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AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION
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IRRIGATION
THE RAINFALL IN KOLHAPUR DISTRICT, though less subject to great variations from year to year is, nevertheless, frequently very unevenly distributed during the latter months of the monsoon (September and October). This time is critical, both for rice and jowar crops. The main justification for irrigation facilities in the district is, therefore, to make good the deficiencies of rainfall in September and October, so as to ensure good crops in all years.
The following table shows the net area irrigated by different sources of irrigation in Kolhapur district:-
TABLE No. 32.
NET AREA IRRIGATED BY DIFFERENT SOURCES OF IRRIGATION IN KOLHAPUR DISTRICT IN 1955-56.
|
Taluka. |
Net Area irrigated by |
Percen-tage
of
net area irrigated
to net area sown. |
Area irrigated more than once in the same year. |
Total gross area of crops irrigated. |
Percentage of total gross irrigated area to total sown area. |
|
Govern-ment Canals. |
Tanks. |
Wells. |
Other Sources. |
Total. |
Ajara |
-- |
41 |
185 |
732 |
958 |
1.4 |
-- |
958 |
1.4 |
Bavada |
-- |
-- |
78 |
850 |
928 |
3.5 |
45 |
973 |
3.5 |
Bhudargad |
-- |
-- |
492 |
3,663 |
4,155 |
8 |
-- |
4,155 |
8 |
Gadhinglaj |
-- |
14 |
1,655 |
1,508 |
3,177 |
3.1 |
15 |
3,192 |
3.1 |
Hatkanangle |
560 |
290 |
7,751 |
3,517 |
12,118 |
10 |
1,222 |
13,340 |
10 |
Kagal |
-- |
371 |
1,209 |
2,859 |
4,439 |
4 |
202 |
4,641 |
4 |
Karvir |
-- |
585 |
3,106 |
10,249 |
13,940 |
12 |
-- |
13,940 |
12 |
Panhala |
-- |
-- |
1,251 |
4,871 |
6,122 |
8 |
-- |
6,122 |
8 |
Radhanagari |
3,170 |
-- |
475 |
2,975 |
6,620 |
10 |
109 |
6,729 |
10 |
Shahuwadi |
-- |
-- |
272 |
5,719 |
5,991 |
8 |
-- |
5,991 |
8 |
Shirol |
-- |
-- |
5,208 |
1,530 |
6,738 |
6 |
-- |
6,596 |
6 |
|
District Total |
3,730 |
1,301 |
21,682 |
38,473 |
65,186 |
7 |
1,593 |
66,779 |
7.2 |
In the year 1955-56, this district had 66,779 acres under irrigation of which 1,593 acres were irrigated more than once. Therefore, the percentage that the total gross irrigated area bears to the total sown area comes to 7.2. The coverage of irrigation seems to have increased only in recent years i.e. after the merger of the former Kolhapur State in the then Bombay State (See the figures given below):-
|
Year. |
Percentage of total gross irrigated area to total cropped area. |
1881* |
2.7 |
1949-50 |
4.1 |
1950-51 |
6.1 |
1951-52 |
6.8 |
1952-53 |
6.7 |
1953-54 |
6.2 |
1954-55 |
6.7 |
1955-56 |
7.2 |
*For Kolhapur State. The following tables show the distribution of irrigated area under food and non-food crops:-
TABLE No. 33.
AREA OF FOOD CROPS IRRIGATED IN EACH TALUKA OF KOLHAPUR DISTRICT IN 1955-56.
