The North Karo River drains the Indian state of Jharkhand. It originates on the Ranchi Plateau. It forms a 17 m high scarp falls, Pheruaghaugh, at the southern margin of the Ranchi plateau. It drains the Gumla, Ranchi and West Singhbhum districts. It joins the South Koel near Serengda. The meandering valley of the Karo river, downstream from Pheruaghaugh falls is a typical example of an incised meander.

Koel-Karo project

The Koel-Karo project is located in the Ranchi and West Singbhum districts. The 710-mW power project involves the construction of two earth dams—one, 44 m high, across the South Koel river near Basia, and the other, 55 m high, across the North Karo river near Lohajima. The two dams will be linked by a trans-basin channel, with six units of 115 mW each in the underground powerhouse at Lumpu-ngkhel and one unit of 20 mW at Raitoli. About 120 villages are to be affected, displacing over one lakh (100,000) people. About 22000 ha are to be submerged. Of the total land acquisition, 12000 ha are reported to be agricultural land, while 10000 ha comprise forests. Dispute arose over the compensation package for the displaced people and protests started in 1974 and have been continuing since then.