• Irrigation is the practice of applying controlled amounts of water to land to help grow crops, landscape plants, and lawns. Irrigation water can come from groundwater (extracted from springs or by using wells), from surface water (withdrawn from rivers, lakes or reservoirs) or from non-conventional sources like treated wastewater, desalinated water, drainage water, etc.

Irrigation

• Irrigation involves the artificial application of water to soil or agricultural fields, serving as a replacement or supplement to rainwater. Primarily utilized in arid regions and periods of insufficient rainfall, the goal of irrigation systems is to support the growth of agricultural crops and plants. This is achieved by ensuring the minimum required water amount, suppressing weed growth in grain fields, and preventing soil consolidation, among other benefits.

Types of Irrigation Projects

• In India, irrigation schemes are categorized by the former Planning Commission into three types: minor, medium, and major irrigation projects.
• Major Irrigation Projects: Culturable command areas exceeding 10,000 hectares.
  • Involves the construction of large dams to bring water to fields.
• Medium Irrigation Projects: Culturable command areas ranging from 2,000 to 10,000 hectares.
  • Incorporates canal systems as integral components.
• Minor Irrigation Projects: Culturable command areas up to 2,000 hectares.
  • Includes structures such as wells, ponds, drip irrigation, and sprinkler systems.
• The cultural command area is the basis for the design of a watercourse and basis for the design of an Irrigation project. It is the proportion of the gross command area which is culturable and cultivable.

Modern Methods of Irrigation in India

Some modern methods of irrigation in India are described below

• Flow Irrigation (Surface Irrigation) The water of a reservoir or tank usually remains at a higher level and when a channel is connected to it. water automatically flows down the channel which serves the purpose of a canal for irrigating the land. In this case, the water level remains higher than the fields.
• Lift Irrigation Where the farmlands lie at a higher level and the canals or tanks lie at a lower level, it becomes necessary to lift the water by pump etc.. to irrigate land. Water is lifted from wells and tanks, by a crude country method (by tend) and from tubewells by pumps for irrigation.
• Drip Irrigation In this technique, water is delivered at or near the root zone of plants drop by drop. This method can be the most water-efficient method of irrigation if managed properly since evaporation and runoff are minimized. It is also called trickle Irrigation. 
• Sprinkler Irrigation Nowadays, Sprinkler ort Irrigation is becoming very much popular as more land can be irrigated with less water in this method. It is affordable and easy to set up.

Sources of Irrigation

Irrigation of Irrigation

• This is the most convenient method of irrigation, danals is situated in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar to About half of the total area under irrigation by Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.
• Various perennial canals crisscross the diverse regions of the country, boasting renowned ones like the Upper Bari Doab and Sirhind canals in Punjab, as well as the West Yamuna and Chakra canals in Haryana.
•  The Chakra Canal, being the largest in the country, plays a vital role in irrigating the states of Punjab and Haryana.
• Rajasthan takes pride in the Rajasthan Canal, also known as the Indira Gandhi Canal, which holds the distinction of being the longest canal in Asia.
• This canal efficiently irrigates the North-Western part of Rajasthan. Other significant canals include the Sharada canal, Betwa canal, and the Upper Ganga and Lower Ganga canals in Uttar Pradesh. 
• Additionally, many canals have been strategically dug along the rivers Krishna, Godavari, and Tungabhadra in Andhra Pradesh.

Irrigation by Wells and Tubewells

• Wells and tubewells contribute significantly to irrigation efforts. In regions with soft and porous soil, such as the Western part of Uttar Pradesh, some areas in Bihar, and the black cotton soil region of the Deccan, wells are essential for drawing water from lower depths. 
• Coastal strips in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, along with certain parts of Rajasthan, Haryana, and Gujarat, also rely on wells for irrigation.
• Power-driven pumps, whether electric or diesel, have gained popularity across various regions, aiding in lifting water from greater depths in wells and tube wells. In some areas, traditional methods involving cattle or camels powering Persian wheels are still employed. 
• Modern advancements, such as windmills, have emerged as cost-effective solutions for lifting water from wells, albeit with limitations on the irrigable area.

Irrigation through Tanks

• Tank irrigation stands out as the most viable and widely practiced method across the peninsula, where small tanks are commonly built by individuals or groups of farmers, forming embankments across seasonal streams. The hard and stony soil, along with undulated terrain, hinders the digging of canals or wells in these areas.
• Some significant tanks are created by raising high embankments along one side of the valley hills, while large reservoirs like Nizam Sagar, Usman Sagar, Hossain Sagar, and Krishnaraj Sagar dot the landscape of peninsular India.

