OTHER DEPARTMENTS

IRRIGATION AND POWER DEPARTMENT

Organisation

At the head of the Irrigation and Power department of the state there are three Chief Engineers in charge of major and medium irrigation works and hydro-electric projects and a Chief Engineer in charge of minor irrigation projects and public health, i.e., water-supply and drainage schemes under the State Sector. Under them are Superintending Engineers each in charge of a Circle consisting of four to five divisions. The Executive Engineers are in charge of divisions consisting of four to five sub-divisions. The sub-divisions are headed by the Sub-Divisional Officers. The sub-divisions are further divided into sections each in charge of an overseer.

Functions

The main functions of the Irrigation and Power department relate to the maintenance of completed irrigation projects, execution of major and medium irrigation works, hydro-electric projects and undertaking of ancillary activities such as surveys and investigations, preparation of master plans, estimates, etc. Execution of Minor irrigation works and public health, water-supply and drainage schemes coming under the State Sector is also entrusted to the department.

Chief Engineers

The Chief Engineers are generally in charge of the execution and overall technical control of various irrigation and power projects throughout the State. The Superintending Engineers come next to the Chief Engineers and are followed by the Executive Engineers, Sub-Divisional Officers and the Overseers in that order in the administrative hierarchy of the department. These officers are responsible to their immediate superiors for the execution and supervision of irrigation and power projects within their respective jurisdictions.

Works in Bhir District

For matters relating to major irrigation project, Bhir district is included in the Marathwada Project Circle II, Aurangabad. The medium irrigation works in the district are executed by the Executive Engineer, Irrigation Division, Bhir. This division consists of the following five sub-divisions:—

(i) Bhir Irrigation sub-division, Bhir.

(ii) Survey Sub-division, Bhir.

(iii) Sindaphana Project Sub-division, Hingalwadi, Patoda tahsil.

(iv) Kada Project Sub-division, Nimbgaon, Ashti tahsil.

(v) Mohe-Sangvi Project Sub-division, Mohe-Sangvi, Patoda tahsil.

The minor irrigation works in the district are in charge of the Executive Engineer, Marathwada Minor Irrigation Division, Aurangabad. Since the formation of the Bhir Zilla Parishad, minor irrigation works irrigating up to 101.171 hectares (250 acres) have been transferred to the Parishad.

The responsibility regarding the survey and investigation of new major irrigation projects in Bhir district and other districts of the Marathwada Region included in the Third Five-Year Plan of the State vests in the Executive Engineer, Irrigation Projects Investigation Division, Aurangabad. He works under the Superintending Engineer, Irrigation Projects Investigation Circle, Poona.

Water-supply and drainage schemes, in Bhir, are executed by the Deputy Engineer, Bhir Water-Supply Sub-division, Bhir. He is responsible to the Executive Engineer, Public Health Works Division, Aurangabad. The preparation of major public health schemes is, however, done by the Executive Engineer, Public Health Project Division, Nagpur.

The following irrigation schemes have been completed so far in the district: —

*Figures in brackets indicate area in acres.

The work on the following medium and minor irrigation works in the district is under progress: —

*Area in hectares; figures in brackets indicate acres.

Third Five-Year Plan Schemes

Jayakwadi Sindphana River Project Stage I, near Rampuri village in Manjlegaon tahsil estimated to have a gross storage of about 2,016 million m.³ (72,000 Mcft.) in the final stage, has been included in the Third Five-Year Plan. The Project is under detailed survey and investigation and a provision of Rs. 100 lakhs has been made for the same purpose in the Third Plan.

In addition, 34 minor irrigation works in the district are proposed to be investigated during the plan period.

Water-works supplying piped-water for Ambejogai town is owned and managed by the town municipality. The Cavalry Line Water-works serving the Civil Hospital and the T. B. Sanatorium is under the control of the department. The water-supply scheme for Bhir town is being executed while the piped-water-supply schemes for Manjlegaon and Dharur are proposed. During 1956—62, 71 wells were constructed by the department, each at an average cost of Rs. 10,090. With the formation of the Zilla Parishads, matters relating to rural health in the district have been transferred to the Bhir Zilla Parishad. Thus planning and execution of all water-supply and drainage schemes' in rural areas, each costing Rs. 5 lakhs and less, became the responsibility of the Zilla Parishad.