South Koel River

South Koel River (Hindi: दक्शिणि कोयेल नदी) runs across Jharkhand and Orissa states in India. It originates on the Ranchi plateau a few miles east of Ranchi, and conjoins the Belsiangar and Singbum Rivers. The Koel is fed by three streams in Jharkhand, namely the North Karo, South Karo and Koina.^[1] The South Koel enters Orissa and joins with Sankh River at Vedavyas near Rourkela from where it is named as Brahmani.^[2]

West Singhbhum drainage scenario

Singhbhum is drained by three river systems - Subarnarekha, Baitarani and Brahmani. The watersheds of these three systems originate near Gamharia in the Kolhan and radiate north-west, south-west and east respectively from their common, centre. These watersheds divide the Subarnarekha and its feeders from the Baitarani and its tributaries, and the latter again from the South Karo and Deo rivers, which feed the Brahmani through the South Koel. The tunnel on the South East Central Railway divides the Subarnarekha and Brahmani systems, and at this point the watershed leaves the Kolhan, continuing in a northerly direction through Porahat and finally merging in the Ranchi plateau between the Bicha and Tatkora hills. Of these three great rivers the Subarnarekha alone flows through the district. The Baitarani forms for about 12 km the boundary between the Kolhan area and Keonjhar (in Orissa) while the Brahmani drains the west of the district through its tributary, the South Koel, and its feeders, the North Karo and the South Karo, and the latter of which in its turn is fed by the Deo river.^[3]

Koel-Karo project

The Koel-Karo project is located in the Ranchi and West Singbhum districts. The 710 mW power project involves the construction of two earth dams - one, 44 metres high, across the South Koel river near Basia, and the other, 55 metres high, across the North Karo river near Lohajima. The two dams will be linked by a trans-basIn channel, with six units of 115 mW each in the underground powerhouse at Lumpu-ngkhel and one unit of 20 mW at Raitoli. About 120 villages are to be affected, displacing over one lakh people. 22,000 ha are to be submerged. Of the total land acquisition, 12,000 ha are reported to be agricultural land, while 10,000 ha comprise forests. Dispute arose over the compensation package for the displaced people and protests started in 1974 and have been continuing since then.^[4]

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