AGRICULTURE & IRRIGATION

IRRIGATION

The rainfall being scanty and uneven in the district, irrigation through wells, tanks, bandharas and medium and minor irrigation projects occupies an important place in the agrarian economy. Lift irrigation from rivers and wells through the installation of oil-engines has also benefited agriculture in the district. Fields are irrigated at frequent intervals. The interval which varies from eight to fifteen days depends upon the type of soil, requirement of crops and the season.

In 1961-62 the total number of wells used for irrigation in the district was 31,384 and the net area irrigated by wells was 33,898.5 hectares (83,700 acres). State assistance in the form of loans upto the tune of Rs. 41.31 lakhs was sanctioned to the cultivators to construct new wells as well as to carry out repairs to old wells from 1961 to 1963.

At the end of the Second Five-Year Plan, four irrigation projects with a total potential of 6,631.875 hectares (16,375 acres) were completed. Agriculturists are now installing oil-engines on a large scale. The total number of such oil-engines in the district in 1961-62 was 721. Financial assistance of Rs. 28.25 lakhs in the shape of loans and subsidies was also given to the cultivators for installing 743 pumping sets during the period from 1961 to 1963.

Minor irrigation provides another important source of irrigation. It includes anicuts which are built across small rivers. These anicuts. are under the supervision of the Zilla Parishad, Bhir. In all, ten anicuts costing Rs. 98,895 were constructed from 1955 to 1960. These bandharas have benefited Bhir tahsil by bringing under irrigation 294.435 hectares (727 acres).

Whereas Table No. 22 indicates the source of water-supply and the area irrigated in the district in 1961-62, Table No. 23 indicates the area under food crops and non-food crops irrigated in each tahsil during the same period.

TABLE No. 22

† SOURCES OF WATER-SUPPLY AND AREA IRRIGATED (TAHSILWISE) IN BHIR DISTRICT, 1961-62

†An account of irrigation projects in the district is given separately.

*Figures in brackets indicate area in acres, while those without in hectares.

TABLE No. 23

AREA UNDER FOOD AND NON-FOOD CROPS, IRRIGATED (TAHSILWISE) IN BHIR DISTRICT, 1961-62

*Figures in brackets indicate area in acres while those without in hectares.

Bhandaras and tanks provide another important source of irrigation and are built across small rivers and streams. Their details in respect of location, area irrigated and their short description etc., are given below.

Bendsura Project

The Bendsura dam is constructed across the river Bendsura, a tributary of Godavari about 3 furlongs from the village Pali in Bhir district and about 9.654 km. (6 miles) from Bhir town.

The construction of this project was taken up in hand in 1949 and completed in November, 1955 i.e. during the First Five-Year Plan period. The total estimated cost of the project was Rs. 58.82 lakhs. It is a composite dam of masonry-cum-earth, having one head sluice for irrigation and another for water-supply and the canal system of 20.116km. (12½ miles). The spill way is 106.68m. (350') long. The maximum height of the dam above the ground level is 20.422 and 21.946 m. (67' and 72') above the deepest foundation level. The total length of the composite dam is 686.250 m. (2,250') and that of the earthen dam is 236.22 m. (775').

The catchment area of the project is 188.422 km2 (72.75 sq. miles) and dependable run off is 18.2078 million m3 (643 M.Cft.). The gross capacity of the reservoir is 13.6176 million m3 (489 M.Gft.). The live storage for irrigation is 10.2196 million m3 (369 M.Cft.). The sill of the water-supply sluice is 3.048 m. (10') below that of irrigation sluice and capacity between sill of irrigation sluice and water-supply sluice is 2.0275 million m3 (76.84 M.Cft.). The project will also supply drinking water to Bhir town and for which about 2.0020 m'llion m3 (77 M.Cft.) of water has been reserved.