|
Taluka. |
Rice. |
Wheat. |
Jowar. |
Maize. |
Ragi or Marua. |
Gram. |
Sugar-cane. |
Potato. |
Miscellan-eous Food Crops. |
Total Food Crops. |
Ajara |
40 |
15 |
-- |
43 |
-- |
-- |
857 |
-- |
-- |
955 |
Bavada |
45 |
2 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
926 |
-- |
-- |
973 |
Bhudargad |
-- |
-- |
-- |
229 |
-- |
-- |
3,925 |
-- |
1 |
4,155 |
Gadhinglaj |
22 |
47 |
-- |
7 |
-- |
-- |
2,980 |
-- |
53 |
3,109 |
Hatkanangle |
2,985 |
1,149 |
-- |
24 |
25 |
197 |
6,725 |
2 |
339 |
11,446 |
Kagal |
-- |
152 |
25 |
66 |
-- |
67 |
4,114 |
-- |
113 |
4,537 |
Karvir |
54 |
593 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
214 |
12,687 |
2 |
330 |
13,880 |
Panhala |
-- |
599 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
5,457 |
-- |
34 |
6,090 |
Radhanagari |
-- |
318 |
-- |
109 |
-- |
-- |
6,212 |
-- |
90 |
6,729 |
Shahuwadi |
-- |
710 |
-- |
2,360 |
-- |
629 |
2,122 |
-- |
170 |
5,991 |
Shirol |
95 |
1,190 |
-- |
55 |
25 |
-- |
2,356 |
-- |
258 |
3,979 |
|
District Total |
3,241 |
4,775 |
25 |
2,893 |
50 |
1,107 |
48,361 |
4 |
1,388 |
61,844 |
TABLE No. 34.
AREA OF NON-FOOD CROPS IRRIGATED IN EACH TALUKA OF KOLHAPUR DISTRICT IN 1955-56.
|
Taluka. |
Jute. |
Chillies. |
Tur-meric. |
Fodder Crops. |
Miscellaneous Non-Food Crops. |
Total Non-Food Crops. |
Total Area under Irrigated Crops. |
Ajara |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
3 |
3 |
958 |
Bavada |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
973 |
Bhudargad |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
4,155 |
Gadhinglaj |
-- |
-- |
19 |
-- |
64 |
83 |
3,192 |
Hatkanangle |
-- |
288 |
1,255 |
72 |
279 |
1,894 |
13,340 |
Kagal |
-- |
-- |
30 |
6 |
68 |
104 |
4,641 |
Karvir |
3 |
2 |
39 |
-- |
16 |
60 |
13,940 |
Panhala |
-- |
-- |
27 |
-- |
5 |
32 |
6,122 |
Radhanagari |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
6,729 |
Shahuwadi |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
5,991 |
Shirol |
-- |
2,021 |
234 |
358 |
146 |
2,759 |
6,738 |
|
District Total |
3 |
2,311 |
1,604 |
436 |
581 |
4,935 |
66,779 |
It is interesting to note that the entire sugarcane grown in the district is taken on irrigated lands. In fact sugarcane occupies about 72 per cent. of the total irrigated land in the district. Out of the remaining 28 per cent., 20 per cent. is under food crops and the rest under non-food crops. About 41 per cent. of total irrigated area is in the talukas of Hatkan-angale and Karvir; next in importance are the talukas of Shirol, Radhanagari, Panhala and Shahuwadi.
Sources of Irrigation.
The following table shows the sources of irrigation in
Kolhapur district:-
TABLE No. 35.
SOURCE OP WATER SUPPLY IN EACH TALUKA OF KOLHAPUR DISTRICT IN 1955-56.
|
Source of Water supply. |
Ajara. |
Bavada. |
Bhudargad. |
Gadhinglaj. |
Hatkanangle. |
Kagal. |
Canals:- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
(a) Government- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
(1) Number |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
5 |
-- |
|
(2) Mileage |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1 |
-- |
Number of other wells used for irrigation purposes only- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
(a) Private- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
(1) Masonry |
117 |
-- |
21 |
264 |
835 |
172 |
|
(2) Non-Masonry |
104 |
47 |
63 |
987 |
1,532 |
855 |
|
(b) Total- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
(1) Masonry |
117 |
-- |
21 |
264 |
835 |
172 |
|
(2) Non-Masonry |
104 |
47 |
63 |
987 |
1,532 |
855 |
|
(c) Total |
221 |
47 |
84 |
1,251 |
2,367 |
1,027 |
continued.
