Introduction
Apart from drinking water, there are many other competing uses. Of this, the use of water in irrigation is the most important. Since ancient times, states used to make efforts for irrigation through ponds and canals. Construction of Sudarshan lake in Maurya period or mention of Tanisuli canal in Hathigumpha inscription of Kharavela are examples of this. The beginning of modern irrigation in India is believed to be from the year 1831 when the ‘Eastern Yamuna Canal’ was completed in Uttar Pradesh.
The success of agriculture depends on the water availability for various crops. So, the water storage and its sustainable use is of national importance.
Important Facts
- Percentage of Net Irrigated Area to net sown area in ( 2018-19 ) –
- UP – 87.0 %
- India – 51.3 %
- Percentage of Gross Irrigated area to Gross Area Sown ( 2018-19 ) –
- UP – 80.7 %
- India – 52.0 %
- Net Area Irrigated in UP – 144.16 lakh hectares ( 2019-20 )
- Gross Area Irrigated in UP – 229.94 lakh hectares ( 2019-20 )
- Total Created Irrigation Potential – 370.32 lakh hectares ( 2021-22 )
- Utilisation of Gross Irrigation Capacity – 301.22 lakh hectares ( 2021-22 )
- Flood Prone Area in UP – 383178.74 hectares ( 2018-19 )
- UP has the highest number of Tube-wells in the country.
- Tube-wells are used in UP to irrigate 73.4 % of total crop area which is the main mode of irrigation in UP
- In UP Meerut, Mainpuri, Etah, Firozabad, Etawah, Farrukhabad, Bulandshahr, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur and Aligarh districts tube-wells are used mostly for irrigation.
- Canals are used to irrigate 15.1 % of total crop area of UP.
- 6 % area of UP is irrigated through wells.
- In the middle Ganga valley districts like Gonda, Bahraich, Basti, Ayodhya Sultanpur, Azamgarh, Ballia, Rae Bareli, Pratapgarh, Mau, etc. Wells are used most for irrigation purpose.
- Pratapgarh district of UP uses most of its groundwater for irrigation activities.
- UP has 75091 km. Operational canals ( the Statistical Magazine, 2022 )
- In the western part of UP, the highest number of canals are found.
- Small irrigation means include tube wells, wells, ponds etc.
- Medium and large irrigation means come – canals, dams etc.
- About 82.92% of irrigation in Uttar Pradesh is done by private minor irrigation sources.
- The ancient techniques used for irrigation from ponds, tanks etc. are – Bedi, Dhankchi etc.
- The ancient techniques used for irrigation from wells are Rahat, Washer Rahat, Baldev Balti, Dhankali, Charsa, Mayadas Lift etc.
- In Uttar Pradesh, irrigation from ponds and tanks is the most practiced – in the Bundelkhand region.
- Irrigation from wells is most prevalent in the state – in the central region.
- Irrigation through tube wells started in the state – in 1930 from Meerut.
- The biggest means of irrigation in the state is tube well (73.4%).
- Tube-wells are the most intensive in the state – in the western region.
- The first office for irrigation was opened in Uttar Pradesh – in Saharanpur (1823 AD).
- Total canals under Irrigation Department in Uttar Pradesh (2021-22) – 75,091 km ( 8/6/2022 ).
- The oldest canal in Uttar Pradesh is the Eastern Yamuna Canal (by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1631 AD).
- The Eastern Yamuna Canal was excavated by the British – in 1830 AD.
- Uttar Pradesh has the largest canal system – Sharda Canal, 1928 AD (12,368 km).
- The Upper Ganges Canal originating from Haridwar was constructed in – 1854 AD.
- The maximum expansion of canals in the state – in western Uttar Pradesh.
- The most canal irrigated area of the state is – Western Uttar Pradesh.
- The largest number of canals (in length) in the state – in Rae Bareli district.
- There is a canal coming out of the right side of Yamuna river near Delhi – Agra canal.