The gross commanded area of this project is 4,657.5 hectares (11,500 acres) and the proposed irrigation under this project is as shown below: —

 

(i) kharif	1,417.5 heccares (3,500 acres).
(ii) rabi	1,134 hectares (2,800 acres).
(iii) cotton	607.5 hectares (1,500 acres).
(iv) rabi paddy	60.75 hectares (150 acres).
(v) sugarcane	30.375 hectares (75 acres).
(vi) bagait	121.5 hectares (300 acres).
Total	3,371.625 hectares (8,325 acres)

The lands of the following villages come under the commanded area of this project: —

 

(1) Pali	(5) Palwan
(2) Warwanti	(6) Talegaon
(3) Dhanora	(7) Sidod.
(4) Bhir town

The water was first let out for irrigation in 1952-53. The figure of area, irrigated under this project are as under: —

The major crops irrigated under this project are jowar, wheat, gram, mung, cotton, rice, etc.

The water rates under this tank are Rs. 10 (O.S.) for lands of Bhir town and Rs. 9 (O.S.) for lands of other six villages mentioned above irrespective of crops irrigated.

Kamli Project

The construction of Kamli project in Bhir district was taken up in the First Five-Year Plan and completed in the Second Five-Year Plan. The project was estimated to cost Rs. 19.99 lakhs.

This is an earthen dam constructed across the river Kamli, a tributary of the Sina river and sub-tributary of the Krishna river. The dam is situated near the village Dhanora in Ashti tahsil. The length of the dam is 1,098 m. (3,600') and its maximum height above the ground level is 12.20 m. (40'). The top width is 3.04 m. (10'). The total length of the waste weir is 190.60 m. (625') The dam has one irrigation sluice with one screw gearing shutter sluice on the right flank. The irrigation channel is 9.65 km. (6 miles) long with a carrying capacity of 16.25 cusecs.

The catchment area of the tank is 50 sq. miles and available yield is 6.7961 million m³ (240 M. Cft.). The gross capacity of the tank is 3.6925 million m³ (134 M. Cft.) and live storage is 2.8855 million m³ (109.50 M. Cft.).

The gross commanded area of the project is 1,178.55 hectares (2,910 acres) and area proposed to be irrigated is 972 hectares 2,400 acres) i.e., 486 hectares (1,200 acres) of kharif crops and 486 hectares (1,200 acres) of rabi crops.

The lands of the following villages in Ashti tahsil will be irrigated by this project: (1) Dhanora, (2) Sabarkheda, (3) Sirapur, (4) Kada.

The head works were completed in September 1957 and canals in 1959. The water was first let out to the fields in 1957-58. The yearwise figures of area irrigated by this tank are as shown below: —

Talwar Project

The construction work of Talwar project in Bhir district was started in the First Five-Year Plan and completed in the Second Five-Year Plan.

This is an earthen dam constructed across the river Talwar, a tributary of the Sina river and sub-tributary of the Krishna river near the village Devigawan in Ashti tahsil. The estimated cost of this project was Rs. 14.24 lakhs. The total length of the earthen dam is 1,174.250 m. (3,850') and its maximum height above the ground level is 13.106 m. (43'). The top width is 3.048 m. (10') and the length of the waste weir is 146.304 m. (480'). The dam has one head sluice on the right flank. The length of the canal is 9.656 km. (6 miles) with a carrying capacity of 872 cusecs.

The catchment area of this project is 89.096 km2 (34.40 square miles) and the total dependable yield is 4.6156 million m3 (163 M. Cft.). The gross capacity of the tank is 3.7661 million m3 (133.4 M. Cft.) and live storage is 2.8713 million m3 (114.32 M. Cft.),

The commanded area of project is 81 hectares (200 acres) and the sanctioned crop pattern is as detailed below: —

 

(i) kharif	283.500 hectares (700 acres).
(ii) rabi	324 hectares (800 acres).
(iii) garden	60.750 hectares (150 acres).
Total	668.250 hectares (1,650 acres).

The lands of the Walunj and Pargaon villages in Ashti ta come under the commanded area of this project.

The water was first let out to the fields in 1959-60 and figures of area irrigated are as shown helow: —

Rooti Tank

The construction of Rooti tank in Bhir district was taken up by the Ex-Hyderabad Government in 1937 as a scarcity measure and was completed in 1939. It was built at a total cost of Rs. 5.36 lakhs.

This is an earthen dam constructed at the confluence of Bokdi and Kasari streams near the village Rooti in Ashti tahsil. Both the streams are tributaries of the Sina river in the Krishna basin.