|
Source of Water supply. |
Karvir. |
Panhala. |
Radhanagari. |
Shahuwadi. |
Shirol. |
District. Total. |
Canals:- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
(a) Government- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
(1) Number |
-- |
-- |
1 |
-- |
-- |
6 |
|
(2) Mileage |
-- |
-- |
15 |
-- |
-- |
16 |
Number of other wells used for irrigation purposes only- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
(a) Private- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
(1) Masonry |
270 |
250 |
29 |
64 |
391 |
2,413 |
|
(2) Non-Masonry |
806 |
396 |
243 |
116 |
832 |
5,981 |
|
(b) Total- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
(1) Masonry |
270 |
250 |
29 |
64 |
391 |
2,413 |
|
(2) Non-Masonry |
806 |
396 |
243 |
116 |
832 |
5,981 |
|
(c) Total |
1,076 |
646 |
272 |
180 |
1,223 |
8,394 |
TABLE No. 35-contd.
|
Source of Water supply. |
Ajara. |
Bavada. |
Bhudar- gad. |
Gadhing-laj. |
Hatkan-angle. |
Kagal. |
Number of wells used for domestic purposes only |
174 |
1,065 |
152 |
371 |
154 |
65 |
Number of wells not in use |
69 |
15 |
16 |
30 |
465 |
298 |
Reservoirs |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
9 |
-- |
Tanks:- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
(a) With ayacut 100 acres or more |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1 |
-- |
|
(b) With ayacut less than 100 acres |
12 |
-- |
-- |
1 |
31 |
2 |
|
(c) Total |
12 |
-- |
-- |
1 |
32 |
2 |
Number of engines |
28 |
56 |
137 |
43 |
772 |
401 |
continued.
|
Source of Water supply. |
Karvir. |
Panh-ala. |
Radha-nagari. |
Shahu-wadi. |
Shirol. |
District Total. |
Number of wells used for domestic purposes only |
32 |
76 |
115 |
101 |
59 |
2,374 |
Number of wells not in use |
250 |
104 |
40 |
53 |
167 |
1,507 |
Reservoirs |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
9 |
Tanks:- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
(a) With ayacut 100 acres or more |
1 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
2 |
|
(b) With ayaeut less than 100 acres |
3 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
49 |
|
(c) Total |
4 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
51 |
Number of engines |
1,043 |
434 |
460 |
143 |
330 |
3,847 |
Several interesting facts emerge from this table.
Canals.
Canal irrigation does not seem to be an important source of irrigation and area under this source was only 3,730 acres in 1955-56. Further, only in the talukas of Hatkanangle and Radhanagari do we see something of canal irrigation. In other talukas, and for that matter, in the whole of the district, canal irrigation is not found feasible as a source of irrigation because of the peculiar topography of the district. The banks of the rivers are hilly and undulating and are interposed by many spurs. They naturally render the possibility of flow irrigation uneconomical due to heavy cutting of canals etc.
Tanks and Reservoirs.
Excepting the three tanks of Rajaram, Rankala and Vadgaon, there are no other tanks of much importance in the district. These three tanks were constructed long back by the then rulers of former Kolhapur State and the date of their construction and details of expenditure incurred on them are not available. The area under command of, and actually irrigated by, each of these tanks is given below:-
|
Tank.. |
Taluka in which located.. |
Area in acres.. |
|
Under command. |
Actually irrigated. |
Rajaram |
Karvir |
100 |
90 |
Rankala |
Karvir |
450 |
379 |
Vadgaon |
Hatkanangle |
190 |
84 |
In Kolhapur district, tanks were never a large source of irrigation but were used as village water-suppliers. Most of the tanks being silted have now gone out of use. The few existing ones serve the same purpose to-day. In 1955-56, nine reservoirs and fifty-one tanks were reported. Out of the fifty-one tanks only two are with ayacut 100 acres or more, the rest being with ayacut less than 100 acres. The net area under tank irrigation was 1,301 acres.
Wells.
Well irrigation occupies an important place in the agriculture of the district. In 1955-56 there were 8,394 wells in the district which irrigated nearly one-third of the net area irrigated in the same year. Little more than two-thirds of the wells were non-masonry, the rest being masonry. All the wells were owned privately.
