Water Management in Horticultural Crops (1+1)

Planned Irrigation Development

• On attaining independence, development of irrigation received a great fillip to meet the needs of the growing population.
• Thus the planned development of irrigation was set in motion in 1950-51.
  
• Irrigation schemes were divided into three categories viz., major schemes, medium schemes and minor schemes.
  
• The total irrigated area stood at 22.6 million ha in 1950-51, 9.7 million ha from major and medium irrigation projects and 12.9 million ha from minor irrigation projects.
  
• As a result of massive investment made in the successive plan periods, the total irrigation potential has been more than trebled.
  
• The ultimate irrigation potential planned to be created by the end of this century was 140 million ha. The significant and important projects undertaken and completed since the start of the planning era since 1950-51 are:
• First Five Year plan: Bakra Nangal project in Punjab, Nagarjuna sagar project in AP, Kosi in Bihar, Chambal canal complex for Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, harike in Punjab, Bhadra and Ghataprabha in Mysore, Lower Bhavani in Tamil Nadu, Matatila in Uttar Pradesh and Mayurakshi in WB were initiated. Most of these projects initiated during the period were completed by the end of third plan period.
• Second Five Year plan: Prominent irrigation projects under taken were Rajasthan canal, Gandak project for Bihar and UP, Tawa in MP, Rananaganga in UP, Parambikulam Aliyar in Tamil Nadu, Kabini in Mysore, Kansabti in WB, Kadam, Ukai, and Narmada in Gujarat, Purna , Girna and Mula in Maharashtra.
• Third Five Year plan: Nine major and 86 medium irrigation projects were started while the thrust was for the completion of the pending ones.
  
In the subsequent plan periods thrust was given for completing the pending projects and the area under irrigation was increasing.