Chronology of Events - The Ganga: Water Use in the Indian Subcontinent - page 226

Individual/Agency Month/Year Comments

Committee,
appointed by
the Port
Commissioners

1902 The Bhagirathi-Hooghly has gradually deteriorated from

its confluence with the river Padma to Calcutta.

Major Hirst 1914-1915 The present regime of the river is wholly insecure and the

forces controlling it are so powerful that any artificial
interference would be futile and that the river has
deteriorated to such an extent as to be a menace to the
port of Calcutta.

H. G. Reaks
(River
Surveyor)

1919 In spite of the trade in Calcutta Port increasing

substantially since 1830 because of the replacement of
sailing vessels by tugs and steamers, provision for
greater facilities for navigation in the river in the way of
plans, buoys, marks, good information network etc. and
also greater frequency of surveys, the general
deterioration of the Hooghly continued.

Man Singh
Committee

1952 Condition in the Hooghly between Nabadweep and

Calcutta has deteriorated.

Suggestions etc. for Resuscitation of the Bhagirathi-Hooghly

i) Before India's Independence

Organization
agency/government Year Observations

Govt. of India 1831 Vessels coming to Calcutta Port could avoid the silting

Hooghly and use a ship canal up to the head of the
Matla river, as recommended of by two committees in
1853 and 1863. A new port was constructed at
Canning on the Matla with railway connection with
Calcutta. Construction of jetties was completed and of
warehouses commenced. The port was opened and
used by a few vessels but owing to various reasons,
mainly financial, the scheme was abandoned in 1866.

Calcutta Port
Commissioners

1860-1910 Undertook small schemes, such as, diversion of

tributaries, spurs and bundelling, dredging etc. were
drawn and some of them executed for increasing the
draft in the Hooghly.

Sir Arthur Cotton,
British Engineer

1858 If additional water is thrown into the Hooghly and kept

flowing down during the dry season, it might make
just the difference needed to prevent the Hooghly
from silting.

Stevenson-Moore
Committee

1916-1919 Headwaters of Nadia rivers were silting; this would

decrease the navigability of the Hooghly. It
recommended diversion of the Ganga water.