SOURCES OF IRRIGATION

CHAPTER - 3

SOURCES OF IRRIGATION

Not long ago, irrigation was referred to as

"artificial" irrigation. This historical allusion

emphasises the fact that irrigation is human being's

effort to substitute for any deficiency in natural

rainfall with the objective of a steady expansion in

crop output.

I r rigation in Bilaspu r district - A H istorical b ackground

Since time immemorial agriculture has been the

principal economic activity of man. The rulers of the

day also undertook construction of tanks for providing

irrigation to the field and thus warding off the dreadful

spectre of scarcity or famine. They were also usually

constructed to enrich the landscape. We find numerous

references to the tanks built in the 12th Century.

A tank called Vallabh Sagnr with a pleasure house

within was built by V a llabhar aja, a feudatory chief of

the Kalchuri King Ratnadeva II (1120-35 A.D.) at Kotgadh

near Akaltara in Bilaspur District. A large tank was

built at Ratanpur by Purushottama, a minister of

Ratnadeva II.

According to the Kharod Stone inscription of

Ratnadeva III, dated 1 1 8 1 - 8 2 A . D . his minister Gangadhara

had beautiful tanks and lotus lakes excavated at Tipuruga

(Modern Tirprung), 10 Miles south of Kharoda at

Girahuli (Modern Girolpali in Janjgir Tehsil) at Uluva

(Modern Ulba in Raipur district) and at Senadu (Modern

Sonada) 15 Miles east of Kharod.

Coming to the modern times, it is seen that in

the first decade of this century the sources of

Irrigation were almost entirely tanks, usually of no

great size, and the value of irrigation in the district

Principally lay in the possibility of rectifying uneven

distribution of the rainfall. The area which could

be considered as protected against a general failure

of the monsoon was triffing. The tanks were

usually provided with an outer reservoir called a

paithu, from which the water passed into the tank through

a cut in the uper embankment of the latter. The effect

of this reservoir was to increase the volume of water

help up, and to enable some of the silt settle before

the water p a s s e d into the source of supply of drinking

water. When irrigation was necessary water was first

drawn off from the paithu a n d a l l o w e d to run into the

fields on the the highest level which could be reached.

When these were irrigated and no rcore water could be

made to run off the sluice, the tank itself was breached

at a lower level a n d the water was allowed to run into

the fields which could be covered thence. Unless there

were two or three tanks in the village the breaching of

the tank itself was avoided, if at all possible, in

order to prevent the supply of drinking water from

running shore in the hot weather In in a m ’ cases the

tank was the only source of supply, and if it failed

water had to be brought from lorn, distances for house­

hold purposes and the cattle had to be driven a Ion- way

to drink. The sinking of wells where water level was

close to the surface of the soil was usually left to the

Marars who specialise in the cultivations of garden

crops. The onl sources of irrigation of any importance

besides tanks were nullahs, which in suitable places

were dammed by the people who run the water so held up

into any field near nullah which it could reach.

Basket lift or chhapa was the contrivance which resorted

to irrigate fields adjoining a tank, reservoir or pond

or nullah. This consisted of a basket slung between two

pairs of ropes, which were held by two men sitting facing

one another across the sluice Iwho dipped the basket

into the water and then swung in up on the higher level.

Development of Govt, irrigation was hampered on

account of the notion of the Government of India that

Chhattisgarh was sufficiently provided for in the future

by the Tandula and the Mahanadi canals and declined to

continue the spending of further sums in the investig­

ation of major projects in Bilaspur.

However Government interest in the development

of irrigation in the District owes its origin to the

recommendation of the In ian Irrigation Commiss ion. The

Commission which was appointed in 1901 to report on

irrigation in India as a protection against famine came

to the conclusion that construction of small scale

irrigation works in the paddy growing districts of

Central Provinces and Berar, although never likely to be

directly remunerative, was urgently required for protec­

tion against drought as compared to the productive

works in other provinces. In pursuance of the above

recommendations the investigation and construction of 16

works was taken in hand in the Provinces in 1906.

Besides, in the same year, the provincial Government of

the day made definite proposals for carrying out certain

new s h c e m e s , which the Government of India, after a good

deal of correspondence, accepted in 1909 The works

were started by 1910. Amongst others the proposals

included the expenditure of a sum of m 7 lakhs in the

districts of Bilaspur, Damoh and Sagar.