It is interesting to note that the number of wells in the western part is small, inspite of heavy rainfall. This is because the surface-wash runs off the steep hills. The soils are thin and sub-soils rocky and cannot absorb and retain water to feed the wells. In the eastern region the lie of the land is suitable for wells, lands being fairly deep with soft rock below. In years of good rainfall they are dependable, though in some the supply of water fails in summer.
Lift irrigation.
As has been already stated, because of its peculiar topography, flow irrigation is not practicable in Kolhapur district. The only alternative available, therefore, is to provide lift irrigation facilities on the river banks. Before the advent of water pumps, farmers of the district used to make full use of
river water by means of bhudki mots, mainly for growing sugarcane. Now this system is being replaced rapidly by water pumps.
A bhudki is a shallow hole dug in the bed of a river or stream, while a well is a vertical deep shaft or hole, dug on the farm to obtain underground water. Bhudki is a temporary structure about 10 feet deep; a well may be 25 to 50 feet deep and is of a permanent nature. The water lifted from a well is led straight to the field. In the case of bhudkis, the water raised from the first bhudki (in the river bed) is led to the second, then to the third and so forth. In this system, there are three to five bhudkis, usually four; and the total lift generally is of 50 feet.
This account of bhudki system in the district will not be complete without a reference to the phad system. The phad system is an old co-operative organisation (reported to be existing long before 1850). This system has a great bearing on the agricultural economy of the district.
The necessity of this kind of co-operative organisation arises from the fact that, apart from lack of capital required to raise sugarcane on large scale, the individual farmer has neither sufficient man or animal power at his command to lift river water. In the phad system man and animal power of individuals are pooled together. The organisation takes on lease a block of land on joint responsibility; the owners of the land may or may not be partners in the phad. The owners get a stipulated share from the receipts of the gul produced, after deducting gurhal expenses, as rent of the land.
A phad generally requires eight bullocks (i.e. four pairs, one pair for each mot in the series) and eight men (four mot drivers and four men to look after irrigation and other work in the field). A bullock unit is taken as equivalent to a man unit. A partner may contribute two bullocks and two men, another may contribute one bullock and one man, while a third may contribute either a bullock or a man and thus make up the number of units required. In a four-mot phad, therefore, they have to raise eight bullocks and eight man-shareholders. If, five mots are to lift water, there will be ten bullocks and ten man-shareholders. Additional labour and the cost of manurel are met by the shareholders in proportion to the number of shares contributed.
The water lifted by the first mot (or the one in the bed of the river) is led by a short channel to the second, then from the second to the third and so on, till it reaches the highest point from where the water is led to the fields by long channels.
Co-operative Lift irrigation.
Co-operative lift-irrigation Societies, though of recent growth, are a remarkable development in the district. In the former Kolhapur State, no Society of this type was organised, though the spirit to work on co-operative lines for mutual benefit, as is disclosed by the phad system, did exist. In fact, the present co-operative development in Kolhapur district may to some extent be looked upon as a systematic expression of the already existing spirit of co-operation, and mutual help. Government encourage the organisation of co-operative lift irrigation schemes by granting financial and technical aid to societies undertaking such schemes. In Bombay State, a scheme for the organisation of, and financial assistance to, co-operative societies undertaking schemes of lift irrigation was first sanctioned in June 1949 and was continued throughout the period of the First Five-Year Plan. It has been decided to continue this activity during the period of the Second Five-Year Plan, with more emphasis on the consolidation of schemes already in hand rather than on the organisation of a large number of new societies.
At present there are in all 11 co-operative lift irrigation societies in the district. Information regarding the acreage under irrigation, estimated cost etc. is given in the following table:-
TABLE No. 36.
