Flood protection work on the downstream of River Sharda/Ghaghara
TechFab geotextile bag Size 1.09m X .69 m (TFI 1200 - made from 100% PPMF Geotextile)
The Lakhimpur Khiri has witnessed several floods in the past due to heavy rainfall, it was observed by the locals that this flood or rise of water level in Sharda River is due to heavy rainfall in this region and the addition of new water in the river from upstream side from Nepal generally in the month between June to September every year. The lives of the people get affected due to flood every monsoon due to proximity of the people residing on the banks or fall under flood influence area of the River Sharada & Ghaghara. Both these rivers have recorded high velocity and frequently changing their course in the past.
The location is Lakhimpur Khiri @ 137 km from Lucknow.Every year during monsoon; the difficulties were faced by the local habitants to the largeextent by loss / damage to the property, loss of agriculture /farm land, loss of Cattle etc.
Most of the rivers in this region originate from the high mountains, where they have steep gradients giving the flow a massive erosive power. Moreover, intense rainfall and breakout events can accelerate the river flow to such an extent that the water has a significant impact on the watercourses and surrounding areas.
The construction challenge was to meet the construction schedule before monsoon and the mobilization of soil for construction of Dyke. The earthen dyke is subjected to either loss of fines or breach of partially constructed bund due to wetting and drying everyday.
Generally as conventional approach, big boulders are used for river training work. However, mobilizing such huge quantity of stones in short span of contract period is difficult and moreover it is very expensive. Further extraction of stones in huge quantity would affect the environment balance. Transporting and handling the material to work site is another issue and needs involvement of machinery to handle it.
Geotextile bags filled with locally available soils is the effective alternative against all other options; It is cost effective solution largely used in flood protection measures .The design was finalized using Geotextile bag for constructionofLongitudinal and Transversal protection structures which will be permeable, economical and effective in terms of control sedimentation .
The Flood protectionwork/ dikes using Geotextile bags (longitudinal protection structure) and construction of porcupine spur (Transversal Protection Structure).
The main purpose of both structures is to prevent flooding of the adjoining villages and to slow down or stop the shifting of natural water way.
Groynes/ spurs are constructed transverse to the river flow extending from the bank into the river. This form of river training works perform one or more functions such as training the river along the desired course to reduce the concentration of flow at the point of attack, creating a slack flow for silting up the area in the vicinity and protecting the bank by keeping the flow away from it.
It is observed that Completed Geotextilebags structure withstood recent flood of 2019 without any major damage of the properties, loss of land and without loss of any cattle or people.The protection is serving as desired by the authority., It is also observed that the river has changed its course @ 9-10 m from its existing flow profile and deposition of the sand at multiple locations.
