'REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY, FOR THE YEAR 1914-1915' [‎222v] (114/150)

Chapter IV.
PRODUCTION
AND
distribution.
Erosion.
Dredger “ Mudlark. ”
Sukkur Barrage.
Plantations.
Irrigation of cotton
crops.
The Hathmati Canal
and the Khari
system.
I anks in Kaira.
78
BOMBAY ADMINISTRATION REPORT.
channels.
washed down by the river, causing obstruction to navigation in the mam cna
ging was also carried out in the Eastern Narafrom 6th February to 15th Marclu 618 ' Sna S'
Heavy erosion occurred at mile 5/0 of the Kashmor bund and at miles 0/ ^ a’
the Sukkur-Begari bund, the maximum rate of the erosion being 1,180 feet f ^
900 feet per week respectively. ’ ^ 00 ‘ eet and
No clearance work was done this year by the dredger “ Mudlark ” r
required to increase the efficiency of the dredge has been arranged for in p 61 "! 3 ' 111 ^ ear
owing to heavy pressure of work entailed on the firms at home on account of H ^ : but ’
not be ready for some time. On arrival it will be fitted to the dredge at Kotri ^ ^ ll wil1
Further investigations were made in connection with the question as to the
the increased irrigation in the Punjab is having upon the river supply at Sukkur
Surveys were also made for the selection of a new barrage site below the S IT
and lines for the Feft and Right Bank Canals to lead from this site to join the 0 p Ur ^ 0 h -
alignments. These surveys proved satisfactory, and at a meeting at Sukkur^f R ^
Irrigation Engineers with the Inspector-General of Irrigation it was unanimou < 1 >
that the preparation of new plans and estimates should be strongly recomme ]
barrage below the Sukkur Gorge and for a canal on each bank. The Government f I 1
have been addressed accordingly. 0 nc ' ia
§ e i
F. —Miscellaneous.
The nurseries and gardens are all in good condition.
The existing plantations on canals and bunds were well cared for New trees
planted in all the districts in the Indus Left Bank Division on various canals and bund
they are all thriving. 1 S ana
Efforts are being made to increase the plantations in the Right Bank Division e
in the Ghar Canals District. The poor state of these in the Ghar Canals District is no doubt
due to the poor quality of the soil and the want of wells in the compounds of the inspection
bungalows. This matter is receiving the special attention of the Executive Engineer ^
Cotton is grown only on the left bank of the Indus. No Egyptian cotton was grown
The number of waterings given to indigenous cotton was 7 for lift lands and 6 for flow lands
in the Nasrat Canals District. The interval between waterings on lift lands was from 10 to
15 days and in case of flow lands 15 to 27 days, and the waterings continued till 26th
September.
On other inundation canals the number of waterings were from 3 to 10 times ending
with August or October. 6
In the Jamrao Canal District the number of waterings given varied from 6to 11 for lift
lands and from 5 to 12 for flow lands and the last waterings were between 12th September
and 5th December.
III. —Deccan and Gujara't.
A.— Northern Division.
Irrigation in the Northern Division is done mainly by means of small tanks or reservoirs
dependent on local rainfall, but there is one large canal system in the Ahmedabad District,
In the year 1914-15 the rainfall was extraordinarily heavy in Ahmedabad, viz., 40 inches
against an average of 29 inches. In other parts the rainfall was sufficient.
(i) First Class Irrigation Works.
Ihese canals provide water for lands in Ahmedabad and Kaira. The Hathmati Canal is
fed by the river of the same name. Besides irrigating lands immediately under its command,
the canal supplies water to the Bokh reservoir for storage, and also to the Bhujwa channel which
flows into the Khari river, thus feeding the Khari Cut Canal and Khari sluices in an area of
ancient irrigation, there are some small tanks in this area too but the principal one depend
ent on the Khari Cut is the Chandola.
The Hathmati had an excellent flow lasting from June to the end of March. The Bokh
reservoir was filled once and the small Chandola tank was filled nearly three times during the
season. As a consequence of this good supply and the excellent management of the 0 cer
in chaige of Gujarat irrigation, even the last year’s figures were beaten and 21,5°° acr ^'^, re
irrigated yielding a gross revenue of Rs. 1,13,000. This return is more than doube e
average. The principal crop is rice, about 16,000 acres, and there are 3,000 acres of pu^es.
The Khari Cut extension project was completed and will be useful in years of & oo
supply. 1
1 ran j a -Nagrama tanks can usually only get a very poor supply as they depend U P
a feeder channel, having no catchment of their own. This year no water came to them,
the Wangroh, Savli and Saiat tanks all filled and irrigated 3,500 acres with Ks. HA
gross revenue as compared with less than 900 acres last year. ^
The special repairs necessitated by last year’s breaching of these tanks ha\e
satisfactorily completed.