CO-OPERATIVE LIFT IRRIGATION SOCIETIES IN KOLHAPUR DISTRICT.
|
Serial No. |
Name of village at which scheme is organised. |
Name of river. |
Area (in acres) under irrigation. |
Estimated cost. |
Government financial assistance sanctioned. |
|
Loan. |
Subsidy. |
| | |
| |
Rs. |
Rs. |
Rs. |
|
1 |
Bubnal |
Krishna |
900 |
2,52,667 |
1,12,500 |
1,12,500 |
|
2 |
Inchnal |
Hiranyakeshi |
360 |
82,395 |
46,334 |
37,548 |
|
3 |
Waghapur |
Vedganga |
250 |
49,615 |
21,909 |
21,404 |
|
4 |
Chavare |
Warna |
2,092 |
5,94,200 |
2,87,950 |
2,24,760 |
|
5 |
Hingangaon |
Warna |
400 |
1,24,064 |
60,070 |
59,930 |
|
6 |
Udgaon |
Krishna |
725 |
1,84,703 |
60,415 |
60,415 |
|
7 |
Sadoli |
Bhogavati |
640 |
1,64,995 |
53,330 |
53,330 |
|
8 |
Kurukali |
Do. |
450 |
1,27,380 |
42,460 |
42,460 |
|
9 |
Kothali |
Do. |
520 |
1,47,409 |
43,155 |
43,155 |
|
10 |
Ghalwad |
Krishna |
700 |
1,96,189 |
58,330 |
58,330 |
|
11 |
Talsande |
Warna |
800 |
2,27,474 |
66,666 |
66,666 |
| | |
Total |
7,837 |
21,51,091 |
8,53,119 |
7,80,498 |
The position with regard to membership, share capital, reserve fund etc. of these societies is given below:-
(1) Membership |
1731 |
(2) Share Capital |
Rs. 5,11,805 |
(3) Reserve Fund |
Rs. 7,637 |
(4) Working Capital |
Rs. 17,01,967 |
(5) Government Financial Assistance (disbursed)- |
-- |
|
(a) Loan |
Rs. 5,55,660 |
|
(b) Subsidy |
Rs. 5,36,687 |
The schemes at Inchnal and Waghapur are complete in all respects and the societies are supplying water to their members since 1953-54. Most of the other schemes, including those at Bubnal and Hingangaon are also likely to be completed within a short time.
Co-operative Dam Construction Societies.
As has been already stated, six large rivers with their several tributaries flow through the district. The flow of water in some of them like Bhogavati, Panchaganga etc., is perennial. Several cultivators (in groups) have been constructing kachha dams (earthen dams) on rivers like the Kumbhi, Kasari and Bhogavati. Naturally, there is always the risk of these dams collapsing because of over-weight due to heavy transport in the busy season. Even otherwise they are washed away in natural course by the first moonsoon floods. They are again put up in the months of October-November every year. This process of constructing kachha dams every year involves physical labour as well as investment of large amounts. The idea of constructing pacca dams on co-operative basis has been put forward to avoid waste of physical labour as well as heavy expenditure every year. The pacca weir-cum-bridges are so constructed that they hold and impound water whenever required and allow the flood water to pass away without any damage to the dam itself. These are a permanent structure.
Aims and objects.-The main aims and objects of the co-operative dam construction societies are: (i) to construct pacca dams with a view to store sufficient water and thereby to facilitate the irrigation of lands situated within the area of operation of the dam; (ii) to dig channels, to cut water courses, to lay out pipe lines for making supply of water convenient; and (iii) to hire or purchase machinery, water pumps, plant etc., for the irrigation of the land.
Membership and Share Capital-Firstly, a rough estimate of the total cost of the dam is made. One-third of the cost of the scheme is distributed pro rata on the acreage to be brought under irrigation and is collected accordingly as share capital. Two-third amount is made available by Government in the form of long-term loan. This is the financial assistance available under the Project Scheme. The Community Development Project Administration at Kolhapur has contemplated the construction of nine weir-cum-bridges, each costing about Rs. 2 lacs. The limit of entire share collection has been reduced to one-fourth of the total estimated cost of the scheme in the case of dam construction societies at Kale, Bajar-bhogaon and Waloli as these villages are in backward tract.
The District Local Board, Kolhapur, has also given grants to some dam construction societies towards execution of the communication part of the scheme. Dam construction societies in non-project area do not get any financial assistance from Government. They have to collect the entire cost of the scheme from members by way of share capital.
