'REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY, FOR THE YEAR 1907-1908' [‎16v] (31/137)

Southern
Division.
Sind.
xx BOMBAY ADMINISTRATION REPORT. [1907-1908.
the failure of the rabi rains and consequent demand for irrigation. In the
Nasik and Ahmednagar Irrigation District further substantial progress was
made with the dam at Chankapur, the Girna Left Bank Canal, and th*
Waghad Tank. The expenditure on these three works totalled over Rs. 3 j- Idkhs.
On the Godaveri Canal Project, the most important irrigation work now in hand,
which is intended to irrigate a total area of 61,000 acres in the Nasik and Ahmed-
nagar Collect orates, nearly six lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees were expended during the year, out of
a total estimated expenditure of 95J lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees . Owing to lack of funds little
progress could be made with the Bravara Project m Ahmednagar. IVork was
commenced on a scheme for stopping percolation on the Mutha Canal near
Poona City. Repairs to Second Class Irrigation Works in the Nasik and
Ahmednagar and West Kh&ndesh Districts entailed an expenditure of over half
a lakh One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees . The block system of irrigation introduced on the Nira Canal continued
to give good results.
On the First Class Irrigation Works, the most important of which are in
the Satara, Belgaum and Dharwar Districts, the total area irrigated was 9 per
cent., and the revenue assessed 13 per cent., below the decennial average.
This was the result of a decrease in area on the Krishna and Gokak Canals, due
to copious and timely rainfall in the kharif season. On the other hand, there
was a material increase of about 7000 acres in the area irrigated by Second Class
Tanks in this Division. A sum of Rs. 91,000 was spent on repairs to these.
Rainfall was good, but the inundation exceedingly poor, being characterised
by a late rise and an early fall. Although, with one or two exceptions, all the
canals worked satisfactorily, the deficiency of the water-supply necessarily
led to a very heavy decrease in the irrigated area, and great damage to crops.
This was the case both in the Right Bank and Left Bank Divisions, but the los&
due to a poor inundation is greater in the former than in the latter, where no
less than a third of the cultivation is by lift. On several canals distribution by
rotation was resorted to at the end of the season as a means of eking out the
supply. There was a breach on the Sukkur Begari Bund, which might have
been serious had the inundation been of normal strength. As it was, the
revenue derived from the flooded land will probably considerably exceed the
loss due to the destruction of kharif crops. Topographical and hydrographical
surveys, silt experiments, and general scientific work were carried out as usual
by the Indus River Commission.
The area irrigated by all classes of works in Sind was 2,7^5,738 acres against
3,487,653 acres in the previous year, and 3.349,488 acres in the year 19054.908.
The gross assessed revenue amounted to Rs. 69,25,243 the corresponding fio-ure^
for 1906-1907 and 1905-1906 being Rs. 85,49,428 and Rs. 81,51,376. ° °
Though there was abundance of water in the Indus it was at too low a level
to give the Sind canals the supply required and the fact that the area irrigated
was 7 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of acres less, and the gross assessed revenue 16 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees less than in
the preceding year is a clear indication of the need for means of raisin°* the
water of a poor inundation the few feet necessary to supplv the canals.
Surveys and the preparation of plans and estimates for projects to provide
such means of giving assured supply to half Sind were in progress durino* the
year and included survey and design for a barrage at Sukkur, for a Ri»kt Bank
Canal from Sukkur to Sehwan, for a Left Bank Canal from Rohri to Ryder
abaci, and for improvements and extensions of the canals on the Eastern Nara
ystem on the Left Bank. The total area commanded is about 7 million acres
Good progress was made in the preparation of the plans and estimates for these
great projects.