An Irrigation sub-Division of the public works

Department was created at Bilaspur in 1906. This Sub-

Division undertook the investigation and construction of

minor tanks. The formation of Hasdeo Irrigation Circle

in 1922 gave great impetus to the development of irriga­

tion in the District. This Circle was divided into two

construction divisions, named Kharung and Maniari after

the two rivers on which major irrigation tanks were to

be constructed.

In the following years two big storage works

emerged on the irrigation map of Bilaspur Work on one

of them. Kharung tank, was sanctioned on 21st October

1924 and was completed in 1931 at a cost of t. 58.37

lakhs. The tank is situated across Kharung river on the

left side in mile 20 of Ratanpur-Katghora road. The

project showed promise of being successful on account of

the fairly large area of sandy soil which it commanded.

The irrigation network consists of two canals with a

mileage of 67.96 miles and 140 minors and distributaries

with a length of 219.46 miles. The area irrigated by

the tank is 95,450 acres.

The other project is Maniari tank. The tank is

situated in Khudia village of Mungeli Tahsil. Construc­

tion work was started in 1924 an was completed in 1933.

Expenditure involved ammounted to tc. 56.57 lakhs.

Irrigation water led by its 4.96 mile long canal is

carried through its 138 minors and distributaries with a

length of 249.75 miles. The irrigated area is 83.750

acres. This project was not considered so promising as

the previous one as the bulk of the area commanded by it

consisted of black soil. Unless the late monsoon failed

and water required for utera sowings After the constr­

uction of these two tanks Hasdeo Circle was amalgamated

in the tiahanadi Circle in 1931 and the two Divisions

were merged into the Kharung Division for the mainten­

ance of the existing irrigation works in the District.

Further progress in the sphere of irrigation

works remained suspended due to the recommendations of

the Central provinces Irrigation Committee (1929). Work

was restarted only in 1944 when the nation was jolted

out of its deep apathy on the food front. Grow More

Food Campaign was launched and a beginning was made with

small-scale irrigation works. The District under the

five year Plans witnessed foverish activity in the

creation of irrigation facilities.

Irrigation Development 1947 on wards

The formation of the Chhattisgarh Village Project

Division at Raipur with a Sub-Division at Bilaspur in

1949 was an important step forward in the development of

irrigation. The Sub-Division investic ated a number of

minor irrigation schemes and undertook the construction

of tanks termed as Village Project Tanks. The Division

was abolished in 1952 and the works in progress were

completed by the regular Sub-Divisions.

Since 1952 the Development Blocks came into

existence in the District. They undertook the prelimi­

nary investigation of minor irrigation tanks and evinced

interest in their execution. Since the schemes costinc

is. 25 00 or more had to be scrutinized and executed by

the Public Works Department an independent Minor

Irrigation Sub-Division was created at B n a s p u r for the

clearance and execution of such schemes. Besides

allotments were also placed at the disposal ol the

Collector for the development of minor irrigation works

during the second five year plan.

During the Second and Third Plan period a scheme

for the development of Haniari tank was taken up. The

scheme was designed to remodel the existing canal system

including canal structure and to construct a new distri­

butary with minors. The estimated cost of the project

was it. 23.97 lakhs with an additional irrigable area of

21,716 acres in Bilaspur District.

Included in the Third Flan ot the District was a

major irrigation project for harnessing the Hasdeo

river. The project envisaged the construction of a 200

feet high dam in Atma Range Gorge across the Hasdeo a

tributary of the Mahanadi ano a pick up weir 29 miles

downstream. The main dam will be of straight gravity

type with central overflow section for passinc surplus

water. There will be an earthen dyke 5.000 ft long to

the right The power houses to be locateu at the foot

of the dam will have a big power capacity of 50 000 kw

at 60 percent load factor Two canals on each bank v.ill

take off from the pick-up weir co irrigate .in area of

3 lakn acres in the District It is excir.ated to cost

. 350 lakhs .