- Irrigation is done in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan – from Agra canal.
- The barrage built on Yamuna river near Saharanpur which is now called Tajewala Barrage is Hathni Kund barrage.
- Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal, Delhi and Rajasthan have a joint barrage – Hathni Kund Barrage.
- Irrigation is done by the Sharda canal originating from the Sharda (Kali) river at Banbasa (Champawat) – in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.
- Irrigation is done by Ramganga canal originating from Kalagarh (Pauri) from Ramganga river – in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.
- Irrigation is done by the Gandak canal originating from Nepal from the Gandak river – in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
- Ken canal project located in Panna district (M.P.) is a joint project of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
- Ban Sagar Project built on Son river in Shahdol district (M.P.) is a joint project of Uttar Pradesh, M.P. and Bihar.
- Since December 2019, about 1.5 lakh hectare area is being irrigated by Ban Sagar project – in Prayagraj and Mirzapur districts.
- Construction since 1977-78 and Saryu Canal Project announced national project in 2012 to be commissioned – in December 2021.
- The Ganga water project being run in Greater Noida is for drinking water.
- Gokul barrage in Mathura and Agra barrage in Agra have been built on Yamuna river for drinking water.
- Lavkush barrage has been built in Kanpur on river Ganges – for drinking water.
- Gomti barrage has been built in Lucknow on Gomti river – for drinking water and water level.
- Chief Minister Small Irrigation Scheme is being run in the state – from 2020-21.
- Check dam construction scheme is going on since 2008-09 for irrigation and ground water recharge – in Bundelkhand region.
- Artesian Well (Pataltod / Utsrut wells) scheme is being implemented in Bundelkhand region.
- Ram Manohar Lohia group tubewell scheme is being implemented in plateau and semi-plateau blocks – from 2011-12.
- Farm-pond scheme ( खेत-तालाब योजना ) is being run for improvement of ground water level and irrigation – in Bundelkhand region.
- Drip and sprinkler techniques are being used in Uttar Pradesh – mainly in the Bundelkhand region.
- The Ken-Betwa link project of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh was approved for construction by the central government – in December 2021.
Types of Irrigation
Due to uncertain, irregular and untimely monsoon rains in the state, artificial means of irrigation have to be resorted to. The main means of irrigation in the state are as follows-
- Irrigation from ponds, puddles, lakes and rivers
- well irrigation
- tube well irrigation
- canal irrigation
Percentage of distribution of net Irrigated Area by different sources : 2019-20
- Tube-well : 73.4%
- Government : 2.6%
- Private : 70.8%
- Canal : 15.1%
- Wells : 8.6%
- Tank, Ponds & Lakes : 0.6%
- Others : 2.3%
Irrigation from ponds, puddles, lakes & rivers
These are the oldest sources of irrigation in Uttar Pradesh, in which irrigation was done using techniques like Bedi ( बेड़ी ), Dhenkli ( ढेंकली ) etc. Apart from the plateau areas of the state, irrigation from these sources is still prevalent in many other areas. Irrigation is done from time to time with the water collected in ponds, puddles, lakes etc. during rains.
Well Irrigation
The tradition of irrigation from wells in the soft rock and high water level areas of the state is quite ancient. To take out the water from the well, any of the means like Rahat, Mayadas lift, Chain pump, Washer Rahat, Charsa or Moat, Baldev Balti, Dhenkli, Screw, Hand pump etc. are used as per the requirement. Most of the irrigation is done by wells in the middle region of Ganga and Gandak valley. Under this, Gonda, Bahraich, Basti, Ayodhya, Sultanpur, Azamgarh, Ballia, Rae Bareli, Pratapgarh, Mau etc. districts of Uttar Pradesh come.
