‘REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY, FOR THE YEAR 1919-20’ [‎301r] (149/192)

1919 - 1920 .] PUBLIC WORKS (IRRIGATION). ^ 217
some anxiety for some time regarding the supply to the Jamrao and Mithrao
which are the most important canals of this system, but the situation steadily
improved after the month of December. The total area cultivated under the
Jamrao canal during the year was about 284,000 acres, which shows an
increase of over 50,000 acres on the area of the previous year as well as on the
average area of the last three years. The water-supply in the Mithrao canal
was insufficient at the beginning of the Kharif season, but the rainfall at the
end of July, and the judicious distribution of the supply available, improved the
situation considerably. The canal and its branches worked well on the whole.
The area of cultivation under this canal during the year under report was about
108,600 acres. This was slightly in excess of the area of the previous year but
was less than the average of the previous three years.
The Hiral and Thar canals also worked satisfactorily. Although the supply Hirai, Thar and
was good, rotations had to be resorted to with a view to ensure proper distribu- Khipr0 canals -
tion. The area of cultivation on the former showed a small increase on the last
year’s and the average figures. The supply in the Khipro canal, which flows
during the period of inundation only, was unsatisfactory and though the area
of irrigation was a little more than that of the previous year, it was less than
the average.
Among the canals taking off direct from the Indus the Nasrat, Dad, Fuleli N a sr at, Dad, Fuieii
and Hasanali canals are the most important. They are all inundation ? canals. andHasanah canals ’
The supply received by the Nasrat canal was the most satisfactory received
during the past ten years. The banks of this canal, which usually breach in
miles 14 to 16, where the canal passes through depressions, were raised and
strengthened during the year and the construction of a new head to Madad and
Lundo wahs was in progress. This new head will convert a large area of lift
land into flow and also bring most of the waste and fallow lands under cultiva
tion. The Dad canal had also a very good supply throughout the season and the
Ren distributary, which is fed by this canal, worked satisfactorily. The supply
in the Fuleli canal was very good, but crops in the low lands suffered on account
of heavy rainfall which caused flooding. The cultivation on these three canals,
though a little more than last year’s, was less than the average. The Hasanali
canal worked satisfactorily, but the t ul reach, which is an old and tortuous
channel, received a deficient supply. The area cultivated under this canal
during the year was more than last year’s and also more than the average.
There are numerous small canals in the Hyderabad Canals district. They Other small canals,
all worked satisfactorily. The head regulator on the Great Marak canal refer
red to in the last year’s report was completed during the year. The cultivation
in the whole of the Hyderabad Canals district for the year was about 258,000
acres against 235,000 acres of the last year, and 272,000 acres, the average
of the previous three years.
Chapter IV.
PRODUCTION
AND
DISTRIBUTION.
D .—Indus River Commission.
The Indus River Commission is entrusted with the entire management and
control of the river Indus. Its staff have to carry out the necessary surveys,
construct and maintain the river bunds, which protect the country from the
high floods in the river, and to take velocity, silt and discharge observations of
die river. The results of all their observations are printed in the Indus River
bommission Records. The total expenditure incurred by the Commission
uring the year was about 1|- lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. .
The plans and estimates for the Sukkur Barrage were completed during the Sukkur Barrs
year and the whole project, including the canals, has since been submitted to Pl ° iect '
^ Government of India for sanction. This project comprises the following
works: — (i) A barrage about a mile in length across the river Indus below the
(ii) two large perennial canal systems taking off from above
c barrage—one on the left bank of the river running south from Rohri to
yderabad and the other on the right bank of the river superseding the whole of
e existing inundation canals between the Rahuja head of the Sukkur canal and
6 wan and (hi) a large new supply channel which is also to take off imme-
ia eiy above the barrage and to feed the Eastern Nara river, the remodelling and
s neral improvement of the whole of the canal systems dependent on the Eastern