Pond Irrigation

• Both natural and artificial ponds serve irrigation purposes in India, with pond irrigation gaining popularity in peninsular regions, including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. The cost involved in pond irrigation is minimal, and many ponds also facilitate fish production. However, most ponds dry up in the summer, limiting year-round irrigation.

Multi-purpose Projects in India

• Regarded as the "Temples of Modern India" by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the dams in India play a crucial role in providing water and electricity. 
• A multi-purpose project encompasses large-scale hydro projects involving dams, canals, water processing, and pipelines for water supply and power generation.

Key Multi-purpose Projects:

• Bhakra Nangal Project: The largest multi-purpose project in India, constructed on the river Sutlej in Himachal Pradesh, involves a 518 m long and 226 m high dam. The Nangal dam in Punjab, along with powerhouses Ganguwal and Kotla, contributes to the project's 1204 MW capacity.

Command Area Development Programme (CADP)

• The CAD Programme, initiated in 1974-75, aims to bridge the gap between created and utilized irrigation potential. This involves on-farm developmental works through Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM). Restructured as Command Area Development and Water Management (CADWM) in 2004, it is now under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayi Yojana (PMKSY) since 2015-16, focusing on prioritized projects under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP).

Damodar Valley Project

• Damodar Valley Project: Conceived for unified development in West Bengal and Jharkhand, addressing irrigation, flood control, and power generation needs in the mineral-rich zone.
• With these initiatives, India's irrigation landscape evolves to address water needs for agriculture, industry, and power generation, showcasing the nation's commitment to holistic development.

Hirakud Dam Project

• Situated in Odisha, the Hirakud Dam spans the Hirakud reservoir, nourished by the Hasdeo and Mand rivers—both tributaries of the Mahanadi River.
• Located in Sambalpur district, this dam boasts a length of 25.4 km and a height of 61 m, making it the world's longest river dam.
•  With a hydroelectric production capacity of 1.24 lakh kW, it powers various industries, including the Hirakud aluminum factory, Rourkela's iron and steel works, Rajgangpur's cement factory, Brajrajnagar's paper and textile mills, and Joda's ferro-manganese factory.

Kosi Project

• A collaborative effort between India and Nepal, the Kosi Project involves dams constructed south of the confluence of the Kosi and Arun rivers. It has a capacity of 20 MW.

Rihand Valley Project

• The largest hydroelectric project in Uttar Pradesh, the Rihand Valley Project, situated at Pipri, 161 km south of Mirzapur, holds the title of India's largest dam by volume.
• Standing 167 m high from the river level, it has a production capacity of 300 MW. The electricity generated is supplied to facilities like the Gorakhpur fertilizer factory, Naini's tire-tube factory, and Mirzapur's cement factory.

Chambal Valley Project

•  A joint initiative of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the Chambal Valley Project harnesses the Chambal River for power and irrigation purposes.
•  With a total generating capacity of 386 MW, it addresses the issue of floods and soil erosion in the Chambal valley while supplying power to several urban centers.

Gandak Project

• Formed through collaboration between Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal, the Gandak Project has been a source of shared benefits since 1959.

Tehri Dam Project

•  India's highest dam, the Tehri Dam, stands at 855 feet on the Bhagirathi River bed.

• A significant power project, it aims to produce 1000 MW during stage I and an additional 1000 MW during stage II from underground powerhouses.

• With a gross storage capacity of 2.878 MAF, the dam can withstand earthquakes up to an intensity 7.5 on the Richter scale.

Polavaram Project

• A major multi-purpose irrigation project on the Godavari River, the Polavaram Project is under construction in Andhra Pradesh.

Mayurakshi Project

• The Mayurakshi Dam, also known as the Canada Dam, is located on the Mayurakshi River at Massanjore in Jharkhand. It provides electricity to Jharkhand and irrigation water to West Bengal.

Sharavathi Project

•  The Sharavathi Hydro Power Plant in Karnataka's Shimoga District harnesses the river's electricity-generating potential in the town of Kargil.

Koyna Project

• The Koyna Dam stands as the largest dam in Maharashtra and is situated in Koyana Nagar, Satara District.
• A massive rubble concrete dam, it reaches a height of 103 m and spans 807 m in length, boasting a project capacity of 1,920 MW.
•  Nestled in the Western Ghats, it's positioned along the state highway connecting Chiplun and Karad.

Nathpa Jhakri Project

• Located on the Sutlej River in Himachal Pradesh, the Nathpa Jhakri Dam is a concrete gravity dam dedicated to hydroelectric power production.

