Torrent Control Measures in Kandi Area of Punjab – A Case Study

Torrent flood water management is the key to enhance agricultural productivity in Kandi area of Punjab. Due to over-exploitation of biomass on steeply slopy lands and excessive grazing, a large portion of monsoon rainfall goes as runoff in the torrents, causing flash floods in piedmont plains. Efforts have been made to/tackle the torrent problem through different watershed management programmes. This paper highlights the research results of a torrent control study conducted under NATP during the year 2001–04 in 925 ha Malewal watershed (Distt. Nawanshehr). The execution of mechanical and vegetative measures in the source area and in the main torrent arrested the maximum possible amount of runoff and sediments, and channelized the flow. The average siltation rate across the total width of the torrent was found to be 16.84 t/m/year. The performance of vegetative spurs was in the order of Nada (Arundo donax) > Banah (Vitex negundo) > Kana (Saccharum munja) > Akra (Ipomea carnea). Nada performed best as vegetative wall/hedge with silt deposition rate of 1.86 t/m, followed by Banah (1.6 t/m), Kana (0.75 t/m) and Akra (0.27 t/m). The performance of forest plants and grasses planted on the sandy torrent bed and bank bunds was also studied. The execution of the torrent control measures provided protection to habitation of village Dharampur and saved 263 ha of agricultural land belonging to five downstream villages from the possible degradation due to spreading of sand during flooding. An area of 2 ha was reclaimed from the torrent bed and put under forest tree plantation. The results of the study indicated that the project was technically feasible and economically viable with a high benefit-cost ratio (3.76). The participation of local inhabitants in watershed development from the initiation of the project, worked well towards its success.