OTHER DEPARTMENTS

IRRIGATION AND POWER DEPARTMENT

The Irrigation and Power Department deals with major and medium irrigation works, hydro-electric projects, minor irrigation works, water-supply and drainage works and flood control works.

Organisation.—The department is headed by the Secretary to the Government who is assisted by Chief Engineers in charge of major and medium irrigation projects and water-supply and development schemes in the State and the Director of Minor Irrigation in charge of minor irrigation projects in the State. The Superintending Engineer who is responsible to the Chief Engineer and the Director of Minor Irrigation for the works in their respective spheres is placed in charge of a circle normally consisting of four to five divisions. The division is headed by the Executive Engineer. Each division normally comprises four to five subdivisions. The sub-division which is placed in charge of a sub-divisional officer is divided further into four to five sections each in charge of an overseer. The section is generally formed for maintenance of about 2.023.430 hectares (5,000 acres) of irrigated land or where capital expenditure of Rs. one to two lakhs is involved.

Superintending Engineer—The Superintending Engineer, Nagpur, is in charge of Malguzari Tanks Division. Minor Irrigation Division, Bhandara and Minor Irrigation Division, Chandrapur.

Tanks are the major source of irrigation irrigating about 78.18 per cent, of the net irrigated area in the district. Canals irrigate another 18.18 per cent. wells 1.95 per cent and the remaining 1.68 per cent of the area is irrigated by other sources.

Irrigation Projects.— Following are some of the irrigation projects under the control of the Irrigation and Power Department.

Channa Tank : This is the ex-malguzari Tank situated about 4½ miles south-west of Lakhani. It was constructed at a cost of Rs. 1,10,858 and commands an area of 415 acres.

Lawari Tank: This Tank is situated between two villages, viz., Lawari and Umari. The construction of the tank was started in 1964 and the work was completed at a cost of Rs. 1,40,628. The area commanded by the tank is 680 acres.

Kawatha Tank: The construction of the Kawatha tank was started in 1965 and the project was completed at a cost of Rs. 1,14.958. The area commanded by the tank is 296 acres.

Umari Tank: Umari Tank is situated in the neighbourhood of Umari village. Its construction was started in the year 1965 and was completed at a cost of Rs. 1,28,234. The area commanded by the tank is 432 acres.

Kanheri Tank : This is the ex-malguzari Tank situated about 6 miles south-west of Manegaon village. The catchment area of the tank is 670 acres. Besides the above projects there are the following tanks constructed in the district.

Mahuli, Indora, Rengepar, Dahegaon, Pimpalgaon, Zalia, Kohalgaon, Mendha. Khairee, Kokodi, Kati, Tedha, Lendezari, Ekodi, Pindkepar, Khandala, Chaparal and Chinchalband.

Bag River Project : This project is under construction and the estimated cost of the project is Rs. 1559.78 lakhs. Its maximum storage capacity is 7.200 (MCFT).

Itiadoh Project.: The Itiadoh Project is under construction The estimated cost of the project is Rs. 908.14 lakhs. It has a storage capacity of 10,000 (MCFT)

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