Working.-The management of the society vests in the managing committee elected by the general body. It generally consists of seven to fifteen members. The committee appoints a manager and other salaried staff to carry out day to day work of the society. One surveyor is generally appointed to survey the lands situated round about the dam and to take a note of the irrigated area under different crops. He also takes a note of the cultivators cultivating the lands. The cultivators, either members or non-members, have to submit their application for drawing water before the end of January every year. The details of survey numbers, crops to be irrigated, etc. are to be stated in such application. All such applications are placed before the managing committee.
Cultivators have to pay water charges for the water used by them for irrigating their lands. Their rates are generally fixed on the basis of acreage irrigated for growing different crops. The water rates (per acre) generally charged are as under: -
Sugarcane-Rs. 20 to Rs. 35 for members.
Rs. 40 to Rs. 45 for non-members.
Other crops-Rs. 10 to Rs. 15 for members and non-members.
The position with regard to co-operative dam construction societies in the district was as under:-
No. of Societies |
8 |
Membership |
3,271 |
Acreage under irrigation |
12,109 |
Estimated cost of the schemes |
Rs. 14,96,953 |
Government Financial Assistance (Loan). |
Rs. 6,81,353 |
Share Capital |
Rs. 5,55,150 |
Reserve Fund |
Rs. 20,667 |
Working Capital |
Rs. 10,67,896 |
No. of Schemes completed |
6 |
Co-operative lift irrigation and dam construction societies have proved their utility in stepping up agricultural production. During the period of the Second Five-Year Plan, the emphasis is intended to be laid more on consolidation than expansion; efforts may be made to convert single-purpose irrigation societies into multi-purpose units so that they will not merely be suppliers of water to their constituents but will also integrate all the economic activities ancillary to the main object of irrigation such as co-operative cultivation, marketing etc., with a view to ensure lasting economic benefits to the members in general.
Radhanagari Hydro-Electric Scheme.
This is the only major irrigation work in the district. The site of the scheme is located at the foot of the mountain ranges taking off on the eastern side of the continental divide of the Sahyadris, The locality gets an unfailing rainfall of about 200 inches during monsoon. The formation is of trap rock with a thin layer of earth. Rain water is all drained away into rivers which come in spate in monsoon and generally dry up in summer. The population in the catchment area is sparse. The area where the location of the head works of the Scheme is situated is thus very favourable for storing water to be utilised for the development of the district.
The Bhogavati river, which is bunded, used to be practically dry in the summer like other rivers and hence the villagers residing on its banks used to build earthen bunds across it at places along its course to hoard water. This water was not, however, sufficient. Crops, therefore, suffered for want of an assured supply of water. The soil on the banks of the river is suitable for sugarcane but cannot be utilised fully on account of want of water. The country is hilly, making it very expensive to have flow irrigation. The water in the river, therefore, is required to be lifted for being used for irrigation.
The Radhanagari Hydro Electric Reservior which originally was intended to be used for storing water for irrigation was proposed to be used for generating electricity needed for lifting the water. As this reservoir offered a good opportunity to generate a large amount of power, the idea of developing the irrigation scheme into a hydel-cum-irrigation-cum-water-supply scheme (to Kolhapur town) was considered.
The scheme was originally started by the former Kolhapur State early in 1908 mainly as an irrigation scheme. The work went on slowly up to 1917 then the dam was constructed to a height of 40 feet. The work had to be suspended due to financial stringency but was resumed in 1919. However, construction activity gathered momentum only after 1946. The construction of the dam was almost complete in 1957. The completed portion of the scheme consists of:-
(1) A masonry dam 140' high at the deepest portion of foundation.
(2) A power-house at the foot of the dam to generate electricity.
(3) Five weirs along the Bhogavati river.
(4) Installation of water pumps on the Panchaganga river.
