Central Water Commission (CWC)

Chief Minister of West Bengal blamed the CWC for unilaterally releasing water from Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) reservoirs, causing widespread flooding in south Bengal.

About Central Water Commission (CWC) 

• Established in 1945, CWC works as an advisory body to the Government of India on matters relating to water resources development and management.
• It is a Statutory Body.
• Headquarter of CWC: New Delhi
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Jal Shakti 
• Functions
  • General responsibilities of initiating, coordinating and furthering (in consultation of the State Governments concerned) schemes for control.
  • Conservation and utilisation of water resources throughout the country.
  • For the purpose of Flood Control, Irrigation, Navigation, Drinking Water Supply and Water Power Development.
• CWC deals with only surface water.
  • Central Groundwater Board (CGWB) deals with groundwater.
• CWC Chairman also serves as the Government of Indiaʼs Ex-Officio Secretary
• Work of the Commission is divided among 3 wings:
  • Designs and Research (D&R) Wing
  • River Management (RM) Wing 
  • Water Planning and Projects (WP&P) Wing

Enroll now for UPSC Online Course

Damodar River

• Known as the Sorrow of Bengal because of its ravaging floods in the plains of West Bengal
• It rises in Palamu hills of the Chota Nagpur plateau in the state of Jharkhand.
  • Passes through two Indian States of Jharkhand and West Bengal.
• It flows in South-easterly direction and joins Hoogly River in West Bengal which then flows into Bay of Bengal.
• Dmodar’s Biggest Tributary is Barakar which joins it near Asansol in West Bengal.

About Damodar Valley Corporation

• Established in 1948 as the first multipurpose river valley project of independent India.
• It is a government organisation under the Ministry of Power.
• It constructed four dams in the state of Jharkhand, including Maithon Dam, Tilaiya Dam, and Konar Dam.
• It Operates Power Stations in the Damodar River areas in Jharkhand and the West Bengal 
• Irrigation and canal system of DVC was handed over to the Government of West Bengal in 1964.

Check Out UPSC Modules From PW Store

DOWNLOAD PDF