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3.27
Some of the other drainage arteries of the City proper and the added areas viz. Beliaghata-Circular-
New Cut Canals, Kestopur-Bhangarkata Khal and Tolly's Nullah, which are discussed below.
Circular-Beliaghata Khal
Circular canal was originally one of the principal navigational arteries, the pioneer in this process was
Mr. Tiretta, the first planning and fixing up the alignment was prepared by him. The proposal was
however turned down by Lord Wellesley. Another proposal was submitted by Major Scholch in 1824
but he died in 1826 in Anglo-Burmese War. Excavation of the canal was started in 1829 and
according to his proposal was completed in 1833. Chitpore Lock was also set up during this year.
The Circular Canal, originally conceived as a navigational channel has no gradient Originating at
Chitpore, it bifurcates near Gaznavi Bridge ( near R. G. Kar Hospital ) and terminates at E.M. Bypass,
the length of this canal being 8.50 Kms. The eastern and branch is known as New Cut Canal
up to VIP Road Bridge. For some time past, the channel has been serving as a drainage channel.
The Circular Canal is connected with the Hooghly at Chitpore through an outfall sluice and a
navigational lock and with Eastern Drainage Channel near Eastern Metropolitan Bye-Pass.
New-Cut - Kestopur-Bhangar Kata Khal
Further increase in water traffic initiated excavation of New Cut Canal which was started in 1855-56
and completed in 1856-59. It was also thus excavated as a navigation channel with no gradient. The
canal system takes off from Circular Canal about 275 metres south of Belgachia (Gaznavi) Bridge.
River Bidyadhari at that time had a minor tributary viz. Central Lake Channel, 91/2 miles (15.30
Kms.) in length which used to outfall into the river at Bamanghata, originating in Dhapa Bill. The Lake
Channel was however heavily silted up in 1897 thereby leaving the only means of waterway
communication in total disarray between Bamanghata and Dhapa. To provide navigational
facilities in these areas, excavation of Kestopur Khal started in 1908-10. It used to take off from
Aaratoon Jute Mill and outfalling into Bhangar Kata Khal which was excavated during 1897-98. The
Kestopur -Bhangarkata Khal system outfalls into river Kultigong through an outfall system. The
lengths of this canal system is about 39 Kms. The canals are presently serving as a drainage
channel catering the drainage discharge of Lake Town, Bangur, Dum Dum Park, Salt Lake, Rajarhat,
Bhangar and some other rural areas Kestopur Khal forms the northern boundary of the Salt Lake
City. The Eastern Drainage channel as stated earlier outfalls into Kestopur Khal. This canal system
was provided with navigational facility and was known as a part of "Inner Sundarban Route" and
used as a waterway connecting erstwhile East Bengal, now Bangladesh. The navigation through the