Mukutmanipur

Kangsabati project

In 1956, a giant water dam reservoir was planned at Mukutmanipur, [about 12 km from Khatra town in the district of Bankura, WB], under a big vision mooted by the then CM of Bengal Dr Bidhan Ch. Roy. The Mukutmanipur dam was planned to provide major irrigation facilities to 8,000 square kilometres of agricultural land, stretched across Bankura, Purulia, Paschim Medinipur and parts of upper Hooghly.^[1] Approximately two kilometres from the lake is the Bangopalpur Reserve Forest, a home of many species of flora and fauna.

Mukutmanipur Dam

Notable attractions

Mukutmanipur and Jhilimili nearby are major tourist attractions visited by more than a lakh (100 000) visitors. The second biggest earth dam of India is located in Mukutmanipur 55 km away from Bankura. According to one description, “green forests surround the vast bluish tract of water, and the hillocks are picturesque. The place is very famous for its superb natural beauty. The undulating terrain along the southern edge of the Kangsabati water reservoir spreads as a three-dimensional necklace in green and terracotta.” The SDO, Khatra, Mr Sanjay Vansal said: “We have got a Rs 80 lakh composite UNDP project for Mukutmanipur. The project has been conceived to promote tourism and improve the condition of the tribal artisans devoted to the craft work with bamboo sticks and saboi grass.” ^[2]

Approximately two kilometers from the lake is the Bangopalpur Reserve Forest, a home of many species of flora and fauna. Four kilometres from the dam is the ancient town of Ambikanagar, once an important place of pilgrimage for Jains. However, a flood destroyed most of what remained in 1898.

Mukutmanipur is home to a 10.8 km-long man-made mud-banked fresh water barrage. It canalises Kangshabati and Kumari rivers into the three drought affected districts of Bankura, Purulia and Midnapore for irrigation in the summer months.