Tube Well Irrigation
Most of the irrigation in the state is done through this medium. Tube well irrigation started in the 20th century. Its use in the state first started in Meerut in 1930. Generally they are used in those areas where canal water does not reach. Both private and government tube wells are prevalent in the state, but the number of private tube wells is more. Maximum irrigation is done through tube wells in Meerut, Mainpuri, Etah, Firozabad, Etawah, Farrukhabad, Bulandshahr, Muzaffar Nagar, Saharanpur and Aligarh districts of the state.
Irrigation through underground water from tube wells is kept under minor irrigation.
Canal Irrigation
Due to the abundance of perennial rivers in the state, it is easy to develop canals. But due to the high cost of this system, it has not yet been expanded as much as it should be. There has been more expansion of canals in Western UP.
Irrigation through canals is considered as a major and medium irrigation method.
Classification of Irrigation Projects
Irrigation projects in India are divided into three parts:
- Major Irrigation Project,
- Medium Irrigation Project and
- Minor Irrigation Project.
Those projects come under the major irrigation project, under which there is more than 10,000 hectares of cultivable land.
Medium irrigation projects include projects that cover 2,000 to 10,000 hectares of agricultural land.
Those projects come under the minor irrigation project, under which the cultivable land is less than 2,000 hectares.
Major & Minor Irrigation
The first irrigation office was opened in Saharanpur in 1823. Eastern Yamuna Canal, Upper Ganga Canal, Agra Canal & Lower Ganga Canal were constructed in the year 1831, 1854, 1874 & 1878 respectively. Betwa Canal was constructed in the year 1885 to provide irrigation facilities for Jalaun & Hamirpur.
Three command development projects were started in the state in 1973-74. These are three command development projects – Sharda Sahayak, Ramganga and Gandak. The objective of these projects is to increase agricultural production by making quick and maximum use of the irrigation potential created in the state in a scientific manner. In 1990, the Gandak command was merged with the Ramganga command. There is a 50:50 partnership between the Centre and the State in these projects. In 2004-05 this was changed to 50:40:10 with 10% beneficiary contribution.
The following canal systems come under the Sharda Sahayak command Project – Sharda Canal System, Sharda Sahayak Canal System Phase-2, Saryu Canal System Phase-1 and Phase-2, Narayanpur Pump Canal, Devkali Pump Canal, Saryu Pump Canal, Sirsi Pump Canal and Sharda subsidiary canal project.
Under the Ramganga command project, there are projects like Eastern Yamuna, Eastern Ganga, Ken, Betwa, Upper Ganga, Belan, Gyanpur, Son, Tons, Jagrani, Gursarai etc.
Under both the command projects (Sahayak Sharda and Ramganga), a total of 55 districts are covered at present.
Water Sector Restructuring Project
The project was started in 2002 in the least developed Ghaghra-Gomti Valley and Doab districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh with the assistance of the World Bank. Under this, along with improvement and capacity development in water management and irrigation department, river valley plans are prepared. Under this, State Water Resources Agency, State Water Resources Data and Analysis Centre and State Water Tariff Regulatory Commission have been formed for determination of water prices. In this project, works are being done for development and distribution of water resources and increasing the capacity of the irrigation department.
Main canals of Uttar Pradesh
Upper Ganga Canal
The Upper Ganges Canal was built between 1840 and 1854. This canal was taken out from the right bank of the Ganges near Haridwar. Its length is 340 km, but it is 5,640 km including branches. From this Agra canal and Lower Ganga canal also get water. Its modernisation work has ended in June 2006. This canal irrigates about 7 lakh hectares of land in the districts of Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, Mathura, Etah, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Etawah, Kanpur, Farrukhabad and Fatehpur.
Middle Ganga Canal
The Middle Ganga Canal Project was constructed in view of the sufficient water availability in the river Ganges during the rainy season. Under this project, 115.54 km long main canal is being connected to upper Ganga canal by constructing barrage on river Ganga near Bijnor district. With this project, additional water will be available to the existing canals in the command areas of upper Ganga canal in Kharif. The districts of Ghaziabad, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, Mathura, Hathras and Firozabad etc. will be benefited by the expansion of this project.