Tank Irrigation

In the opening years of this ceiuur_\ the onl>

Government: tanks constructed in Bilaspur District were

two minor tanks namely, Harai and Dhanras near Lorni

while a third was under construction at Barpali near

Akaltara. Hardi tank fell within the area commanded by

the Maniari reservoir One more Government irrigation

tank namely Amachua tank came into existence in 1917.

However small tanks still constitute a very

important source of irrigation. Bilaspur District is

situated with a number of small irrigation tanks in

19o8 69 che District had 334 tanks with an ayacut of lOO

acres or more and 14.570 tanks with ayacut less than 100

acres. The minor tanks were previously under the

management ol mal;;uzars anu zan.indars. With the enfor

cement of Madhya Pradesh Abolition of Proprietary Rights

Act 1950 the management of these tanks passed on to the

State. The Government has decided to repair all these

tanks urgently and to develop maximum irrigation from

them .

However the utility of tank irrigation is limited in

the sense they are rainfed . in case rains f ail tnc

tanks fail to fill up and provide succour to che withe­

ring crops when water is needed most to drench the

parched soil If. however early monsoon is copious ana

tanks are full to the brim che cultivated iand under

the command of the tanks becomes safe j_ro>. cue caprices

of the later monsoon.

Sub-soil water is mostly verv deep anci di^ . in. of

a well in such strata is a very costl^ affair As such

wells are not jenerall_ used for irrigation except in

beds of rivers and nullahs where shallow wells are used

for ve0 ecabie irrigation ±n 196b 69 there were onlv

225 Governmenc wells in the District. The number of

private wells was quite large being 16 978. A little

less than half the number of these well:, were pucca.

Area Irrigated

The area irrigated fluctuates consider a b 1 y fro:.,

year to year. It u e p e n o 's partly on the necessity for

irric ation ana partly on trie capacity of tanks to supply

water when it is required. In the . ooo year of 1906-07

tnere was little necessity for irrigation anu the total

area irrigated was only 9,910 acres. In 1907-08 though

the early monsoon was above average there was more

necessity for irrigation in September anu the irrigated

area expanded to 1,40.970 acres.

In 1910-11 the area irrigated was recorded as

62,700 acres, while in 1920-21 the same snot upto

1,85,100 acres. Again, in 1930-31 irrigated area

amounted to 38,600 acres which, in 1940-41 reached the

high figure of 2,90.900 acres.

In 1960-61 the district hao 6^.552 irrigated

hectares, or 10.5 percent of the net sown area. In

1965-66 an area of 1,08,304 hectares was in receipt of

irrigation, which was equivalent to 11 percent of the

net cropped area. In 1968-69 tnis percentage had risen

to 17.3 percent. Further details of area irrigated are

given in following table.

TABLE - 7

Sources of Irrigation - 1960-61 -- 1989-90

Bilaspur District

(Hecc . )

S . N o . Y e a r s Canals Tank Wells Others Total

(1) 1960-61 72292 (ou.55)

7099(8.49)

1728(2.06)

2-+3 3 (2.91)

83552 (iOO.OJ

(2) 1965-06 79116(73.04)

24289(22.42)

2153 (1.9o;

2746(2.53..

10^304(i00.0)

(3, 1973-74 88943(85.01)

9083(6.68)

3711(3.54)

2878(2.75)

104615(100.0)

(4) 1985-86 140568(87.50)

10868(6.76)

5484(3.41)

3714(2.31)

160634(100.0;

(5) 1986-87 159959(78.98)

29734(14.68)

8216(4.05)

4607(2.27)

202516(100.0)

(6) 1987-88 182522(86.65)

13818(6.56)

8691(4.12)

5591(2.65)

210622(100.0)

(7) 1988-89 192803(87.50)

9710(4.40)

9648(4.37)

8170(3.70;

220331(100.0)

(8) 1989-90 195626(89.64)

7856(3.60)

7854(3.59)

6o82(3.15)

218218(100.0)

Figures in parenthesis 'aenotes percentage.

Sources : District Census Hand Book. Bilaspur District.

1974 and 1990.

Canals were responsible lor the largest snare in

providing irrigation. In 1960-61 their snare ar.iounteo

to 86.55 percent which risen to 89.64 percent in 1989-90.

In the same year tanks contributed 3.60 p r c e n t , wells

3.59 percent and others the remaining 3.15 percent.

