Damodar Valley Corporation
Encyclopedia
The Damodar Valley Corporation, popularly known as DVC, is the first multipurpose river valley project of independent India
. The corporation came into being on July 7, 1948 by an Act of the Constituent Assembly of India
(Act No. XIV of 1948). It is modelled on the Tennessee Valley Authority
of the USA. Jawaharlal Nehru
, prime minister of India, Dr. B.C.Roy, chief minister of West Bengal
and Sri Krishna Sinha
, chief minister of Bihar
, took personal interest to ensure early success of the project.
The initial focus of the DVC were flood control, irrigation, generation, transmission and distribution of electricity, eco-conservation and afforestation, as well as job creation for the socio-economic well being of the people residing in and around areas affected by DVC projects. However, over the past few decades, power generation has gained priority. Other objectives of the DVC, however, remain part of its primary responsibility. The dams in the valley have a capacity to moderate peak floods of 650,000 to 250,000 ft³/s. DVC has created irrigation potential of 3640 square kilometres.
The first dam was built across the Barakar River
, a tributary of the Damodar River
at Tilaiya
1953. The second one, Konar Dam
, was built across the Konar River
, another tributary of the Damodar River
at Konar in 1955. Two dams across the rivers Barakar and Damodar were built at Maithon
in 1957 and Panchet
in 1959. Both the dams are some 8 km upstream of the confluence point of the rivers. These four major dams are controlled by DVC. Durgapur Barrage
was constructed downstream of the four dams in 1955, across the Damodar river at Durgapur in 1955, with head regulators for canals on either side for feeding an extensive system of canals and distributaries. In 1978, the Government of Bihar (that was before the formation of the state of Jharkhand
) constructed the Tenughat Dam
across the Damodar river outside the control of DVC. DVC proposes to construct a dam across the Barakar river at Belpahari in Jharkhand state. There are hydro-electric power stations at Tilayia, Maithon and Panchet, with total installed capacity of 144 MW. The one at Maithon was India's first underground hydro-electric power station.
DVC operates thermal power stations at Bokaro
, Chandrapura
, Durgapur and Mejia
, with total derated capacity of 2745 MW. The power station at Bokaro
was biggest in the country when it was built in the fifties. DVC is expanding its thermal power capacity and with the completion of its present plans by 2012 it would be generating more than 11000 MW of power. The forthcoming projects are Raghunathpur TPS (4x600 MW), Andal TPS (2x500 MW), Koderma TPS (2x500 MW), Maithan RB TPS (2x525 MW) and Bokaro A TPS (1x600 MW)and Bokaro Steel City
TPS (3x250 MW)
The total valley area covered by DVC activities is approximately 24,235 square kilometres The upper valley consists of the districts of Hazaribagh
, Koderma, Giridih
, Chatra
, Dhanbad
and Bokaro
, and some sections of Palamau, Ranchi
, Lohardaga
and Dumka
districts in the state of Jharkhand. The lower valley consists of the two districts of Bardhaman
and Hughli
, and some areas of the Howrah, Bankura
, and Purulia
districts in the state of West Bengal..DVC will produce 11,000 MWatt Of power by 2012.
The Corporation has its Head Office at Kolkata
(previously Calcutta), has a full time Chairman and two part-time members, generally the Secretary of the Power Dept., of the states of West Bengal and Bihar representing their respective states.
DVC made unprecedented progress during 2000 - 2005 when its profit rose from around 100 crores to 1000 crores. Major initiatives taken during these periods included NTPC driven root cause analysis and improvement plan, implementation of preventive maintenance plan, awareness about pollution control measures, establishment of robust Information Technology infrastructure plan, programme for realiasation of dues from BSEB, setting up for joint ventures with Tata Group, implementation of strong punitive measures against employees and officers who were found to be involved in corruption or had acted without responsibility.
Expansion plans after 2006 has put the organisation under pressure to cut its profit margins drastically to comply with statutory tariff norms.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The corporation came into being on July 7, 1948 by an Act of the Constituent Assembly of India
Constituent Assembly of India
The Constituent Assembly of India was elected to write the Constitution of India, and following independence served as the nation's first Parliament.-Nature of the Assembly:...
(Act No. XIV of 1948). It is modelled on the Tennessee Valley Authority
Tennessee Valley Authority
The Tennessee Valley Authority is a federally owned corporation in the United States created by congressional charter in May 1933 to provide navigation, flood control, electricity generation, fertilizer manufacturing, and economic development in the Tennessee Valley, a region particularly affected...
of the USA. Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru , often referred to with the epithet of Panditji, was an Indian statesman who became the first Prime Minister of independent India and became noted for his “neutralist” policies in foreign affairs. He was also one of the principal leaders of India’s independence movement in the...
, prime minister of India, Dr. B.C.Roy, chief minister of West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
and Sri Krishna Sinha
Sri Krishna Sinha
Sri Krishna Sinha , known as Bihar Kesari, was the first Chief Minister of the Indian state of Bihar . Along with the nationalists Dr. Rajendra Prasad and Dr. Anugrah Narayan Sinha, Sinha is regarded among the Architects of Modern Bihar...