The catchment area of the tank is 148.925 km.² (57. 5 sq. miles) and dependable yield from the catchment area is 11.4116 million m³ (403 M. Cft.). The gross capacity of the reservoir is 7.9486 million m³ (287.40 M. Cft.) and that of the live storage is 6 5186 million m³ (232 M. Cft.). The length of the dam is 1,509.75 m. (4,950') and the maximum height is 14.18 m. (46.5 ft.). The top width is 3.048 m. (10 ft.). The total length of the F.O.F. and submerged weir of the dam is 205.27 m. (673 ft.). The dam has a screw gearing shutter type sluice for irrigation on the left flank. The length of the irrigation channel is 17.70 km. (11 miles) with a carrying capacity of 30 cusecs.
The commanded area of the tank is 2,673 hectares (6,600 acres) and the area proposed to be irrigated is 1,863 hectares (4,600 acres) i.e.—

 

	Hectares	Acres
(1) kharif	405	1,000
(2) rabi	1,458	3,600

The lands of the following villages in Ashti tahsil are irrigated under this tank—(1) Rooti, (2) Pargaon, (3) Chikli, (4) Takalsingi, (5) Mangrol, (6) Khanapur, (7) Sangvi and (8) Khadkat.

The water was first let out to the fields in 1939-40. The full settled ayacut under this tank is 1,863 hectares (4,600 acres). But at present the settled ayacut of this scheme is only 104.06 hectares (4,052 acres). The maximum area irrigated under this tank was 394.482 hectares (3,414 acres) in the year 1953-54. The area irrigated under this tank after 1946, when the construction work of the tank was over, ranged between 972 to 377 hectares (2,400 to 3,400 acres).

The major crops irrigated are rabi crops such as jowar, wheat, gram, etc.

No separate water rates are charged in respect of this tank. The lands under the project have been declared as wet lands and the consolidated assessment according to the survey number on the basis of the part of the land and other factors has been fixed by the settlement department of the Ex-Hyderabad government. It is compulsory for the land owner whose lands are declared as settled ayacut to pay the consolidated assessment. The average consolidated assessment of this tank is Rs. 18,145 per year.

Sindphana Project

The Sindphana project is one of the medium irrigation projects included in the Second Five-Year Plan and carried over in the Third Five-Year Plan. The project envisages the construction of an earthen dam across the river Sindphana, a tributary of the Godavari river, near the village Hingalwadi in Patoda tahsil.

The preliminary works such as approach roads, camp buildings, etc., were started in 1959. The work on the main dam was started in April 1960, and was completed in March 1963. The total cost of this project is Rs. 53.68 lakhs. The length of this earthen dam is 185.475 m. (5,395'). The top width is 3.658 m. (12') and the maximum height is 19.963 m. (62.5 ft.). The total length of the F.O.F. weir is 350.52 m. (1,150 ft.).

The dam has two irrigation sluices on either flank. The length of the canal is 30.577 km. (19 miles) with a carrying capacity of 544 cusecs.

The catchment area of the project is 239.575 km.² (92.50 sq. miles). The total dependable yield is 16.1463 million m³ (572 M. Cft.) and the gross capacity of the tank is 12.4736 million m³ (445 M. Cft.). The live storage is 10.7860 million m3 (389 M. Cft.).

The commanded area of the project is 3547.80 hectares (8,760 acres) and the proposed irrigation under this project is 2,835 hectares (7,000 acres) i.e.: —

 

	Hectares	Acres
(i) kharif	1,417.5	3,500
(ii) rabi	1,417.5	3,500

The following village in Patoda tahsil will be benefited by this project:—

(1) Gomalwada.

(2) Rupur.

(3) Rakshasbhuwan.

(4) Sirut

(5) Yellam.

(6) Bavi.

(7) Nandevali.

(8) Arvi.

(9) Taratgaon.

Kada Project

The Kada project is one of the medium irrigation schemes taken up during Second Five-Year Plan. The project envisages the construction of an earthen dam across the river Kadi in the Krishna basin near the village Nimbodi in Ashti tahsil.

The work on the main dam was started in July 1961, and was completed in March 1964. The cost of the project is Rs. 52.19 lakhs. The length of the earthen dam is 1689.7 m. (5,54c) and its maximum height is 15.55 m. (51'). There is one head sluice on the left flank of the dam. The waste weir is 384.3,m. (1,260') long. The total length of the canal is 22.531 km. (14 miles) with a carrying capacity of 44 cusecs.