Crops irrigated : Almost the entire benefit of irriga­

tion was claimed by paddy. In 1960-61, in the district,

paddy had 78,875 irrigated hectares i.e. 98.30 percent

of the total area in receipt of irrigation. Next came

sugarcane with 1071 irrigated hectares thus claiming

1.33 percent of the irrigated area. Wheat had very

little area i.e. 291 hectares. Details of irrigated

crops may be seen in the following table.

TABLE - 8

Irrigated Crops - 1960-61 to 1989-90

S.No. Y e a r Paddy Wh eat Sugarcane Total

(1) 1960-61 78875(98.30)

291(0.36)

1071(1.33)

80237(100.0)

(2) 1965-66 103327 (97.43)

1341(1.26)

1375(1.29)

106043(100.0)

(3) 1973-74 91641(85.66)

142236(13.30)

1096(1.02)

106973(100.0)

(4) 1985-86 150327(94.60)

8165(5.13)

402(0.25)

158894(100.0)

(5) 1986-87 193783(96.51)

6419(3.19)

573(0.28)

200775(100.0)

(6) 1987-88 201238(97.11)

5345(2.57)

635(0.30 j

207218(100.0)

(7) 1988-89 212594(97.48)

4853(2.33'

640(0.29)

218087 (100.0)

(8) 1989-90 213915(98.09)

3515 ( 1 . 6 1 j

641(0.29'

218071 (100.0 1

Figures in perenthesis denotes percentage.

Source : Bilaspur district Census Hand Book. 197a L 1990.

In 1573-74 irrigation was provided to wheat crop

which accounts for 13.30 percent. Durinc; 1989-90 it

surprisingly slumped down to 3515 hectares (1.61 Percent)

On the whole it can be said that paddv is the only

single crop which provided irrigation. Despite various

agricultural development programmes imparting in the

district, farmers are least interested to exploit

irrigation resources.

Rabi irrigation : Kabi irrigation is verv limited and

depends upon carry over stock of water in the tanks

after meeting the kharif demand. It is done in sugar­

cane and vegetable crops from the village tanks and

wells specially constructed for the purpose.

In the past irrigation was most frequently

resorted to in the east of the district where light soil

predominate. It was of particular no importance in

Mungeli Tahsil. Where the block clay in normal years

requires to artificial supply of water and where the

level character of the ground renders the source of

supply insufficient to protect more than a very limited

area. Since the coming up of Manivari tank in Mungeli

tahsil, paddy irrigation is being made. But the

irrigation is of 'Protective' nature and not 'productive'

i.e., irrigation is resorted to only in case of failure

of monsoon. However, it has been observed that since

1940-41, monsoon has become very irregular, thus giving

filling to irrigation.

Command Area Development at National Level :

The Command Area Development (CAD) programme was

initiated in the Fifth Plan with a view to optimising

agricultural production through better management of

land and water use in the command areas of irrigation

projects where there was considerable t ap between the

potential createo and its realisation. At the beginning

of the Sixth Plan there were 76 projects with an

ultimate potential of 15.3 million hectares in 16 States

ana one UT. The area covered, then, under field channels

was 3.08 million hectares and under land levelling, 0.94

million hectares. During 1983-84, 29 additional

projects were added and one State, viz.. Himachal

Pradesh, joined the programme for the first time. Three

projects in Maharashtra were completed. Thus, at the

beginning of Seventh Plan, there are 102 on-going CAD

projects comprising an ultimate potential of 16.5

million hectares in 17 States and one UT.

Strategy for the Seventh Plan

During the Sixth Plan the main objective of

establishing command area development authorities for

the coordination of all concerneo departments ilrrig

ation, Agriculture. Cooperation, etc. . has been achieved

to the extent envisaLe o , mainly because the activities

of the functionaries responsible for water release and

control and of those in charge of extension of agricul­

tural inputs could not be brouc ht about to the extent

required. The success of the CAD Proc r;tnme depends to a

laro e extent on the Area Development Commissioner/

Administrator who is in overall controll of the officers

in charge of various segments. The main emphasis during

the Seventh Plan would be to ensure, through suitable

measures, effecttive coordination of the concerned

activities of these departments under one authority. The

Command Area Development Authority would ensure availa­

bility of the basic agricultural inputs through advance

planning. Close monitoring and evaluation would be the

main thrust of the CAD Programme durin0 the Seventh Plan.

