Innovative Methods in River Erosion Control - a Case Study of Erosion of Bhira-palia Railway Line by Sharda River in Up

Erosion of the river banks in India have become recurrent event causing enormous problem for the people and the Government. With the increase of population along the bank of the rivers, the erosion of township, cluster of villages and important communication system, govt. resources are over exploited. Presently a large number of township, villages, human dwellings a number of important installations and line of communications are under sever threat. The impact of erosion is unbearable and non-recoverable and inflicts permanent irreparable loss of disastrous dimensions to human being. As such it is emphasised to adopt scientific approach for erosion control on priority. The most responsible factor for river bank erosion is the flow of large quantity of silt in the river. Therefore, there is a great need either to check entry of silt into the river or desilt the silt when it has entered into the river. Various techniques are being adopted on case to case basis to stream line the flow taking into account the type and severity of the problem. In this paper a remedial measure adopted to tackle the erosion problem of Bhira-Palia Kalan railway line by the river Sharda in Lakhimpur Khiri district of U.P has been dealt is described briefly as below: River Sharda (known as Mahakali in Nepal) an important tributary of Ghaghra (Known as Kanali in Nepal) originates Nepal, enters into India in Philibhit district of Uttarakhand. The river bifurcates in two channels before entering into Lakhimpur Kheri district upstream of Vira-Palia Railway bridge. Before 2008 flood, 90 % discharge was passing through left channel and 10% discharge through the right channel upstream of railway bridge no. 98 before entering of entire flow into bridge no. 98. During the severest flood of 2008, the river started flowing with 100% discharge through right channel and flow became parallel to the railway track and then it was entering into the railway bridge 98. As a result it eroded the Malani-Bhira-Palia railway line and the running of trains was stopped for about two months. The Govt of U.P proposed a scheme of Rs. 37.64 crore for the protection of railway line and river bank along with a pilot channel to divert the flow in its original course. The scheme was received in GFCC. GFCC suggested for the closure of various channel of the river particularly the main channel flowing parallel to Railway line by the five rows of concrete porcoupine, permeable structures for closure of channel by siltation, cutting of pilot channel in its closed original channel which was carrying the flow of the river straightway to bridge no. 98. The total cost of the scheme was reduced to Rs. 10.40 crore. The scheme was implemented before the flood of 2009 in two months. The performance of the scheme was observed during the flood period of 2009. It was observed that major flow is taking place straight to the bridge no. 98 through the pilot channel and about 30% of the flow with insignificant velocity is passing through the channel of 2008 which is getting silted up and is not having any erosive action on the railway track. This paper discusses the scientific approach for erosion control in a tactful manner. Such kind of remedial measure is economical, easy to construct with locally available man and material and can be constructed in minimum period. COFFERDAM. AN EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR EMERGENT FLOOD MANAGEMENT WORKS A CASE STUDY OF KOSI BARRAGE AFFLUX BUND BREACH CLOSURE M.U.Ghani, Member, GFCC