All questions of Cross Drainage Structures for Civil Engineering (CE) Exam

Consider the following statements: An aqueduct is a cross drainage work in which
1. a canal is carried over the drainage channel.
2. a drainage channel is carried over the canal.
3. both drainage channel and canal are at the same level.
Which of these statements is/are correct?
  • a)
    1 only
  • b)
    1 and 2 only
  • c)
    2 and 3 only
  • d)
    1,2 and 3
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

An aqueduct and syphon aqueduct are cross drainage works in which the canal is taken over the natural drain, such that the drainage water runs below the canal either freely or under syphoning pressure. Super passage and syphon are cross drainage works in which the drain is taken over the canal such that the canal water runs below the drain either freely or under syphoning pressure. Level crossing is a cross drainage work in which the canal water and drain water are allowed to intermingle with each other. A level crossing is generally provided when a large canal and a huge drainage (such as a stream or a river) approach each other practically at the same level.

The following structure serves the purpose of a ‘safety valve’ for a canal 
  • a)
    head regulator
  • b)
    cross regulator
  • c)
    canal escape
  • d)
    canal fall
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Dhruba Jain answered
Canal escapes are the safety valves of canal and must be provided at regular intervals depending upon the importance of the canal and availability of suitable drainage. Minimum capacity of escape is generally kept as half of the channel capacity at the point of escape.

Consider the following statements:
1. In a super-passage, the drain runs over the canal.
2. In a siphon, the drain runs below the canal.
3. In a siphon aqueduct, type-II, the canal banks are made of RCC walls.
Which of these statements are correct?
  • a)
     1 only
  • b)
    1 and 2 only
  • c)
    2 and 3 only
  • d)
    1 and 3 only
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Shraddha Datta answered
A super passage is just like a bridge in which the natural drain is carried over the canal. A super passage is constructed where the bed of the drain is well above the canal F.S.L.
A syphon serves the same purpose as superpassage and is constructed where the F.S.L.

What type of cross drainage work is provided when the canal runs below the drain, with FSL of canal well below the bed of the drain?
  • a)
    Aqueduct
  • b)
    Super passage
  • c)
    Level crossing
  • d)
    Siphon aqueduct
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

If bed level of canal is sufficiently above the HFL of the drain, an aqueduct is the right choice. Sometimes bed level of canal may be little below the HFL of drain so that water flows under syphonic action. This structure is known as aqueduct syphon.If bed level of the drain is sufficiently above the canal FSL, a super passage may be constructed. If the canal FSL is little above bed level of drain to allow syphonic action, the structure is called Canal Syphon. Aqueduct or superpassage type of drainage works are used when high flood discharge is large and continues for a sufficient time.
A level crossing is used when the canal water and drain water are allowed to intermingle with each other. This is adopted when high flood drainage discharge is short lived.

The following data pertain to a natural drain crossing an irrigation canal

Which one of the following types of cross-drainage should be recommended in this case?
  • a)
    Aqueduct
  • b)
    Syphon aqueduct
  • c)
    Syphon
  • d)
    Super-passage
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Sanya Agarwal answered
The difference in bed level of the canal and drainage is 4 m while the flow depth in drainage is 10 m. Thus HFL of drain at 126 m is higher than the canal bed at 120 m. Therefore syphon aqueduct is most suitable.

The canal which is not supposed to do any irrigation is called
  • a)
    main canal
  • b)
    water course
  • c)
    major distributary 
  • d)
    minor distributary
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Explanation:
A canal is a man-made waterway that is used for various purposes such as transportation, irrigation, drainage, and hydroelectric power generation. In irrigation systems, canals are used to distribute water from a source to the agricultural fields. There are different types of canals based on their function, size, and location.

Main Canal:
A main canal is the primary waterway that is used to deliver water from the source to the distribution network. It is the largest canal in the system and usually runs in a straight line. The main canal is responsible for carrying the bulk of the water supply and delivering it to the secondary canals. It is designed to have a high flow rate and a large carrying capacity. The main canal is not supposed to do any irrigation as it is meant only to transport water to the distribution network.

Water Course:
A water course is a small canal that is used to deliver water to the fields. It is also called a field channel or a field drain. Water courses are designed to have a low flow rate and a small carrying capacity. They are used for localized irrigation and drainage purposes. Water courses are usually connected to the secondary canals or distributaries.

Major Distributary:
A major distributary is a branch canal that is derived from the main canal. It is designed to deliver water to a group of fields or a particular area. Major distributaries have a lower flow rate and carrying capacity than the main canal, but higher than the minor distributaries. They are responsible for distributing water to the minor distributaries or water courses.

Minor Distributary:
A minor distributary is a small branch canal that is derived from the major distributary. It is designed to deliver water to a single field or a small group of fields. Minor distributaries have the lowest flow rate and carrying capacity in the system. They are responsible for delivering water to the water courses or directly to the fields.

Conclusion:
In the given question, the canal which is not supposed to do any irrigation is the main canal. It is the primary waterway that transports water to the distribution network and is not designed to deliver water to the fields. The water courses, major distributaries, and minor distributaries are the canals that are responsible for delivering water to the fields for irrigation purposes.

The capacity of an irrigation canal is usually controlled by
  • a)
    average kharif demand
  • b)
    average rabi demand
  • c)
    kor demand of rabi crops
  • d)
    kor demand of kharif crops
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Arya Kaur answered
Irrigation Canal Capacity Control

Irrigation canals are essential for providing water to crops in areas where rainfall is inadequate for agricultural purposes. The capacity of an irrigation canal is the amount of water it can carry at a given time. It is important to control the canal's capacity to ensure that water is distributed evenly to all the fields and crops receive the required amount of water to grow optimally. The control of irrigation canal capacity is determined by several factors, including the following:

Kharif and Rabi Demands

Kharif and Rabi are the two main agricultural seasons in India. Kharif crops are sown in the rainy season and harvested in the autumn, while Rabi crops are sown in the winter season and harvested in the spring. The demand for water varies according to the type of crop and the season. The canal capacity should be determined based on the maximum demand for water during the Kharif and Rabi seasons.

Kor Demand

Kor demand refers to the crop water requirement during the critical period of crop growth. The critical period is the time when the crop is most sensitive to water stress. The canal capacity should be designed to meet the Kor demand of the crops to ensure optimal growth.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the capacity of an irrigation canal is usually controlled by the Kor demand of Kharif crops. This is because Kharif crops are usually the most water-intensive crops, and meeting their water requirements ensures optimal growth. However, canal capacity should also be designed to meet the Kor demand of Rabi crops to ensure that they receive the required amount of water during the critical period of growth.

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