2. IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA
Development activities are broadly divided into
I. Medieval India
II. British period
III. Post independence period
3. I. Medieval India
• There is evidence that irrigation was practiced in India during Vedic
periods.
• The concepts of storing river flows behind a dam, distribution of
stored water through canals so as to ensure equity among farmers and
adequate irrigation to the crops were well known and practiced even
before 3000 B.C. as is evidenced by the following quotations:
• “No grain is ever produced without water, but too much water tends
to spoil the grain. An inundation is as injurious to growth as dearth of
water”. - Narada Smriti.
• The Grand Anicut across the river Cauvery in Tamilnadu was
constructed by Chola kings as early as in the 2nd Century A.D.
• Ghiyasuddin Tughluq (1220 – 1250) is credited to be the first ruler
who encouraged digging canals
• It was also noticed that the Chandel Kings in Bundelkhand region
constructed large number of tanks that continued to be used till the
18th Century.
7. II. British period
• Irrigation development under British rule began with the
renovation, improvement and extension of the existing
works.
• Later the period from 1836 – 1866 marked the
investigation, development and completion of four major
river-diversion works of considerable size viz., Upper
Ganga Canal, Upper Bari Doab Canal, Krishna & Godavari
Delta systems.
• In 1867, the British Government adopted the practice of
taking up works, which promised a minimum net return.
Thereafter, a number of projects were taken up. These
included major canal works like the Sirhind, the Lower
Ganga, the Agra and the Mutha Canals, and the Periyar
Dam and canals
8. III. Post independence period
• The post independence era through Five-Year Plans
witnessed planned efforts in irrigation development in
the country. The Rajasthan Canal, Gandhisagar Dam,
Gandak, Kosi, Nagarjunasagar, Tungabhadra,
Malprabha, Ghataprabha and Farakka irrigation
projects were taken up during the first two Five Year
Plans (1950-51 to 1960-61).
• Subsequently projects such as Tawa, Ramganga,
SriRamsagar, Ukai, Kadana, Teesta, Tehri, Jayakwadi,
Beas, Gandak, Sardar Sarovar, Chambal, Mahi,
Mahanadi delta, Idukki, Koyna, Narmada Sagar Valley
etc., were initiated
9. Sl. Name of the Project River Beneficiary States
1 Bhakranagal Project Satluj Punjab, HP, Haryana
& Rajasthan
2 Damodar Valley
Project
Damodar Bihar & West Bengal
3 Hirakud Dam Mahanadi Orissa
4 Thungabhadra
Project
Tungabhadr
a
Andhra Pradesh &
Karnataka
5 Nagarjuna Sagar
Project
Krishna Andhra Pradesh
6 Kosi Project Kosi Bihar
7 Chambal Project Chambal Madhya Pradesh &
Rajasthan
Table 1. Important major irrigation projects in India
10. Sl. Name of the Project River Beneficiary States
8 Ukai Project Tapti Gujarat
9 Tawa Project Narmada Madhya Pradesh
10 Sri Ram Sagar Project Godavari Andhra Pradesh
11 Malaprabha Project Malprabha Karnataka
12 Mahanandi Delta Mahanadi Orissa
13 Idukki Project Periyar Kerala
14 Koyna Project Koyna Maharastra
15 Upper Krishna Project
(UKP)
Krishna Karnataka
16 Narmada Sagar Narmada MP, Rajasthan,
Gujarat & MH
17. Classification of Irrigation Projects
Based on financial limits or expenditure involved in
the scheme.
1. Major Irrigation Projects
2. Medium Irrigation Projects
3. Minor Irrigation Projects
18. Irrigation
project
Financial limits Command area
covered
1. Minor less than 2.5
million rupees
It covers cultural
command area of
2000 hectares
2. Medium 2.5 million to 50
million rupees
2000 – 10,000
hectares
3. Major more than 50
million rupees
More than 10,000
hectares