Lower Ganga Canal
Built in 1878, this canal is derived from the Ganga at a place called Narora (Bulandshahr). With this, about 4.5 lakh hectares of land is irrigated in the districts of Bulandshahr, Aligarh, Etah, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Farrukhabad, Kanpur, Fatehpur and Prayagraj. The total length of this canal is 8,800 km.
Ramganga Canal
A 128 m high dam and canals have been constructed in 1975 on the Ramganga river at a place called Kalagarh in Pauri district of Uttarakhand. With this, about 17.05 lakh acres ( ≈ 6.9 lakh hectares ) of land is irrigated in Bijnor, Amroha, Moradabad, Rampur etc. districts of Uttarakhand and UP.
Agra Canal
This interstate canal was completed in 1874. It is extracted from the right bank of the Yamuna near Delhi (Okhla). This canal irrigates about 1.5 lakh hectares of land in Delhi, Gurgaon, Mathura, Agra and Bharatpur. The total length of this canal including its branches and offshoots is 160 km. It also passes through Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan.
Eastern Yamuna Canal
It is the oldest canal of the state. It was excavated during the reign of Shah Jahan during the Mughal period. It was later expanded by the British in 1830. It is taken out from the left bank of Yamuna at a place called Faizabad (Saharanpur), whose total length including branches is 1,440 km. About 2 lakh hectares of land in Saharanpur, Shamli, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Hapur and Delhi are irrigated through this canal. This canal flows parallel to the Yamuna till Delhi and again joins the Yamuna.
Sharda Canal
Sharda Canal is the largest canal system of the state which was constructed between 1920 and 1928. It originates from the Sharda (Kali or Mahakali) river at a place called Banbasa in Champawat (on the border of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Nepal). The Khatima Hydroelectric Power Project is situated on Sharda Canal. About 8 lakh hectares of land is irrigated by this canal in some districts of Uttarakhand and Pilibhit, Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, Lakhimpur, Hardoi, Sitapur, Barabanki, Lucknow, Unnao, Rae Bareli, Sultanpur, Pratapgarh, Prayagraj etc. districts of Uttar Pradesh. The total length of this canal including branch branches is 9,961.3 km.
The Sharda Sahayak Project
The project is designed to supply water and irrigation facility to lower part of Sharada canal system by diverting flood water of Ghaghara River to Sharda river. The project was started in 1968-69 and water supply in 1974. The project has two barrages namely Girija on Ghaghra river near Katarniyaghat and lower Sharda Barrage on River Sharda. The projects provide benefit to district namely, Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri, Shahajahanpur, Hardoi, Unnao, Lucknow, Barabanki, Pratapgarh, Sultanpur, Ayodhya, Gazipur, Prayagraj and Varanasi.
The Badaun Irrigation Project
In this project, 617 meter long barrage canal is to be constructed on Ramganga in Bareilly, through which irrigation facility will be made available on total area of 37453 hectare of Bareilly and Badaun.
The Gandak Canal
It is a combined canal system of the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. They were built by building a dam on the Gandak or Badi Gandak in Nepal. This irrigates about 20 thousand hectares of land in Kushinagar, Maharajganj, Gorakhpur and Deoria districts.
The Saryu Canal
The purpose of the Saryu Canal Project is to provide irrigation with the water of Ghaghra, Saryu and Rapti rivers in Bahraich, Shravasti, Balrampur, Gonda, Sant Kabir Nagar, Siddharth Nagar, Basti, Gorakhpur and Maharajganj districts of Purvanchal. Under this project, a barrage has been constructed on Ghaghra river near Katarkania Ghat in Nanpara tehsil of Bahraich district. Apart from this barrage, 4 pump canals (Dumariaganj, Utraula, Ayodhya and Gola) have also been constructed. It is worth mentioning that this project, under construction since 1977-78, has been declared a national project in August, 2012. This project has been inaugurated in December 2021.
