AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

FLOODS

During the period subsequent to the great depression of 1930, Wardha district experienced occasional scarcity conditions, but the heaviest damage caused was by floods. There were scarcity conditions in the district in 1936-37 and 1939-40. [ Socio-Economic Review and District Statistical Abstract, Wardha District, 1958-59.] Though no details are available as to the distress caused, it appears, it was not so severe. The scarcity of 1949-50 [ Ibid.] affected the Revenue Inspectors Circles of only Arvi tahsil and as the rest of the district fared well on the agricultural front, distress caused was not acutely felt. Again in 1950-51 Revenue Inspectors' Circles of Wardha tahsil and one of Hinganghat tahsil were caught in the grip of famine. There was a general failure of crops throughout the district with the exception of only seven villages in 1955-56. [Ibid.] The failure was due to excessive rainfall. However, no details are available as to the measures taken to alleviate the sufferings of the affected.

Much damage to house and property was caused by heavy floods consecutively for three years viz., 1959, 1960 and 1961. The district received heavy rains from 13th to 15th September 1959 as a result of which nalas and rivers ran in spate inundating 274 villages and destroying crops over an area of 12,332 acres. The main crops affected and destroyed were cotton, jowar and wheat which incidentally are the chief crops of the district. The total value of crops damaged alone was computed at Rs. 5,53,937 and the number of persons affected 12,671. Only one human life and sixteen cattle-heads were lost. The government sought to alleviate the sufferings of the people not only by paying gratuitous relief but also by supplying building material like bamboos, GCI sheets, etc, and sanctioning tagai loans in deserving cases. The cost of building material supplied free of cost was put at Rs. 46,967 in addition to gratuitous relief of Rs. 1,16,057. Tagai loans both for building and agricultural purposes to the tune of Rs. 6,99,149 were sanctioned and disbursed. Medicines worth Rs. 870 were supplied and fair price shops set up in the affected areas to make grains available at reasonable rates. Arrangements were also made to import cattle-feed. Help was rendered in clearing the debris. Donations amounting to Rs. 8,546 were received from the general public. Shifting of some of the village sites to higher levels where floods are not likely to cause destruction is in progress. A District Relief Committee to collect donations and render help in times of such calamities has been set up.

In 1960 incessant rains on 26th and 27th July caused the Bor in Wardha tahsil and the Wana in Hinganghat to be particularly flooded. Thirteen villages along the Bor bank and some low lying areas of Hinganghat town suffered heavy damage. A total of 5,750 persons were severely affected, the crop acreage inundated and destroyed being 150 and the value of crops lost Rs. 8,000. To relieve the distress immediate cash doles amounting to Rs. 3,188.40 were granted and building material worth Rs. 2,365 was supplied free of cost. A co-operative housing society to house the worst-hit inhabitants of Seloo, Moi and Hingni villages was set up.

Floods again played havoc in 1961 affecting 346 villages and two towns. Four wards of Hinganghat town and low lying areas of Pulgaon town suffered heavy damage. Crops of jowar, cotton etc., covering an area of 32,780.97 acres were totally destroyed, their value being Rs. 11,34,901. The number of persons rendered homeless was put at 14,517. Only one human life and twelve cattle heads were lost. However, timely help rendered to the sufferers did much to reassure them. Fifty-four temporary hutments at Pulgaon and 21 at Hinganghat were immediately constructed to accommodate the stranded and homeless persons. Yet others were temporarily housed in municipal sarais and the schools. Clothes and utensils were supplied in Hinganghat and Arvi. A sum of Rs. 34,569.24 was distributed in the form of gratuitous relief. Eighteen new gaothans on higher grounds were got ready. Nearly fifty co-operative housing societies have been formed and proposals for granting financial allowance to them submitted to the Commissioner. Wheat seeds were distributed for the purpose of resowing the washed crops and cattle-feed was imported.

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