Irrigation Projects of Tamil Nadu from 2001-2021
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IRRIGATION PROJECTS OF TAMIL NADU FROM 2001-2021 NAME – VRINDA GUPTA INSTITUTION – K.R. MANGALAM UNIVERSITY 1 ABSTRACT From the ancient times water is always most important for agriculture purpose for growing crops. Since thousand years, humans have relied on agriculture to feed their communities and they have needed irrigation to water their crops. Irrigation includes artificially applying water to the land to enhance the growing of crops. Over the years, irrigation has come in many different forms in countries all over the world. Irrigation projects involves hydraulic structures which collect, convey and deliver water to those areas on which crops are grown. Irrigation projects unit may starts from a small farm unit to those serving extensive areas of millions of hectares. Irrigation projects consist of two types first a small irrigation project and second a large irrigation project. Small irrigation project includes a low diversion or an inexpensive pumping plant along with small channels and some minor control structures. Large irrigation project includes a huge dam, a large storage reservoir, hundreds kilometers of canals, branches and distributaries, control structures and other works. In this paper we discussing about irrigation plan of Tamil Nadu from 2001-2021. INTRODUCTION Water is the important or elixir of life, a precious gift of nature to humans and millions of other species living on the earth. It is hard to find in most part of the world. 4% of India’s land area in Tamil Nadu and inhabited by 6% of India’s population but water resources in India is only 2.5%. In Tamil Nadu, water is a serious limiting factor for agriculture growth which leads to irrigation reduces risk in farming, increases crop productivity, provides higher employment opportunities to the rural areas and increases farmer income. There are two types of irrigation sources that is surface water and ground water. Surface water is more than 95% and ground water is 80% which have been already in use. The total surface water potential is 36 km or 24864 M cum. In the state, there are 17 major river basins with 61 reservoirs and about 41,948 tanks. The annual water potential is 46540 million cubic meters (MCM), surface flows account for about half. Most of the surface water has already been tapped which is the largest user used primarily for irrigation. Through major, medium and minor schemes, 24 lakh hectares are irrigated by surface water. 90% utilisation of surface water for irrigation. 2 The utilisable groundwater recharge is 22,423 MCM. The current level of usage shows the draft of net ground water is 13.558 MCM is about 60 per cent of the available recharge, while 8875 MCM (40 per cent) is the balance available for use. Over the last five years, the percentage of safe blocks has declined from 35.6 per cent to 25.2 per cent while the semi-critical blocks have gone up by a similar percentage. Over-exploitation has already occurred in more than a third of the blocks (35.8 per cent) while eight blocks (2 per cent) have turned saline.1 Human consumption, animal consumption, irrigation and industrial use are involves in major uses of water. In Tamil Nadu, the demand of water is increasing at a fast rate due to increasing population and also larger per capita needs economic growth. Tamil Nadu id heavily dependent on monsoon rains. There are 17 river basins in Tamil Nadu in which Cauvery is only major basin, 13 basins are medium and 3 are minor river basins. 1 Water Resources In Tamil Nadu, ENVIS CENTRE : TAMIL NADU (Jan. 13,2020), http://tnenvis.nic.in/Database/TN- ENVIS_791.aspx 3 From the following below given map, it shows that rivers which flow through this southernmost region of the Indian peninsula are: Bhavani River: Fed, mostly, by the southwestern monsoon, this is one of the main tributaries of the river Kaveri. Cheyyar River: This tributary of River Palar is a major seasonal river that flows through the district of Tiruvannamalai. Chittar River: The main river originates from the Courtallam Hills of the Shencottah Taluk and Tenkasi Taluk in the district of Tirunelveli. It flows through the state along with its 5 tributaries. Ponniyar River: Flowing across the borders in between the taluks of Villupuram and Cuddalore, it finally drains into the Bay of Bengal. Thamirabarani River: This river originates from the peaks named Agathimalai, Aduppukkal Mottai and Cherumunji Mottai in the Tirunelveli district. Vaigai River: While flowing towards the Palk Strait, it changes its course towards the south east near Sholavandan and passes through the town of Madurai. Gundar River: It mainly flows through the districts of Tirunelveli and Virudhunagar in Tamil Nadu. Noyil River: This tributary