The CAD programme aims mainly at reducing the c-ap

between the potential created and utilisation thereof.

This is to be achieved throu;;h the integrated develop-C-' O I

ment of command areas which covers the following aspects:

a. Modernisation and efficient operation of the

irrigation system as well as development of the

drainage svstem bevond the outlet servin.

40-hectare blocks;

b. Construction ana lininc. of fiela channels water

courses:

c. and levelling, ana land shaping:

d . Construction of field drains;

e. Conjunctive use of surface and ground waters;

f. Adoption and enforcement o f a suitable cropping

p a t t e r n ;

g. Introduction and enforcement of Warabandi (roste-

ring s y stem );

h. Preparation of a plan for supply of inputs;

credit, seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, etc. and

i. Strengthening of the existing extension, training

and demonstration organisations.

Apart from continuing the work of the 102 CAD projects,

some more projects may be included under the programme

in order to expedite utilisation of irrigation potential

created through those projects also. Every effort will

be made to complete on-going CAD projects in the Seventh

Plan. Some of the CAD projects in the Sixth Plan

received assistance from external agencies like the

World Bank and USAID. The balance commitment on the

on-going externally-aided CAD projects will be fully met

and some new projects mav be proposed for such external

assistance, depending on the local resources available.

In the Sixth Plan, the Central assistance was

distributed on the basis of a rr,atchinc provision made in

the State Plans. No specific weightage was given to the

State which are economically backward and could not

provide the matching provision for the CAD programme.

In the Seventh Plan Central assistance would be distri­

buted to the States in such a manner that economical lv

backward States could be given a higher share of the

Central sector outlay consistent with the CAD programme

undertaken in the States The criteria would be worked

out by the Ministery of Water resources in consultation

with the Ministry of Finance and the Planning Commission.

Farmers participation in construction activities

such as land levelling and shaping, construction of

field channels and equitable distribution of water

would be encouraged. In order to effect close coordin­

ation in the implementation of the CAD programme, repre­

sentatives of the farmers cooperatives or outlet commit­

tees will be fully associated with the programme. In

addition to the responsibility for the distribution of

water within their jurisdiction. the f ar:ners cooperatives

would be encouraged to take up the responsibility for

providing inputs for irrigated agriculture and also for

marketing of the produce. The farmers associations and

cooperatives established in some parts oi the country

have been successful in the equitable distribution of

water among their members the bulk of the .vtiter supply

bein- uiven by the Irrigation Department. to such

cooperatives. This must be extended to other areas.

The programme will envisage Che following main

acCiviCies in Che SevenCh Plan :

(i) Modernisation of Che earlier irrigation systems

wiCh a view Co stablising the irrigation benefits

from them and ensuring better return froia the

investments already made;

(ii) Drainage improvement in the irrigated areas,

(iii) The on-farm development works will be the core of

the CAD programme. Efforts will be made to

expedite construction of field channels from 40

hectares block in the last survey number, not

only in the on-going CAD projects but also in the

irrigation systems which are proposed to be

modernised. Land levelling and shaping, inclu

ding consolidation of holdings and realignment of

field boundaries, will conCinue to receive -reater

emphasis, particularly in the projects where a

large percentage of Che command consists ot

slopes, i.e., 2 to 3 percent. If a pare of Che

command has slopes higher than 3 percent the

techno-economic possibility of providing sprin­

kler irrigaCion will be examined anu money

provided for iC, instead of land levelling which

may not be economical in sucn cases.

(IV) In .any StaCM, updating of land records has not

been done in spice of the emphasis _:iven to it in

(vi)

(v i i )

(v i i i )

(i x )

the Sixth Plan. This work would be decelerated

so that the programme of fielu channels can be

expedited.

The existing cropping pattern will be reviewed

for suitable modification according to the amount

of water available in order to maximise produc­

tion per unit of water. Adaptive trials will

continue to be undertaken to determine the best

project-specific cropping pattern.

Introduction of Warabandi with the farmers'

participation.

