British period Irrigation development under British rule began with the renovation, improvement

and extension of the then 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. Some other
major canal projects were also completed on the Indus river during this period. These included the
Lower Swat, the Lower Sohag and Para, the Lower Chenab and the Sidhnai Canals, all of which went
to Pakistan in 1947. However, as a result of the famine during 1876 – 1878, the country received
serious setback in agricultural production. Consequently, the First Famine Commission was setup by
the Government in 1880, which recommended for irrigation development in drought prone areas.
Significant protective works constructed during the period were the Betwa Canal, the Nira Left Bank
Canal, the Gokak Canal, the Khaswad Tank and the Rushikulya Canal. The good harvest during the
next 15 years led to complacency and no comprehensive plan for irrigation was prepared. The last
two years of the 19th Century (1899 – 1900) again witnessed devastating famines. This led to the
appointment of First Irrigation Commission in the year 1901 to ascertain the usefulness of irrigation
against famines. Big spurt in irrigation development was thus, observed in the first quarter of 20th
Century. The total irrigated area through public works in 1920-21 rose to 19.3 million hectares over a
base of 13.3 million ha in 1900. About 8.9 million ha more area was brought under irrigation up till
1946-47. Thus, before partition the total irrigated area was 28.2 million ha inclusive of Princely
State’s private irrigation (4.7 million ha). At the time of partition in 1947, about 8.8 million ha Page
16 irrigated area went to Pakistan and 19.4 million ha remained with India. To cope up with the
demand of food grains for growing population, a good number of Multipurpose River Valley Projects
viz., Bhakra Nangal, Damodar Valley and Hirakud dams were initiated soon after independence. At
the beginning of First Five Year Plan in 1950-51 the irrigated area was 22.6 million ha (9.7 million ha
under major and medium irrigation projects and 12.9 million ha under minor irrigation schemes
from both surface and groundwater sources). 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 (Table 2.1). Table 2.1. Important major irrigation projects in India
S.No. 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 Tungabhadra Andhra Pradesh & Karnataka 5 Nagarjuna Sagar Project
Krishna Andhra Pradesh 6 Kosi Project Kosi Bihar 7 Farakka Project Ganga Bhagirathi West Bengal 8
Gandak Project Gandak Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Nepal 9 Beas Project Beas Rajasthan & Punjab 10
Rajasthan Canal Satluz Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana 11 Chambal Project Chambal Madhya Pradesh &
Rajasthan 12 Ukai Project Tapti Gujarat 13 Tawa Project Narmada Madhya Pradesh 14 Sri Ram Sagar
Project Godavari Andhra Pradesh 15 Malaprabha Project Malprabha Karnataka 16 Mahi Project Mahi
Gujarat 17 Mahanandi Delta Mahanadi Orissa 18 Indukki Project Periyar Kerala 19 Koyna Project
Koyna Maharastra 20 Upper Krishna Project Krishna Karnataka 21 Ramganga Project Cnuisot Stream
Uttar Pradesh 22 Tehri Dam Bhilanganga & Bhagirath Uttar Pradesh 23 Narmada Sagar Narmada MP,
Rajasthan, Gujarat & Maharastra Tere was therefore a great spurt in irrigated area which increased
from 22.6 million ha in Pre-plan period to 87.23 million ha by the end of the 10th Five Year Plan
(34.42 million ha under major & medium irrigation projects and 52.81 minor irrigation schemes) (Fig.
2.4). With an average irrigation intensity of 140%, the actual net irrigated area is Page 17 likely to be
around 62.31 million ha, which is only 43% of the net sown area of the country (142 million ha). Fig.
2.4. Progressive irrigation development in India According to latest estimates, it has been assessed
that the gross cropped area that can ultimately be irrigated would be 139.89 million ha without
inter-basin sharing of water and 175 million ha with inter-basin sharing of water. Even after
achieving the ultimate irrigation potential of 139.89 million ha and considering the average irrigation
intensity of 140%, the ultimate irrigated area in the country would be only 70% of the net sown area.
The source-wise irrigated area in India is presented in Fig. 2.5. Fig. 2.5. Sourcewise irrigated area in
India Page 18 According FAO estimates of 2009, out of the total 1628 million ha of cultivated area in
the world, only 17.0% (277 million ha) is under irrigation (Fig. 2.6). The largest irrigated area in the
world is in India (62.3 million ha) followed by China (56 million ha) and USA (28 million ha) (Fig. 2.6).