Canal of Rani Laxmibai Dam
The Mata Tila dam has been built on the Betwa river on the border of Lalitpur district of Uttar Pradesh and Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh. Two canals named Gursarai and Mandar have been taken out from here, which irrigate about 2.64 lakh acres of land in Lalitpur, Jhansi, Hamirpur and Jalaun districts. On completion of the second phase of this scheme, additional 4 lakh acres of land will be irrigated.
Rihand Valley Project
This scheme has been made at a place called Pipri, in the narrow valley of Rihand river in Sonbhadra district. About 40 lakh acres ( ≈ 16.2 lakh hectare) of land in Mirzapur, Sonbhadra, Prayagraj and Varanasi districts are being irrigated by this scheme.
Meja Reservoir Canal
In this project, an earthen dam has been constructed on the Belan river of Prayagraj, through which 70,900 acres ( ≈28,693 hectares ) of land in Prayagraj and Mirzapur districts is irrigated by taking out a 315 km long canal.
The Ken Canal
It is a joint project of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. This canal has been taken out near Panna (Madhya Pradesh), through which about 1.4 lakh acres of land is irrigated in Banda district of the state and Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh. Its length including its branches and branches is 640 km.
Lalitpur Dam Canal
In Lalitpur district, a dam (Lalitpur Dam) has been built on Shahzad river, from which the canal has been taken out. Jhansi, Lalitpur, Jalaun and Hamirpur districts are irrigated by this canal.
Belan Tons Canal
Under this scheme, Baroda Dam in Rewa district (Madhya Pradesh) on Belan river and a reservoir has been built on Maruhar river, a tributary of Belan. Due to which one lakh acres of land in Prayagraj district is irrigated by the Belan canal.
Chandraprabha Dam Canal
In this scheme, a dam has been built on the Chandraprabha river south of Chakia in Chandauli district, from which 24,000 acres (≈ 9,713 hectares) of Chandauli district’s land is irrigated by the canals taken out.
Ahraura Dam Canal
A dam has been built on the Gadai river at a place named Ahraura in Mirzapur district. From which the canals taken out are helpful in the irrigation system of Varanasi and Mirzapur districts.
Arjun Dam Canal
The Arjun Dam has been built on the Arjun River south of Charkhari in Mahoba district. The canals derived from this dam irrigate 26,700 acres (≈10,805 ha) of Mahoba’s land.
Ragawan Dam Canal
The Ragawan or Ranguwan Dam has been built on the Berma River, a tributary of the Ken, at Chhatarpur in Madhya Pradesh. The canal derived from it also supplies water to the Ken Canal and irrigates 93,000 acres (≈37637 ha) of land in Banda district.
Saprar Canal
This canal is taken out from the dam built on the Saprar river near Kuraicha village of Jhansi. About 40 thousand acres (≈16,188 hectares) of land is irrigated by this in Jhansi and Hamirpur districts.
Nagwan Dam Canal
This canal is derived from the dam built on the Karmanasha river at a place called Nagwan in Sonbhadra district, through which 60,000 acres (≈24,282 hectares) of land is irrigated in Mirzapur and Sonbhadra districts.
Betwa Canal
This canal is taken out from the Betwa river at a place called Pareeksha in Jhansi. This canal irrigates about 83,000 hectares of land in Jhansi, Jalaun, Hamirpur districts.
Rajghat Dam and Canal Project
The construction of Rajghat Dam on Betwa river in Lalitpur district was done with equal cooperation of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh governments. With this, irrigation is done in Lalitpur, Jhansi, Jalaun and Hamirpur districts of Uttar Pradesh.
Hathni Kund Barrage (Joint Project of 5 States)
This barrage was constructed in 1872 on Yamuna river near Saharanpur. This provided water to the Eastern and Western Yamuna canals. It was damaged by severe floods in 1978. On May 12, 1994, an agreement was reached between Haryana, Himachal, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan with the mediation of the central government regarding the sharing of Yamuna water. On the basis of this agreement, the foundation stone of the new Hathni Kund Barrage was laid in December 1994. The new Hathni Kund barrage was completed in 1999. It is also known as New Tajewala Barrage.