•  It caters to a 1,500-megawatt underground power station, efficiently utilizing the water supply.

Ukai Project

• The Ukai Dam, crossing the Tapti River, secures its place as the second-largest reservoir in Gujarat after the Sardar Sarovar.
• Functioning as an earth-cum-masonry dam with a 4,927 m-long embankment wall, it was constructed in 1972 for purposes like irrigation, power generation, and flood control.

Parambikulam Aliyar Project

• The Parambikulam Aliyar project, a multi-valley initiative benefiting Kerala and Tamil Nadu, interconnects seven reservoirs via tunnels along west-flowing rivers like Parambikulam and Aliyar.
•  Executed between 1958 and 1990 by the Government of Tamil Nadu, it encompasses a culturable command area of 1.74 lakh hectares.

Kishanganga Project

• Nestled in the Gurez Valley of Bandipora district, the Kishanganga dam is a 330 MW power project generating 1,713 million units annually by diverting water from the Kishanganga River to an underground powerhouse.
•  Operated by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), it provides 12% of its power to Jammu and Kashmir.

Baglihar Project

• Built on the Chenab River in the Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, the Baglihar Dam is part of the Baglihar Hydroelectric Power Project.
• Conceived in 1992, approved in 1996, and construction commencing in 1999, it operates as a run-of-the-river power project.

Ken Betwa Link Project

•  The Ken-Betwa Link Project, the first under the National Perspective Plan (NPP) for river interlinking, involves transferring surplus water from the Ken River in Panna district, Madhya Pradesh, to the Betwa River in Uttar Pradesh through the construction of the Dhaudan Dam and a 221 km-long canal.

Sutlej-Yamuna Link Project

•  A proposed 214-kilometer-long canal connecting the Sutlej and Yamuna rivers, the project was planned in 1966 after the reorganization of Punjab into Haryana and Punjab.
•  Haryana, facing a water crisis, needs the proposed link canal for its drinking water requirements, although Punjab has not taken significant action on the SYLC.

Krishna-Godavari Link Project

• The Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Project links the Godavari River to the Krishna River, featuring one of Asia's largest pump houses with 24 pumping units spread across an area of 7,476 sq m. Inaugurated in March 2016, it set a record for completion within a year.

The Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal (KWDT)

•  The Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal (KWDT), established in 1969 under the Inter-State River Water Dispute Act, 1956, issued its report in 1973. The KWDT order could be reviewed or revised by a competent authority or tribunal any time after May 31, 2000.

Dantiwada Project

• The Dantiwada Dam, spanning the Banas River with a height of 61 meters and a length of 4832 meters, was constructed to control floods and supply water for irrigation projects in Gujarat.

Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project

• The Pancheshwar Dam, a rock-fill dam on the Sarda River (Mahakali in Nepal), forming the international boundary between India and Nepal, stands at a remarkable height of 315 meters, making it one of the world's tallest dams.

Bunakha Project

•  The Bunakha Project, an 180MW hydro power project planned on the Wangchu river/basin in Chukha, Bhutan, is currently developed and owned by Druk Green Power and THDC India, with both entities holding a 50% stake in the project.

Renuka Dam Project

•  A Rs 6,700-crore project on the Giri river in Sirmaur district, the Renuka Dam Project boasts a storage capacity of 498 million cubic meters, fulfilling approximately 40% of Delhi's drinking water requirement.

Beas Project

• A joint venture of the governments of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, the Beas Project consists of two units: Unit-1- BSL Project and Unit-II- Beas Dam.

Sardar Sarovar Project

•  The Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP), a gravity dam on the Narmada River in Gujarat, is part of a comprehensive development scheme initiated in 1979 to enhance irrigation and generate hydroelectricity.

List of the Project, Location, State/Union Territories and their Purpose

National Water Grid Mission

• The National Water Grid proposes an extensive engineering approach to manage India's water resources by interlinking rivers through a network of reservoirs and canals.
•  Dr. KL Rao proposed the idea in 1972 to interlink perennial and non-perennial rivers, aiming to address floods in perennial rivers and droughts in peninsular states. However, the Central Water Commission rejected the proposal due to funding and technical concerns.
•  In 1980, the Government of India initiated a perspective plan for water resource development and established the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) in July 1982.
• Although revived in 2003, the interlinking process has been sluggish, with proposed benefits including hydro-power generation, irrigation, navigation, employment, drought and flood resolution, and ecological restoration facing opposition.