, chief minister of Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
, took personal interest to ensure early success of the project.
The initial focus of the DVC were flood control, irrigation, generation, transmission and distribution of electricity, eco-conservation and afforestation, as well as job creation for the socio-economic well being of the people residing in and around areas affected by DVC projects. However, over the past few decades, power generation has gained priority. Other objectives of the DVC, however, remain part of its primary responsibility. The dams in the valley have a capacity to moderate peak floods of 650,000 to 250,000 ft³/s. DVC has created irrigation potential of 3640 square kilometres.
The first dam was built across the Barakar River
Barakar River
The Barakar River is the main tributary of the Damodar River in eastern India. Originating near Padma in Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand it flows for across the northern part of the Chota Nagpur Plateau, mostly in a west to east direction, before joining the Damodar near Dishergarh in Bardhaman...
, a tributary of the Damodar River
Damodar River
Damodar River originates near Chandwa village, Palamau district, on the Chota Nagpur Plateau in the Jharkhand state in eastern India, and flows eastward for about 592 km through the states of Jharkhand and West Bengal to the estaury of the River Hooghly...
at Tilaiya
Tilaiya
Tilaiya is a town in Koderma district in the Indian state of Jharkhand.-Geography:Tilaiya is located at .-Tilaiya Dam:...
1953. The second one, Konar Dam
Konar Dam
Konar dam is the second of the four multi-purpose dams included in the first phase of the Damodar Valley Corporation.. It was constructed across the Konar River, a tributary of the Damodar River in Hazaribagh district in the Indian state of Jharkhand and opened in 1955.Konar Dam is long and high...
, was built across the Konar River
Konar River
The Konar River is a tributary of Damodar River in Hazaribagh and Bokaro districts of the Indian state of Jharkhand.-Course:The Konar originates near Sultana village on the Hazaribagh-Chatra Road.Thereafter, the Konar with its tributary Siwani drains a greater portion of the Hazaribagh plateau,...
, another tributary of the Damodar River
Damodar River
Damodar River originates near Chandwa village, Palamau district, on the Chota Nagpur Plateau in the Jharkhand state in eastern India, and flows eastward for about 592 km through the states of Jharkhand and West Bengal to the estaury of the River Hooghly...
at Konar in 1955. Two dams across the rivers Barakar and Damodar were built at Maithon
Maithon
Maithon is a census town in Dhanbad district in the Indian state of Jharkhand. It is situated on the banks of river Barakar.The name has been derived from Maithan or Mai-Ka-Than or Ma-Er-Than, the "than" being a apa-bhransha or a local pronunciation of Sanskrit/Bangla "Sthan" for "place"...
in 1957 and Panchet
Panchet
Panchet is a census town in Dhanbad district in the Indian state of Jharkhand.-Demographics: India census, Panchet had a population of 8,353. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Panchet has an average literacy rate of 67%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy...
in 1959. Both the dams are some 8 km upstream of the confluence point of the rivers. These four major dams are controlled by DVC. Durgapur Barrage
Durgapur Barrage
Durgapur Barrage is across the Damodar River at Durgapur in Bardhaman district in the Indian state of West Bengal.-Overview:The Damodar River Valley Project on the Damodar River and its principal tributary, the...
was constructed downstream of the four dams in 1955, across the Damodar river at Durgapur in 1955, with head regulators for canals on either side for feeding an extensive system of canals and distributaries. In 1978, the Government of Bihar (that was before the formation of the state of Jharkhand
Jharkhand
Jharkhand is a state in eastern India. It was carved out of the southern part of Bihar on 15 November 2000. Jharkhand shares its border with the states of Bihar to the north, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to the west, Orissa to the south, and West Bengal to the east...
) constructed the Tenughat Dam
Tenughat Dam
Tenughat Dam is an earthfill dam with composite masonry cum concrete spillway across the Damodar River at Tenughat in Bokaro district in the Indian state of Jharkhand.-Overview:...
across the Damodar river outside the control of DVC. DVC proposes to construct a dam across the Barakar river at Belpahari in Jharkhand state. There are hydro-electric power stations at Tilayia, Maithon and Panchet, with total installed capacity of 144 MW. The one at Maithon was India's first underground hydro-electric power station.
DVC operates thermal power stations at Bokaro
Bokaro (Thermal)
Bokaro Thermal is a census town in Bokaro district in the state of Jharkhand, India.-Geography:Bokaro Thermal is located at . It has an average elevation of 234 metres . It is situated on the banks of the river Konar.-Demographics:...
, Chandrapura
Chandrapura
Chandrapura is a census town in Bokaro district in the state of Jharkhand, India. The township, created for the Thermal Power Project, is situated beside the river Damodar. It is well connected by road and rail. As of now expansion of DVC's Power Project is underway. BHEL has been contracted for...