Ban Sagar Dam and Canal System
This is a joint project of three states, these three states are – U.P., M.P., and Bihar. It is the largest canal project in Asia. The Ban Sagar Dam Project has been constructed on Son River in Shahdol (M.P.) district. Its foundation stone was laid in 1978. From the end of the year 2019, about 1.5 lakh hectare land of Prayagraj and Mirzapur is getting irrigation facilities from this project.
Kanhar Irrigation Project
Irrigation facility is to be provided in Duddi and Chopan blocks by constructing a 3.24 km long dam and canal on Kanhar river in Duddhi tehsil of Sonbhadra.
Maudaha Dam Project
This dam is being constructed on Birma river near Chhani village (Hamirpur).
Gunta Dam Project
This dam and canal has been constructed on the Gunta Nala meeting the Yamuna river near Raipur village (Chitrakoot).
Pathrai Dam Project
This project is under construction on Pathrai river in Bangra block of Jhansi district. A dam and a canal are being built in this project.
Charkhari Dal Canal Project
This project is a part of Maudaha Dam Project. Charkhari Dal Canal Project has been made to provide irrigation facility in Charkhari tehsil of Mahoba district and to use extra water in Arjun Dam.
Kachnauda Dam Project
Under this project, another dam is being constructed 20 km below the previously built Sajnam dam on the Sajnam river in Lalitpur district. The objective of this project is to meet the irrigation deficit in the tail part of canal systems of Govind Sagar Dam in Lalitpur district.
Middle Ganga Canal Project Phase II
Irrigation arrangements are being made between Ganga and Ramganga by making a barrage near Bijnor on the left bank of Ganga.
Badaun Irrigation Project
Under this project, canals are being constructed by building a barrage on Ramganga in Bareilly to provide irrigation facilities in Bareilly, Badaun and Shahjahanpur districts.
Raja Mahendra Ripudaman Singh Chambal Dal Canal Project
This canal is being taken out from Yamuna to Etawah, due to which irrigation facilities will be available in Etawah and Agra.
Ganga Water Project (Drinking Water)
This project of 50 cusec capacity is being constructed at Pratap Vihar near Delhi-Noida bypass. Noida and Ghaziabad will get additional drinking water from this water treatment plant.
Gokul Barrage (Drinking Water)
To solve the drinking water problem of Agra and Mathura, under the Gokul Barrage Project, this project is being constructed to store the rainy season water at a depth of 5 meters by building a barrage on the Yamuna river near Gokul.
Lavkush Barrage (Drinking Water)
The main purpose of this barrage built on the Ganges in Kanpur is to provide drinking water to the city of Kanpur. This barrage is being constructed under the Rs 400 crore Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Water Supply Project.
Agra Barrage (Drinking Water)
This barrage is being built on the Yamuna, 8 km away from the Taj Mahal, to provide drinking water to the residents of Agra.
Pump Canals
Apart from dam canals, emphasis has been laid on the development of pump canals in the state. Most of the pump canals of the state have completed their life time. Some pump canals are as follows-
- Gyanpur Pump Canal Project, Prayagraj
- Yamuna Pump Canal
- Ghaghra Pump Canal
- Dohri Ghat Pump Canal, Mau
- Devkali Pump Canal, Ayodhya
- Son Pump Canal, Sonbhadra.
- Jamnia Pump Canal, Ghazipur.
