Irrigation and Waterways Department, Government of West Bengal

Irrigation & Waterways Department came into being in the year 1920, separating out from Public Works Department and was named Irrigation & Waterways only in 1946. In the pre-plan period i.e., prior to 1951, irrigation was effected through Diversion Schemes on rivers Kangsabati and Damodar. Irrigation potential created upto 1951 was of the order of 1,39,000 ha. Now the department is entrusted with the task of providing irrigation facilities, offering reasonable protection against flood, alleviating drainage congestion, arresting erosion, maintaining internal navigation channels and up-keeping the natural waterways in the state