National River Conservation Plans

• The Ganga Action Plan (GAP) Phase-I began in June 1985 as a centrally funded scheme to prevent Ganga pollution and enhance water quality.
• GAP Phase-II and the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) extended river cleaning efforts to major rivers nationwide.

National Water Mission

•  Launched under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), the National Water Mission addresses global warming threats.

•  Goals include creating a comprehensive water database, assessing climate change impacts on water resources, promoting citizen and state actions for water conservation, focusing on vulnerable areas, increasing water use efficiency by 20%, and encouraging integrated water resources management at the basin level.

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)

• Launched in July 2015, PMKSY aims to provide protective irrigation to all agricultural farms, promoting rural prosperity.
• Components include Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP), Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP), Har Khet ko Pani Scheme, and Per Drop More Crop Scheme.
•  Implemented by the Ministries of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Rural Development, it covers all states and Union Territories, including the North-Eastern States.

Prelims Facts

• The maximum irrigation potential of India is created through

-Minor Projects and Major Projects (BPSC (Pre) 2008

• In which state the percentage of total cropped area under Irrigation 2011 is the highest

- Haryana (UPPSC (Mains) 2015)

• The Garland Canal System in India was proposed by

-Dinshaw | Dastur (UPPSC (Pre) 1999)

• The Saran irrigation canal is drawn from the river

Gandak River (BPSC (Pre) 2000)

• Bikaner canal was constructed on the river

-Sutlej (WBCS (Pre) 2020

• Which canal system irrigate areas of Bihar?

-Triveni Canal (BPSC (Pre) 2016]

• Indira Gandhi canal has its source at

Harike Barrage (UPPSC (Pre) 1999)

•  Buckingham Canal is situated on which coast on

Coromandel Coast (CGPSC (Pre) 2019)

• Which canal is the most well developed and the oldest canal systems of the world?

- Ganga Canal (RAS/RTS (Pre) 2007

• Mukutmanipur dam is located across the river

- Kangsabati (WBCS (Pre) 2021)

• Somasila dam is located in which Indian state?

-Andhra Pradesh (WBCS (Pre) 2020)

• Kurnool-Cuddapah canal is taken off from which river?

-Tungabhadra (WBCS (Pre) 2021]

• Sarasvati Hydroelectric project is located in

Karnataka [WBCS (Pre) 2021

• What was the primary objective of construction of the Farokka Barrage

-Augmentation of water supply in the Hughly River (WBCS (Pre) 2017)

•  Kiru Hydroelectric Power Project is situated in

- Jammu and Kashmir [WBCS (Pre) 2020)

• Which river is the Omkerashwar Project associated?

- Narmada (MPPSC Pre 2001

• On which river the Nagarjuna Sagar project is located?

- the Krishna (MPPSC (Pre) 2012) (BPSC (Pre) 2015

• On which river is the Hirakud dam constructed?

- Mahanadi [BPSC (Pre) 2000, MPPSC (Pre) 2005

• Which dam has been constructed on the Chambal river?

- Gandhi Sagar [MPPSC (Pre) 2006) 

• On which river the Tehri Dam Uttarakhand?

- (MPPSC (Pre) 2010, UPPSC ( is being On Bhagirathi Rive Pre) 2021)

• Maithon, Belpahari and Tilaiya dam are constructed on the

-Barakar (BPSC (Pre) 2001, UPPSC (Pre) 2011

• Which river is associated with Sardar Sarovar Project?

- Narmada [ UKPSC (Pre) 2012)

• The Reservoir 'Govind Ballabh Sagar' is located in which

- Uttar Pradesh (CGPSC (Pre) 2016

• Which irrigation project of Chhattisgarh is included under

Prime Minister irrigation project? -Kelo Irrigation Project [CGPSC (Pre) 2015]

• Tulbul project is associated with river

- Jhelum (UPPSC (Mains) 2001, 2016

•  Where are Tapovan-Vishnugarh Hydroelectric projects located?