Construction of essential roads in the command

areas would be accelerated by making use of the

funds available under the various programme^ <

through a co-ordinated action plan.

Development of marketing processing facilities

will be organised by the CAD authorities.

In order to facilitate the flow of institution.il

credit for expeditin0 on-farm develop-ent works

suitable legislation will be enactec m the

States in which this has not already been done.

A review of the procedure for obtaining institu­

tional finance will be nade and the procedure

streamlined so chut the farmers are able to ; et

institutional finance in ti~e.

Dis

tr

ict

Productivity Irrigation Commands :

The production potential of agriculture as indi­

cated in the National Demonstration is much higher than

the actual productivity in the command areas. One of

the major objectives of the CAD programme is to increase

productivity in the irrigation commands through an inte­

grated approach to water and crop management. The crop-

cutting experiments in the irrigation commands have to

be intensified in order to determine the increases in

yields from time to time. Productivity can be improved

not only by improvement in the level of utilisation but

also by the supply of inputs and suitable extension

facilities along with timely supply of water.

CAPA in Bilaspur District

In Bilaspur district, Command Area Development

Authority was established in the year 11-7-1979. In the

initial stage, for command area development, three

projects, viz., (1) Kharung, (2) .lanivari and (3i Hasdeo

were selected. Later Ghonga Project also has been

included under the above Programme. But, so far no work

in the Ghonga Command has been started.

Area selected for command area development, in

various systems are as under :

(1) Kharung Command 40,485 ha.

(2) Maniyari Command 40,485 ha.

(3) Hasdeo Bango Command 2,55,000 ha.

(4) Ghonga Command 7,500 ha.

An area of about 16,000 ha (39.52 percent) In

Kharung system, 15,227 ha (37.61 percent) in Maniyari

system and 5,950 ha (only 2.33 percent) in Hasdeo-Bango

system has been developed till March 1988.

Irrigation has long been recognized as an impor­

tant factor for increasing agricultural production, the

major reason for this dependency is the monsoon pattern

of rainfall, which is generally capricious in its incid­

ence and variable in its amount. The computed medium

Kharung reservoir and Maniyari reservoir and ongoing

major and medium projects namely Hasdeo Bango project

and Ghonga reservoir's details are described as below.

(1) KHARUNG RESERVOIR :

The idea of construction of Kharunc tank was

conceived in the year 1900. The project was investi­

gated in the year 1913 anu construction estimate was

framed amounting to ,-i. 55.17 Lakhs for Irrigation of

60,000 acres of Kharif paddy. The construction of the

project was started in the year 1923-24 and was compl­

eted in the year of 1927-28. The salient feature of the

project are as under :

1. Catchment Area : 237.00 So.Miles

2. Average Monsoon Rainfall : -^4.72 Inches.

3. Average Monsoon ruvi-off

4• Irritable tank capacity

5. Gross commanded Area 234,639 Ac r e s .

10,049 Mcft.

6,791 Mcft.

6. Culturable command Area : 123,639 Acres.

7. Design Irrigable Area

8 . Length of RBC

9. Length of L.B.C. 50 Miles.

60,000 A c r e s .

18 Miles.

10. Length of Distributories : 289.30 Miles, and miners.

11. Total No.of villages benefitt ed.

208 Nos.

The full potential of the project was achieved in

the year 1940-41, when it irrigated 61024 Acres of Paddy

ana 1,061 acres of R a b i . Since then there is continuous

increase in the area irrigated. In the year 1975-76 the

area irrigated was maximum, 1,06,000 Acres of Kharif and

21,000 acres of Rabi totalling 1,27,000 acres. In the

year 1987-88, which was the scarcity year 45,194 ha

(111629 acres) of Kharif and 599 ha (1480 acres; of Rabi

total 45,793 ha (113109 acres) of Irrigation have been

a o n e . It is pointea out th.it irrigation was started

only with 35 percent water in the Reservoir in the year

1987-88.

(2) MANIYARI RESERVOIR :

The idea of constn. of Maniyari tank project was

conceived in the year 1900. The project was however

investigated in the year 1924 and constn. estimate u.-ou-

nting to ks . 62.35 lakhs for providing irrigation of

60,000 acres of Kharif paddy was framed. The c o n s t n . of

the project was started in the year 1924-25 anu was

completed in the year 1930-31.

salient features of the dam.