The Dam.-The salient features of the project are given below:-
|
(1) Catchment area |
42.5 square miles. | |
(2) Average rainfall |
200 to 250 inches. | |
(3) Length of dam (including waste weir). |
3,750 feet. | |
(4) Maximum Water level |
1938.92 G.T.S. Valve | |
(5) Capacity of tank |
8,450 M. C. ft. | |
(6) Area of water spread |
7 miles. | |
(7) Maximum length of reservior. |
10 miles. | |
(8) Length of periphery of the reservior. |
55 miles. | |
(9) Maximum height of dam |
140 feet. | |
(10) Height of dam over river-bed. |
126 feet. | |
(11) Top width of dam |
18-4 feet. | |
(12) Contents of dam |
13.2 million cubic feet of masonry. |
The Power House.-The power-house is constructed at the foot of the dam. The generating unit insalled consisted of four low head feathering propeller type turbines and four vertical type generators of 1,200 K.W. capacity each, generating power at 6,600 Volts. There are there sub-stations of 3,311 K.V. between Radhanagari and Kolhapur.
Irrigation.-It has been already stated that irrigation on this scheme consists of lift irrigation. The area under command at a maximum lift of 80 feet is about 18,000 acres on the Bhogavati. The cultivable area is about two-thirds of the commanded area and, therefore, the irrigable area is about 12,000 acres. Against this, area actually irrigated in 1957 was about 8,000 acres.
To facilitate lift irrigation, a series of weirs have been constructed on the river. The weirs are about 12 feet high so that there is at least 4 or 5 feet depth of water everywhere in the river course. A series of openings 4 feet wide and piers 3 feet wide in-between the openings are provided throughout the length of the weir. A roadway is provided over the top of every weir by spanning these openings by R.C.C. slab, so that the weir serves as a means of communication as well. Water is stored by closing these openings by cut teak wood needles, inserted in the grooves in the openings. These needles are taken out at the time of floods to prevent silting and minimise the afflux during floods.
Lift irrigation is done by providing jack-wells on the banks of these rivers and pumping the water directly from the river. It is then let into the delivery chamber, through rising main, constructed at a higher place. The water is then distributed through channels.
The present design of jack-wells and the type of pumping sets used is new one. The pump house and the jack-well are located in the active stream of the river. (This is possible due to the presence of exposed rocks in the river at many places.) The pump used is a turbine pump with a direct-coupled electric motor by a vertical shaft. The motor is located directly on the pumps but above the high flood line. The pump is submerged below the headed level of the weir. The advantage of this set up is that all troubles due to inlet chamber and pipe are eliminated. On the other hand, the existing pumps in the Panchaganga valley are fixed below the flood line and, therefore, have to be shifted every time at the time of floods. There is no seasonal shifting of the pumps in works and so water can be given even during breaks in monsoon. This is not possible with the pumps of old type. There is a proposal of replacing the old pumps by new ones which will be erected on trestles.
There are five weirs on the Bhogavati river. They are located at the following places. The cost of construction of each of these weirs is also given:-
|
Location of the weir. |
Taluka. |
Cost of construction. |
|
|
|
Rs. |
Koge |
Karvir |
1,95,154 |
Haldi |
Karvir |
1,38,591 |
Radhivade |
Karvir |
1,60,051 |
Shirgaon |
Radhanagari |
1,57,072 |
Tarale |
Radhanagari |
1,44,969 |
|
Total |
7,95,837 |
The total area under command under these weirs is about 18,500 acres. So far about 10,000 acres of sugarcane have been brought under irrigation. At present, in the Bhogavati valley (i.e. from Radhanagari to Kolhapur), lift irrigation is done by private pumps only. The water rates charged are Rs. 5 per acre both for sugarcane and food crops. (On the Panchaganga valley lift irrigation is done by Government pumps. The rates charged per acre are Rs. 40 for sugarcane and Rs. 10 for other crops.)
In addition to these five weirs on the Bhogavati river under Radhanagari Hydro Electric Scheme, it is proposed to instal ten additional pumps of four cusecs capacity each between Kolhapur and Shirol. These are proposed to be located at the following places:-
(1) 8 cusecs pumps at Chandur, Hatkanangle taluka.
(2) 8 cusecs pumps at Hupari, Hatkanangle taluka.
(3) 8 cusecs pumps at Rangoli, Hatkanangle taluka.