- Uttarakhand [IAS (Pre) 2008]

• In which state of India Baspa river project located? - Himachal Pradesh [UPPSC (Pre) 2010)

• On which river is Dulhasti Power station Situated - Chenab [UKPSC (Pre) 2010)

Self-check

1. Who is regarded as the pioneer of irrigation work in South India?

UKPSC (Pre) 2016

(a) Sir Arthur Cotton

(b) Col Baird Smith

(c) Lt Blaine

(d) Col Robert Smith

2. Which state in India has the largest extent in irrigation percent)?

UKPSC (Pre) 2016

(a) Punjab

(b) Uttar Pradesh

(c) Haryana

(d) Madhya Pradesh

3. Which of the following is/are the advantages/ advantages of practicing drip irrigation? IAS (Pre) 2016

1. Reduction in weed
2. Reduction in soil salinity
3. Reduction in soil erosion

Select the correct answer by using the codes given to below

(a) 1 and 2

(b) Only 3

(c) 1 and 3

(d) None of these

4. AImwhidby ateweldi, the maximum area is

UKPSC (Pre) 2006,16,17

(a) Madhya Pradesh

(b) Bihar

(c) Rajasthan

(d) Uttar Pradesh

5. Chambal canal irrigation project is related with

MPPSC (Pre) 2021

(a) Sindh basin

(b) Ganga basin

(c) Yamuna basin

(d) Tapi basin

6. Which of the following pairs is not correctly matched?

Canal Projects                               Locations

(a) Ghatprabha Canal Project:     Karnataka

(b) Ukai Canal Project:                Gujarat

(c) Nira Canal Project                Maharashtra

(d) Jawai Project:                        Tamil Nadu

7. Polavaram Project is associated with the river

(a) Kaveri

(b) Penner 

(c) Krishna

 (d) Godavari

8. Which of the following is/are the main objectives of the Sharda Tributary Command Development Project (STCDP)?

UPPSC (Pre) 2002, 08

1. To increase agriculture production.
2. To change the format of land use by multiple crop cultivation.
3. Reforms of the land management

Select the correct answer by using the codes given below.

(a) Only 1

(b) 1 and 2

(c) 2 and 3

(d) All of these

9. Indira Sagar dam is situated on which river?

UPPSC (Pre) 2003, CGPSC (Pre) 2013

(a) Tapi

(b) Narmada 

(c) Krishna 

(d) Kaveri

10. Bhakra Nangal is a joint project of

UPPSC (Pre) 1994, BPSC (Pre) 1997, UKPSC (Pre) 2016

(a) Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan

(b) Haryana, Punjab and Delhi

(c)Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab

(d) Punjab, Delhi, Rajasthan

11. Jawahar Sagar hydro-electricty project is situated on which river?

MPPSC (Pre) 2021

(a) Narmada

(b) Chambal

(d) Mahi

(с) Тарі

12. Tehri dam is being constructed in Uttarakhand

MPPSC (Pre) 2010, UPPSC (Pre) 2021

(a) on Bhagirathi river

(b) on Ramganga river

(c) on Alaknanda river

(d) on Bhilangna river

13. Which of the following are not associated with the Chambal Valley Project?

UPPSC (Mains) 2011

1. Gandhi Sagar
2. Jawahar Sagar
3. Gobind Sagar
4. Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar

Codes

(a) 1 and 2

(b) 2 and 3 

(c) 3 and 4 

(d) 1 and 4

14. Nagarjuna Sagar project is located on the river

MPPSC (Pre) 2012, PSC (Pre) 2015

(a) Bhadra

(b) Bhima

(c) Godavari

(d) Krishna

15. Maithon, Belpahari and Tilaiya dams are constructed on the river

BPSC (Pre) 2001, UPPSC (Pre) 2016

(a) Damodar

(b) Barakar

(c) Konar

(d) Bokaro

16. Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?

UPPSC (Mains) 2008, 09

Power Project                                   State

(a) Jawahar Sagar                           Rajasthan

(b) Nagarjuna Sagar                        Andhra Pradesh

(c) Sivasamudram                             Kerala

(d) Gandhi Sagar                           Madhya Pradesh

17. Which of the following dams is not related to the river Narmada?

CGPSC (Pre) 2013, MPPSC (Pre) 2016

(a) Barg

(b) Omkareshwar

(c) Indira Sagar

(d) Ban Sagar

18. Arrange the following states, in descending order with respect  to a number of large dams constructed there.

CGPSC (Pre) 2022

(a) Madhya Pradesh > Gujarat > Rajasthan >

Telangana > Andhra Pradesh

(b) Gujarat > Madhya Pradesh > Rajasthan > Andhra

Pradesh > Telangana

(c) Gujarat > Madhya Pradesh > Rajasthan >

Telangana > Andhra Pradesh

(d) Madhya Pradesh > Gujarat > Telangana >

Rajasthan > Andhra Pradesh

Know Right Answer

1 (a)

2 (a)

3 (c)

4 (d)

5 (c)

6 (d)

7 (b)

8 (d)

9 (b)

10 (a)

11 (b)

12 (a)

13  (c)

14  (d)

15  (b)

16  (c)

17 (d)

18 (a)