'REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY, FOR THE YEAR 1914-1915' [‎223v] (116/150)

Chapter IV.
production
AND
DISTRIBUTION.
M has wad Tank
Canals ; Girna Left
Bank Canal.
Mutha Canals.
Other works.
Godavari Canal
project.
80
BOMBAY ADMINISTRATION REPORT.
[1914.
will at the
have been framed by which the wastage will be reduced and the cultivation
time be improved. Sugarcane occupies close upon one-fifth of the area irria
most profitable crop to the owner and yields a good revenue to Government
cherished possession of each man who owns a block of irrigation on the N
ira.
It form.
s the
are now being made with the advice of the Agricultural Department in aii Tmpro'T 1 "^ 8
of sugarcane cultivation, by which it is hoped that the area of cultivation may b metllod
considerably without a greater expenditure of water. The block leases will terminV^ 611 ^
and careful surveys are in progress for the selection of a set of permanent block 6 m 1917
, are as on
11 tor guarantee.
which all the necessary improvements will have to be carried out as a conditio
ing the supply of water for a long term of years.
In connection with waterlogging a remedy was sought in the curtailment of can 1 • •
tion to 10 months on certain lands v and the use of pumps or lifts for the remaining-
This experiment has so far proved a failure because of the very heavy expense of 1110 - 118,
water even with short lifts ; the cultivators owning sugarcane would willingly p av raiSlng
Rs. 30 an acre for the two months for flow water. An additional objection was thaR 1 ^
cases this subsoil supply was found to be brackish and unsuitable for irrigation y s S ° me
of reducing the water level in the waterlogged soil this pumping has also proved a f? 8
where it was most wanted, namely in retentive soils, because of the steepness of the
depletion. This means that the water level would by pumping be rapidly reduced mth° ne S*
but not much affected in the surrounding area at a short distance from the well. e " e
The distributaries on this canal system are now being gradually remodelled and If
are being made to control the supply in places by some single form of measurement A
Cippoletti weirs and adjustable outlets. 1
The area irrigated, though not approaching the previous year’s high fio-ure was
satisfactory, being 54,133 acres, yielding a gross revenue of Rs. 5,26,536, which isoverUer
cent, of the capital cost. It has been found that the working expenses of this canal have been
cut down beyond the economical limit, resulting in considerable deterioration of the minor
channels. As the proportion of sugarcane is so high, the rate of maintenance per acre of
irrigation should approximate more to Rs. 3 than Rs. 2 for efficient management, and this
would represent about 2| per cent, on the capital cost.
Of the other protective works in operation the Mhaswad Tank Canals in the Sholapur
District yielded for 6,342 acres of irrigation a gross revenue of less than Rs. 5 per acre and
less than ij per cent, on its capital expenditure. The canals are about 30 years old.
The Girna Canal in Nasik is a new irrigation work and is developing slowly. The
storage work is at Chankapur.
Productive Works.
This is the only important major productive work. It lies in the Poona District, including
under a total cost of 77 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. the expenditure on the Poona water supply, and
yielded this year a total gross revenue of nearly 5 per cent. The area this year was 12,298
acres, which is less than the average.
It is proposed to free this canal system from the Poona Water Supply, the charges and
receipts of which at present form part of the canal accounts. The canal will supply the
water as heretofore at the pumping station, and the Poona Water Supply will be debited
with a charge for the quantity of water taken. Control will remain with Government as
very important purification works are now being undertaken and the distribution has to be
made to all classes of the population including the military.
In connection with the other major and minor works it may be said that the year was
an average one. There are no important facts or problems to be reported regarding any of
these little works.
\b) Works under Construction.
The main object of the Godavari and Pravara schemes is to bring under irrigation the
fertile lands in the Godavari and Pravara valleys of the Ahmednagar District. These areas
are often visited by famine or scarcity, and, without irrigation, afford but a precarious liveli
hood for the cultivators.
T he Godavari scheme, which is the first of the new large protective irrigation projects,
was estimated to cost Rs. 96 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees . Its reservoir (Lake Beale) is in the Igatpuri Taluka 0
the Nasik District It is formed by a long masonry dam on the Darna river opposite
Aswali station on the G. I. P. Railway. The dam can be seen clearly from the railway. T e
lake can hold 8,818 million cubic feet of water, which is let down the river tor 51 miles an
then picked up at the Nandur Madmeshwar weir and passed into the Right and Left an r
Godavari Canals.
The damage done to the masonry at the large sluice openings which was referred to in
last year s report was effectively remedied in May 1915. The damage did not cause any
serious loss of water. As the canals are not yet quite completed and the irrigation is on) 1
process of expanding, the water stored is for the present much in excess of requirem^
The two canals combined can discharge 612 cubic feet per second and command 2 3 T'
acres up to the borders of the Nizam’s territory. To facilitate the discharge of water m
t ie canals a small wall, 3 feet high, has been raised on the weir crest, which provi es a