‘REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY, FOR THE YEAR 1919-20’ [‎303r] (153/192)

1919 - 1920 .] PUBLIC WORKS (IRRIGATION). 221
The water impounded in the half completed reservoir has made a certain
amount of irrigation possible. A large sugar factory An East India Company trading post. , owned by the Belapur
Company, has already started operations near Belapur Bailway Station and
w ill eventually bring 2,000 acres under sugarcane every year, out of 6 000 acres
which the Company have acquired.
Chapter IV.
PRODUCTION
AND
DISTRIBUTION.
The Nira Bight Bank canal is another protective work under construction Nira
This irrigation work will, when completed, be the largest in the Deccan and canal -
will mainly benefit the western portion of the Sholapur collectorate which is
liable to famine. The project comprises the construction of a large dam at
Bhatghar to replace the existing dam, as stated in the description of the Nira
Left Bank canal, so that the storage will be increased from 5,300 to 24 000
million cubic feet, thus providing a supply to both the old Left Bank and ’ the
New Bight Bank canals. The New Right Bank canal will be 88 miles long
up to Piliv in the Sholapur district and it is likely that the canal will be extended
by twenty miles so that it may serve further large areas in Sholapur district.
Additional storage reservoirs on the River Nira may be required in the course
of time so that the whole of the lands in the Nira Valley may eventually be
irrigated. The whole scheme is estimated to cost 4 crores of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. .
Work on the Nira Right Bank canal was started in 1912. The progress
in the past has been rather slow, due mainly to conditions arising out of the
war, but recently progress has been better and it is hoped that irrigation may
be possible in 1923. The cost of the project sanctioned by the Secretary of
State amounts to Rs. 2,57,72,499 but a revised project is now under preparation.
The expenditure on these works during the year was about Rs. 18,86,000,"
bringing the total outlay to Rs. 1611 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees . The storage at Bhatghar provides
sufficient head and discharge to produce electrical energy of over 3,000 horse
power at the foot of the dam. A part of this energy is already being utilized
for driving all the machinery used on the construction work and for lighting.
Right Bank
The special irrigation district was formed a few years ago for scientific Scientific
investigations connected with irrigation, especially regarding the water-logging ex P erimen ^
and salt-efflorescense occurring in areas under the Deccan canals. The
experiments made near Baramati have proved that the worst affected lands
can be regenerated at a comparatively small cost; but on the principle that
prevention is better than cure the question of protecting land from deterioration
is receiving serious attention. Thus while in old canal-irrigated areas the work
consists of reclamation, in the new areas it takes mainly the form of preventive
measures. The work therefore spreads itself over the Nira Left Bank, Mutha,
Godavari and Pravara canals which are either fully established or have
lately come into operation. It also extends to the areas under the Nira Bight
Bank canal now under construction. A sub-soil survey of the whole area is
now in progress.
In addition to the regeneration of agricultural lands, the Executive
Engineer, Special Irrigation District, has been carrying out various experiments
connected with irrigation and of these may be mentioned the use of sewage
effluent for the manuring of crops. The question as to how to dispose of the
effluent from the sewage works of Poona City resulted in the establishment
°i a farm on which experiments are being conducted to ascertain the best
means of utilizing effluent for the irrigation and manuring of crops. The
r esults have been very successful and cultivators now appreciate the manurial
value of the effluent.
The outlay on repairs and improvements to second class tanks during the Second class works,
unted to about Bs. 16,000. An interesting feature of these works is
at the irrigation is run on communal lines and managed by the people them-
e ves, a combined land and water assessment being levied.
The rain and river gauging was continued as usual. An additional inves- Kam and River
Ration was started during the year, viz., the measurement of silt containedg au g in g a ^ m ea s ure-
^ the water of certain of the rivers, as the proportion of silt has an important meu ° £1 in rivei& *
earmg on i rr ig a ti 0 nal problems. The results are published in the
of su PpBes of water available for irrigation works, etc.’ for the