, Durgapur and Mejia
Mejia
Mejia is an administrative division in Bankura Sadar subdivision of Bankura district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Mejia police station serves this block. Headquarters of this block is at Mejia.Government of West Bengal has planned a Special Economic Zone in Saltora. It is on NH 60...
, with total derated capacity of 2745 MW. The power station at Bokaro
Bokaro (Thermal)
Bokaro Thermal is a census town in Bokaro district in the state of Jharkhand, India.-Geography:Bokaro Thermal is located at . It has an average elevation of 234 metres . It is situated on the banks of the river Konar.-Demographics:...
was biggest in the country when it was built in the fifties. DVC is expanding its thermal power capacity and with the completion of its present plans by 2012 it would be generating more than 11000 MW of power. The forthcoming projects are Raghunathpur TPS (4x600 MW), Andal TPS (2x500 MW), Koderma TPS (2x500 MW), Maithan RB TPS (2x525 MW) and Bokaro A TPS (1x600 MW)and Bokaro Steel City
Bokaro Steel City
Bokaro Steel City is one of the largest Industrial city situated in the State of Jharkhand, in India. Bokaro is the 48th cleanest city in India and second in Jharkhand after Jamshedpur and one of the best cities to live in India...
TPS (3x250 MW)
The total valley area covered by DVC activities is approximately 24,235 square kilometres The upper valley consists of the districts of Hazaribagh
Hazaribagh
Hazaribagh is a city and a municipality in Hazaribagh district in the Indian state of Jharkhand. It is the divisional headquarters of North Chotanagpur division. It is famous as a health resort and for Hazaribagh National Park ....
, Koderma, Giridih
Giridih
Giridih is headquarters of the Giridih district of Jharkhand state, India. The literal meaning of Giridih is the land of hills & hillocks - giri, a Hindi word, means hills and dih, another word of the local dialect, indicates upland...
, Chatra
Chatra
Chatra is a genus of Moth in the family Lasiocampidae....
, Dhanbad
Dhanbad
Dhanbad features climate that is transitional between a humid subtropical climate and a tropical wet and dry climate. Summer starts from last week of March and ends in mid-June. Peak temperature in summer can reach 47oC. Dhanbad also receives heavy rainfall...
and Bokaro
Bokaro District
Bokaro district is one of the twenty-four districts of Jharkhand state, India. It was established in 1991 by carving out one subdivision consisting of two blocks from Dhanbad District and six blocks from Giridih District. Bokaro Steel City is the district headquarters...
, and some sections of Palamau, Ranchi
Ranchi
-Climate:Ranchi has a humid subtropical climate. However, due to its position and the forests around the city, it is known for its pleasant climate. Its climate is the primary reason why Ranchi was once the summer capital of the undivided State of Bihar...
, Lohardaga
Lohardaga
Lohardaga is a town and the district headquarters of Lohardaga district in the Indian state of Jharkhand, west of Ranchi, the state capital. Earlier Lohardaga was the commissionary headquarters for Chotanagpur. It was only later that the commissionary of Chotanagpur was shifted to Ranchi...
and Dumka
Dumka
Dumka, headquarters of Dumka district, is a city and municipality in the state of Jharkhand, India. It was made the headquarters of the Santhal Pargana region which was carved out of Bhagalpur and Suri districts after The Great Santal Hul 1855. Presently, it is the commissionary headquarter of...
districts in the state of Jharkhand. The lower valley consists of the two districts of Bardhaman
Bardhaman
'Bardhaman or Burdwan , is a city of West Bengal state in eastern India. It is the headquarters of Bardhaman District....
and Hughli
Hooghly District
Hooghly district is one of the districts of the state of West Bengal in India. It can alternatively be spelt Hoogli or Hugli. The district is named after the Hooghly River.The headquarters of the district are at Chinsura...
, and some areas of the Howrah, Bankura
Bankura
Bankura is a city and a municipality in Bankura District in the state of West Bengal, India. It is the headquarters of the Bankura District.-Etymology:...
, and Purulia
Purulia
Purulia , also spelled Puruliya, also known as "Manbhum City", is a city located in West Bengal state, India, and was constituted in 1876. It is the location of the district headquarters of Purulia district. Purulia is located on the north of the Kasai river and is a major road and railway...
districts in the state of West Bengal..DVC will produce 11,000 MWatt Of power by 2012.
The Corporation has its Head Office at Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
(previously Calcutta), has a full time Chairman and two part-time members, generally the Secretary of the Power Dept., of the states of West Bengal and Bihar representing their respective states.
DVC made unprecedented progress during 2000 - 2005 when its profit rose from around 100 crores to 1000 crores. Major initiatives taken during these periods included NTPC driven root cause analysis and improvement plan, implementation of preventive maintenance plan, awareness about pollution control measures, establishment of robust Information Technology infrastructure plan, programme for realiasation of dues from BSEB, setting up for joint ventures with Tata Group, implementation of strong punitive measures against employees and officers who were found to be involved in corruption or had acted without responsibility.
Expansion plans after 2006 has put the organisation under pressure to cut its profit margins drastically to comply with statutory tariff norms.