Study on Hydrology and Drought in the Flood Region of Damodar River Basin

This paper is made to thoroughly investigate the important hydrological features of the flood region mainly in the Damodar river basin which represents the first Indian attempt to treat an entire river system from source to mouth in order to achieve the maximum possible benefits also it has been applied for first time in India for covering the water and land resources. This was the first river valley that was being implemented through a regional development corporation named Damodar Valley Corporataion (DVC). The climatological data are used in the study include temperature, precipitation, sunshine duration, radiation, humidity, wind speed and potential transfer evaporation. The paper also includes the stream flow records of the Damodar river catchment up to Durgapur barrage being the outlet point of the DVC System. The long-Term hydrological data of five different subcatchments (i.e. Tilaiya, Konar, Maithan, Panchet and Durgapur) have been analysed. The effect of changes in the behaviour of the hydrological factors on the degree of aridity is also assessed. The study clearly indicates significant changes in the hydrological behaviour of the region characterised by an increase in temperature levels and a substantial reduction in rainfall and river flows.