ALIGNMENT OF CANAL AND

HYDRAULIC PARTICULARS

Presentation by:
G. Krishna Reddy
S. Gopinath Reddy
Md. Fasi

 Canals
Canals are open channels that transport water from a
source to distribution and delivery locations.
Canals may be either lined or unlined depending on

earth and rock materials encountered.

If the R.L of formation of canal bed is

below the R.L of ground cutting is done

and vice versa.

 Classificationof canals onthe basisof

their functions are given below:

Irrigation canal.
Navigation canal.
Power canal.
Link canal.
Feeder canal.

 Irrigation canals

These are the canals which carry water to the

fields.
Navigation canal
These are the canals which are used to provide
transport and voyage facility from one city to the
other or from one country to the other. Main canal
is navigation canal.
Power canal
The canals which are constructed to supply
water with very high force to the hydro electric
power station for the purpose of moving turbine to
generate electric power is known as power canal.

 Link canal
The canal that is from river to river is known as
link canal. which are constructed to transfer water to
the other conveyance structure which contains insufficient quantity of water.

Feeder canal
A feeder canal is constructed with the idea of
feeding two or more canals. When main canal is
divided into two canals then it is called as feeder
canal.

 Alignment of canals
irrigation canals can be aligned in any of the
following three ways:
1. As watershed canal or ridge canal.
2. As contour canal.
3. As side slope canal.

 Watershed canal or ridge canal

The dividing ridge line between the catchment
areas of two streams is called the watershed. Thus,
between two major streams, there is the main watershed,
which divides the drainage area of the two streams.
Similarly , between a main stream and any of its tributary,
there are subsidary watersheds dividing the drainage
between the two streams on either side. It is suitable for
plain areas, where slopes are relatively flat and uniform.
The canal which is aligned along any natural watershed is
called watershed canal. This type alignment ensures
gravity irrigation on both sides of the canal. However , the
main canal has to take off from the river and it must
mount the watershed in as short a distance as possible .
Once the canal has reached the watershed , it is generally
kept on the watershed ,except where

Localities are settled on the watershed.

II. Where the canal is looping and not running straight .
If the watershed passing through villages or towns,
the canal may have to leave the watershed for some
distance.
. contour canals
I.

This is widely used method for alignment of canals.

The ridge line method is not found economical in hill
areas. In hills, the river flows in the valley well below
the watershed. Infact, the ridge line may be hundreds of
meters above the river, so it is impossible to take the
canal on top of such a higher ridge line. In such
conditions contour canals are usually constructed.
Contour channels follow a contour except for giving the
required longitudinal slope to the canal.

A contour canal irrigates only on one side because the

area on the other side is higher. As the drainage flow is
always at right angles to the ground contour. Such a
channel would definitely have to cross natural drains and
streams, necessiating construction of cross drainage
structures.

Side slope canal

It is a canal which is aligned at right angles to the
contours. Since such canal runs parallel to the natural
drainage flow, it usually doesnt intercept drainage
channels. Thus, avoiding the construction of cross
drainage structures.

Hydraulic particulars

1. Approved alignment plan showing all structures along the

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

alignment
Longitudinal section of the canal preferably to the scale H
1cm:100m & V 1cm:10m
Cut off diagram for the project / canal
Design discharge
Rugosity coefficient
Full supply depth
Width of land acquired
Following statements in the prescribed form for each set of
works viz. sluices, railway bridges, road bridges, foot
bridges, regulator, C.D. works and drops etc.

Thank you