The catchment area of the project is 161.305 km.² (62.28 sq. miles). The total dependable yield from the catchment is 13.0257 million m3 (460.9 m. Cft.). The gross capacity of the reservoir is 9.9251 million m3 (335 M. Cft.) and live storage is 8.5064 million m3 (304.28 m. Cft.).

The commanded area of the project is 4856.232 hectares (12,000 acres) out of which an area of 2,835 hectares (7,000 acres) will be brought under irrigation under this project as detailed below: —

 

	Hectares	Acres
(1) kharif	1,417.5	3,500
(2) rabi	1,417.5	3,500

The following villages will be benefited by this project: —

 

(i)	Nimbodi	(vi)	Chobe Nimgaon
(ii)	Devi Nimbgaon	(vii)	Sheri Khurd
(iii)	Kada	(viii)	Kelsangvi
(iv)	Kerul	(xi)	Dherdi
(v)	Sheri Buzuga	(x)	Shiral

The construction of the project is in progress.

Mohasangvi Project

The Mohasangvi project is one of the medium irrigation projects taken up in the Second Five-Year Plan. The project envisages the construction of an earthen dam across the river Manjra, a tributary of the Godavari near the village Mohasangvi in Patoda tahsil.

The preliminary works such as construction of colony buildings, approach roads, etc., have been completed in the Second Five-Year Plan. The work on the main dam was started from May, 1962. The estimated cost of the project is Rs. 38,46 lakhs. The length of the earthen dam is 750.3 m. (2,460') and its maximum height is 16.17 m. (53'). The dam has one head regulator on the right flank. The main canal is 16.093 km. (10 miles) long with carrying capacity of 32.5 cusecs. The length of the waste weir is 195.2 m. (640').

The catchment area of the reservoir is 79.77 km². (30.80 sq. miles) and the total expected dependable yield is 7.9071 million m³ (281.5 M. Cft.). The gross capacity of the reservoir is 6.5356 million m³ (238 M. Cft.) and live storage is 5.6832 million m³ (207.6 M. Cft.).

The commanded area of the project is 2430 hectares (6,000 acres) out of which 1944 hectares (4,800 acres) will be brought under irrigation as shown below:—

 

	Hectares	Acres
(i) kharif	972	2,400
(ii) rabi	972	2,400

The following villages will be benefited by this project: —

 

(1) Patoda	(3) Digul
(2) Pargaon	(4) Jategaon

Mehekari Project

The Mehekari project is one of the medium irrigation projects taken up in the Second Five-Year Plan. The project envisages the construction of an earthen dam across the river Mehekari, a tributary of Sina river and sub-tributary of Krishna river near the village Pimpalgaon in Ashti tahsil. The length of the dam is 1107.15 m. (3,630') and its height is 20.13 m. (66'). The dam has got two head regulators on either flanks of the dam. The length of the right flank canal is 20.922 km. (13 miles) with carrying capacity of 59.85 cusecs while the length of the left flank canal is 8.047 km. (five miles) with carrying capacity of 14 cusecs. The length of the waste weir is 182.88 m. (600'). The total estimated cost of this project is Rs 57.17 lakhs.

The catchment area of the project is 338.772 km² (130.8 sq. miles). The gross capacity of the reservoir will be 15.0136 million m³ (532.12 M. Cft.) and live storage will be 11.9213 million m³ (42069 M. Cft.).

The commanded area of the project is 5,470 hectares (14,000 acres) and proposed irrigation under this project is 4050 hectares (10,000 acres) as detailed below:

 

	Acres	Hectares
(i) kharif	4,500	1,822.50
(ii) rabi	4,500	1,882.50
(iii) kharif rice	300	121.50
(iv) two seasonals	400	162.00
(v) khapli wheat	300	121.50

The following villages in Ashti tahsil will be benefited by this Project:—

 

(i) Pimpalgaon	(viii) Waki
(ii) Sarate Vadgaon	(ix) Kanadi Buzurg
(iii) Nandra	(x) Pimpal Shette
(iv) Hingani	(xi) Daithan
(v) Rui	(xii) Kanadi Khurd
(vi) Fate Wadgaon	(xiii) Takli.
(vii) Shiral