(4) 4 cusecs pumps at Herle, Hatkanangle taluka.
(5) 8 cusecs pumps at Rukadi, Hatkanangle taluka.
(6) 4 cusecs pumps at Kurundwad, Shirol taluka.
The installation of these pumps is almost over. The total area under command will be about 7,655 acres and the area actually irrigated will be about 1,600 acres.
Medium Irrigation Works.
Emergency Lift Irrigation Scheme.-This scheme was started by the Kolhapur State Government. It covers the area from Kolhapur to Shirol across the Panchaganga river. The scheme, which has been already completed, consists of five weirs of Rajaram, Surve, Rul, Terwad and Shirol. In addition to these five weirs, 36 pumps of 1 cusec capacity, 3 pumps of 5 cusecs capacity and one pump of 4 cusecs capacity have been installed. The total area under command is about 7,766 acres, while the average area actually irrigated was 3,123 acres.
Among the other medium irrigation works under the charge of the P. W. D. are the tanks of Rajaram, Rankala and Vadgaon, a brief account of which has already been given.
Minor Irrigation Works.
One Crore Loan Programme.-This was a special programme of minor irrigation and 18 bandharas were constructed in Kolhapur district by the end of March 1953. A table showing the Minor Irrigation Works completed under this programme is given below:-
TABLE No. 37.
MINOR IRRIGATION WORKS UNDER ONE CRORE LOAN PROGRAMME.
|
Serial No. |
Name of work. |
Taluka/Mahal. |
Cost of construction. |
Area in acres.
|
|
Commanded. |
Actually irrigated. |
|
|
|
Rs. |
|
A. |
g. |
|
Bandharas at:- |
|
1 |
Minche |
Hatkangale |
4,327 |
62 |
55 |
33 |
2 |
Shendri |
Gadhinglaj |
7,229 |
125 |
120 |
0 |
3 |
Kadgaon |
Do. |
4,938 |
66 |
60 |
0 |
4 |
Kapshi |
Kagal |
5,604 |
60 |
13 |
0 |
5 |
Vadgaon |
Hatkanangale |
6,216 |
75 |
26 |
0 |
6 |
Satve |
Panhala |
11,173 |
250 |
250 |
0 |
7 |
Dundge |
Gadhinglaj |
12,354 |
150 |
150 |
0 |
8 |
Ambap |
Hatkanangale |
10,928 |
105 |
105 |
0 |
9 |
Manpadale |
Do. |
8,594 |
148 |
0 |
0 |
|
10 |
Arale |
Panhala |
5,722 |
200 |
0 |
0 |
|
11 |
Savarde |
Radhanagari |
9,306 |
100 |
60 |
0 |
|
12 |
Yekondi |
Kagal |
7,843 |
242 |
97 |
0 |
|
13 |
Sonarwadi |
Gargoti |
5,318 |
145 |
32 |
14 |
|
14 |
Vengrul |
Do. |
7,041 |
262 |
0 |
0 |
|
15 |
Pohala |
Panhala |
12,394 |
154 |
68 |
0 |
|
16 |
Nagaon |
Hatkanangale |
9,844 |
189 |
0 |
0 |
|
17 |
Hatkanangale |
Do. |
16,118 |
186 |
0 |
0 |
|
18 |
Jakhale |
Panhala |
9,183 |
125 |
0 |
0 |
| |
Total |
1,54,132 |
2,644 |
1,037 |
7 |
Rs. 30 lakhs Loan Programme.-Construction of the following bandhara works was taken up and completed under this loan programme. A peculiar feature of this scheme is that a portion of the cost is recovered from the people by way of popular contribution:-
|
Name of the work |
Taluka. |
Expenditure incurred. |
Area (in acres). |
|
|
Rs. |
| |
(a) Bandharas at- |
| |
(1) Halkarni |
Gadhinglaj |
34,501 |
200 |
|
(2) Shivangi Lakikkati |
Chandgad |
6,802 |
150 |
|
(3) Shinoli |
Chandgad |
6,385 |
170 |
(b) Repairs to Tank at Kowad |
Chandgad |
1,542 |
69 |
|