of Kaveri flows through Dharapuram taluk and Palladam taluk in Erode district and Coimbatore district respectively. Suruli River: This originates from the Suruli Waterfall, which is among the major tourist attractions in the Theni district. Vaipar River: With its origination in the bordering hills of the Kerala state, the river runs through the Virudhunagar district as well as the Theni district.2 2 Water Resources In Tamil Nadu, ENVIS CENTRE : TAMIL NADU (Jan. 13,2020), http://tnenvis.nic.in/Database/TN- ENVIS_791.aspx 4 In Tamil Nadu, the minor and medium irrigation scheme are implemented for increasing the irrigation for agriculture. There are various sources of irrigation that is canals, springs, tanks and wells like open wells and tube wells. SOURCES OF IRRIGATION 1. CANALS (INCULDING SYSTEM TANKS) In Tamil Nadu, canals are the major source of irrigation. The area irrigated by the source is classified under canals, as the system tanks get supply from a permanent storage such as reservoirs, dams, etc. the net area irrigated by all sources in the state is 27.4% for canal irrigation. System tanks during the year under review was 8, 00,161 hectare as against 7, 53,819 hectare recording an increase of 46,342 hectare that is 6.1% of the net area irrigated by canals. The highest net area irrigated by canals in Thiruvarur district with 1, 47.564 hectare (18.7%) followed by Thanjavur district with 1, 34,634 hectare (17.4%) and Nagapattinam district with 1,25,014 hectare (15.7%) of the total net area irrigated by canals in the state. 2. TANKS (NON- SYSTEM TANKS ONLY) 5 The non- system tanks which are partly from the diversion of river water and jungle streams depend fully on rain and fed partly from their independent catchment areas. The non- system tanks cover the net area irrigated is 5, 75,352 hectare registering an increase of 1, 09,997 hectare or 23.6% over previous year. During the year, the extent of area irrigated by tanks is the highest in Sivagangai district with 12.7% followed by Pudukkottai district with 12.5%, Villupuram district with 10.6% and Kancheepuram district with 10.6%. 3. WELLS In Tamil Nadu, wells are the principal source of irrigation. There are two types of wells that is open wells and tube wells which are continued to be the principal sources of irrigation. The net area irrigated by open wells and tube wells together accounted for 15, 36,808 hectare about 52.6% of the total net area irrigated showing an increase of 1,36,414 hectare that is 9.7%. During the year, the highest net area irrigated by wells in Villupuram district with 11.41% of the total net area irrigated by the wells in the state followed by 7.5% in Coimbatore district and 7.0% in Thiurvanmalai district. 4. GROSS AREA IRRIGATED Gross area irrigated involves the net area irrigated and the area irrigated more than once. Gross area irrigated by all sources is 33, 96,600 hectare registering an increase of 3, 09,592 hectare or 10.0% over the previous year due to better rainfall. 5. IRRIGATION INTENSITY The irrigation intensity is 1.16 for the state (the ratio of gross area irrigated to net area irrigated). In the districts of Kanyakumari is 1.40, Thiruvallur is 1.40, Thiruvannamalai is 1.36, Kancheepuram is 1.27, Tirunelveli is 1.26 and Nagapattinam is 1.22 are the highest significantly ratio. IRRIGATION SYSTEMS The irrigation system consists of: A Conveyance System A Distribution System- assures the transport of water through field ditches to the irrigated fields. A Drainage System- removes the excess water from the fields. A Field Application System- assures the transport of water within the fields. 6 A Main Intake Structure or Main Pumping Station- directs water from the source of supply like reservoir or a river into the irrigation system. There are two types of irrigation systems: 1. Surface Irrigation Systems In surface irrigation systems, water is diverted from the rivers and streams. When they are flowing (diversion works) for irrigating the stored upstream side or standing crops by constructing barrier across the flow (reservoirs/ tanks) for future use. There are four types of surface irrigation systems: ▪ Canal System ▪ Diversion Systems ▪ Reservoir or Tank System ▪ River Systems 2. Groundwater Irrigation Systems Groundwater is the underground water which occurs in the standard zone. Its variable thickness and depths below the earth surface. It is utilized through wells by using various lifting devices such as those using animals, diesel or electric power, manual, wind, etc. There are two types of wells that is: ▪ Open Wells or Dug Wells – traditional method which is use for tapping groundwater. ▪ Tube Wells or Bore Wells – use for subsequent development. 1. SURFACE IRRIGATION SYSTEMS ▪ CANAL SYSTEMS Surface water are stored in major and medium irrigation projects.