1. Catchment area. :

2. Average Monsoon Rainfall :

3. Mean Monsoon Run-off :

4. Irritable tank capacity :

5. Gross commanded area :

6. Culturable commanded : area

7. Designed irritable area :

8. The length of ilain canal :

9. The length of distri- : butory

10. Length of Distributory D 2 :

11. Length of Minors. :

12. Total Number of villages : benefitted as per Proj­ect report

The following are the

310 S q .M i l e s .

45.27 inches.

18292 heft.

5225 Me f t .

195776 Acres.

1 ,59,985 A c r e s .

60,000 Acres.

4.20 Miles.

34.34 Miles.

36.88 Miles.

173.79 Miles.

25 3 Nos.

The full potential of the project was achieved in

the year 1950-51, when it irrigated an area of 70656

acres of Kharif P a d d y . In the year 1964 the development

of Mani*ari Project had been taken up ay constn. of

distributorv N o . 3, taking off fro.-, distributory No.2 .

The len th of D 0 is 16.5 Miles to provide irrigation to 0 3

17000 acres of Kharif paddy. Thus the total irrigation

potential of Maniyari System has been increased fro-

60,000 acres to 77,000 acres of Kharif paddy. The total

length of Minors and sub-Minors of D^ - is

about 173.79 miles and the total number of villa0eb now

being benefitted is 327.

Since then there is continuous increase in the

irrigated area under the tank without any increase in

the capacity of the Reservoir. The maximum area irri­

gated by the tank was in the year 197 5-76 when it irri­

gated an area of 1,04,504 acres of Kharif and 13,400

acres of Rabi totalling an area of 1,17,904 acres. The

year 1986-87. The year 1986-87 was a drought year and

even then the system irrigated 1,08,396 acres of Kharif

and 3646 acres of Rabi thus totalling an area of 1,12,042

acres of land. The year 1987-88 was also a scarcity

year and the irrigation was started only with 29 percent

of water in the tank. During the vear 1987-88 44280 ha

(1,09,416 acres) of Kharif and 202 ha (500 acr es) of

Rabi have been irrigated.

( 3) HASDEO BANGO PROJECT :

Hasdeo Bango Project across the river Hasdeo. a

largest uistributory of Mahanadi . is one of the Major

Multipurpose project in Madhya Praoesh. ; he aa: is

located about 42 KM U/S of the already completed Hasdeo

Barrage near Korba town. The combined project (Hasdeo

Barrage and Hasdeo Bango dan) is proposed to provide

irrigation to 2.55 lakhs hectares of kharii. In addition

the project is to supply water to M.P.E.B., N.T.P.C.,

BALCO and other industries located in and arounu Korba.

The project has been conceived in 3 Phase out of

which Phase I & Phase II has already been completed in

1967 i 1976 respectively. Phase III is under const­

ruction. This system has irrigated about 77,000 ha of

land during the year 1987-88.

Further two medium schemes and 120 Minor schemes

having design irrigation of 0.69 Lakh hectare are being

constructed by Maniyari Hasdeo circle, Bilaspur. The

part irrigation potential created by these on going

projects including the major project Hasdeo Bango

Project is 1,01,776 hectares. Thus total 2,04,985 h ,i of

irrigation potential has been created in Bilaspur

district from completed and ongoing work by irrigation

department. These do not include the irrigation works

irrigating less than 100 Acres of Lind which have been

transferred to agriculture, Janpaa Panchayat and other

departments.

(4) GHONGHA RESERVOIR :

The Ghongha reservoir is a -eoiu- project situ­

ated about 5 KM ava j from Kota town in Bilaspur district.

The project was sanctioned in 1976. The designee irri­

gable capacity of tank have been proposed. as 7500

hectares of Khar it a no 600 hectares of Rabi. . ne da::,

work of the project have been mostly complete constru­

ctions of Main canal is also mostly complete. The

Construction of distributories and minors are in

progress. The project even though in the construction

stage, has irrigated 8142 hectares of Kharif and 160

hectares of Rabi, total 8302 hectares in the year

1987-88 which is more then its designed capacity.

BILASPUR DISTRICT

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