately coincides with January 15 to February 12 of the Gregorian calendar and is 29 days long.Important religious holidays:...
of the Nepali calendar.