‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎99v] (197/949)

22
The totals in column 4 of Mr. Ward’s tabular statement A include in the “ Command-
able but not watered ” area in Afghanistan that of the Gaud-i-Zirreh ; this is right, if this
depression is not to be converted into a lake in lieu of the Hamun-i-Helmand.
In the case of Persia, the present Hamun-i-Helmand lake is shown also as commanded,
but not watered. If this depression is to be used as at present, its area, 548 square miles,
should, for practical purposes, be shown in the third column of Mr. Wards’ tabular statement
A. In the foregoing table the entries in brackets, marked (o), show what the figures for Persia
become when the Hamun-i-Helmand area of 986 square miles is excluded from the commanded
area not receiving water. From a military point of view, it is most undesirable to reclaim
this lake, and nothing but lack of water to fill it should drive us to reclamation.
The above table shows that, if sufficient water-supply was available, we would aim at
irrigating in—
Afghanistan ... ... ... 860,160 acres annually.
Persia, excluding Hamun ... ... 396,032 „ „
Total „ „ ... ... 1 , 256,192 „ „
Water-supply available.
3 . The figures given at page 7 of Colonel McMahon’s letter No. 2407 , dated 25 th
September 1904 , and at page 10 of the annexures to his No. 909 of 13 th July 1908 , show that
the following supplies will usually be available—
Crop.
Cold weather (Rabi)
Hot weather (Kharif)
The supplies available
Month.
f October
Average supply
in cusecs.
2,435
j November
• • •
3,020
J December
• ••
3,158
} January
• ••
4,050
j February
• ••
5,478
1 ^ March
...
6,750
"‘April
4,000
May
• • •
3,000
■ June
• • •
3,000
‘ July
• • •
2,500
August ...
• • •
2,000
^September
...
2,162
at Kohak are those
given
above for
Average for crop.
4,148
J
J
2,777
Bandar-i-Kamal Khan
cnminisnea Dy tne supply drawn off by the seven canals detailed in paragraph 49 of Colonel
McMahon’s Memorandum This will leave 3,854 and 2,438 for the cold and hot weather
respectively. The areas which could be irrigated with these supplies below Band-i-Kamil Khan
would be as follows : —
Cold weather crop 3,854 x 150 duty
Hot „ „ 2,483 x 75 „
... = 578,100 acres.
... = 186,225 „
Total
764,325
ln . , Th . c f, "“ re " given at page 7 of Colonel McMahon’s letter No. 2407 , dated 25 th September
1904 show that the d.seharge, from Uth to 20th March is 12,100 cusecs: I have ignored
this abnormal discharge assuming 6,750 cusecs the supply in the first ten days of the month to
prevail throughout the 31 days of March. A sudden flush could not be utilised ; moreover,
year 6 exteI11 ^ 0 ' ,servatlons ma y show that this abnormal supply cannot be expected every
The sowing time for wheat is stated by Mr. Ward to be from October to January the
supply ,s then low, which may hm.t the extent of the areas which can be cropped, and this is a
further justification for the low duty of 150 acres per cusec which I have adopted for the Rabi.
Burjfk/n—^ Khar ' f 0r ° P ’ Mr ' Ward expla!ns that tUe Helmand was dry below Chahar
1902 for 70 days— 14 th July to 22 nd September
1862 „ 40 „
1846 „ 22 „
That is, once in 19 years, it may be expected to run dry for about U months during the hot
weather crop. To deprive hot weather crops of water for 1 * months would result fn their all