The historical background of the canal system in Calcutta, India, and its contribution to development

Abstract

Due to Calcutta’s proximity to the sea and location on the east bank of the River Hooghly in India, it used to experience tidal influence through its canals. This prompted commerce and trading, and Calcutta became an important trading port. The city was also influenced by the River Bidyadhari, which runs parallel to Hooghly. These two rivers and their tributaries and distributaries provided unique opportunities for commerce to British colonisers. Tolly’s Nullah was excavated in 1778 to connect these two rivers. Interestingly, for even a decade after the introduction of the Eastern Bengal State Railway in the nineteenth century, water trafficking was the predominant mode of transport. The canal system also provided irrigation water during the tidal period by controlling lock gates at strategic locations. Drainage of Calcutta mostly gravitated eastwards to Kultigong of the Matla estuary system, which ultimately led to the River Bidyadhari. Since 1856, it had served as an outlet for the city drainage, which was supplemented by excavating new channels in 1928. This created a network of an organised ‘canal system’, which had sustained the city for centuries. The history of the development of this canal system, its lingering influence on the growth of Calcutta and its present status are summarised in this paper.