- Tanda Pump Canal, Ambedkar Nagar
- Jarauli Pump Canal, Fatehpur
State’s major canals/dams at a glance
| Project | Origin / River | Beneficiary District |
| Upper Ganga Canal | Haridwar / Ganga | Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, Mathura, Etah, Firozabad, Etawah, Mainpuri, Kanpur, Fatehpur, Ghaziabad, Farrukhabad |
| Middle Ganga Canal | Bijnor / Ganga | Ghaziabad, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, Mathura, Hathras and Firozabad etc. |
| Lower Ganga Canal | Nrora / Ganga | Bulandshahr, Aligarh, Etah, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Farrukhabad, Kanpur, Fatehpur and Prayagraj |
| Ramganga Canal | Kalagarh(Pauri) / Ramganga | Bijnor, Amroha, Moradabad, Rampur etc. |
| Eastern Yamuna Canal | Faizabad (Saharanpur) / Yamuna | Saharanpur, Shamli, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Hapur and Delhi |
| Agra Canal | Okhla / Yamuna | Delhi, Gurgaon, Mathura, Agra and Bharatpur |
| Sharda Canal | Banbasa ( Nepal ) / Sharda | Pilibhit, Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, Lakhimpur, Hardoi, Sitapur, Barabanki, Lucknow, Unnao, Rae Bareli, Sultanpur, Pratapgarh, Prayagraj. |
| Saryu Canal | Katarniya Ghat / Ghaghara | Bahraich, Shravasti, Balrampur, Gonda, Basti, Sant Kabir Nagar, Gorakhpur, Maharajganj. |
| Ghaghara Canal | Mirzapur / Ghaghara ( Son’s Tributary ) | Sonbhadra, Mirzapur |
| Betwa Canal | Pareeksha ( Jhansi ) / Betwa | Jhansi, Hamirpur, Jalaun |
| Ken Canal | Panna ( MP ) / Ken | Banda |
| Gandak Canal | Nepal / Gandak | Gorakhpur, Kushinagar, Maharajganj, Deoria |
| Canal of Rani Laxmibai Dam | Mata Tila ( Lalitpur ) / Betwa | Hamirpur, Jalaun, Jhansi, Lalitpur |
| Rajghat Canal | Lalitpur / Betwa | Lalitpur, Jhansi, Hamirpur, Jalaun |
| Canals of Rihand Valley Project | Pipari ( Sonbhadra ) / Rahand | Mirzapur, Sonbhadra, Varanasi, Prayagraj |
| Ban sagar Canal | Sahdol ( MP ) / Son | Mirzapur, Prayagraj |
| Belan-Tons Canal | Riwa / Belan | Prayagraj |
| Banganga Barrage Canal | Shohratgarh ( Siddharth Nagar ) / Banganga | Siddharth Nagar, Basti |
| Canals of Naugarh Barrage | Naugarh ( Ghazipur ) / Karmnasha | Chandauli, Ghazipur |
| Meja Reservoir Canal | Meza ( Prayagraj ) / Belan | Prayagraj, Mirzapur |
| Chandraprabha Barrage Canal | Chakiya ( Chandauli ) / Chandraprabha | Chandauli |
| Ahraura Barrage Canal | Ahraura ( Varanasi ) / Gadai | Varanasi, Mirzapur |
| Nagwan Barrage Canal | Nagwan / Karmnasha | Mirzapur, Sonbhadra |
| Kanhar Irrigation Project | Dudhi Tahsil / Kanhar | Sonbhadra |
| Arjun Barrage Canal | Charkhari ( Hamirpur ) / Arjun | Hamirpur |
| Maudha Barrage Canal | Hamirpur / Birma | Hamirpur |
| Dhasan Canal | Jhansi / Betwa | Jhansi, Hamirpur |
| Saprar Canal | Mauranipur ( Jhansi ) / Saprar | Jhansi, Hamirpur |
| Lalitpur Barrage Canal | Lalitpur / Shahzad | Lalitpur, Jhansi, Jalaun, Hamirpur |
| Hamirpur Canal | Hamirpur / Yamuna | Hamirpur, Jalaun, Jhansi |
| Kahod Canal | Jhansi / Betwa | Jhansi, Jalaun |
| Kurar Barrage Canal | Hamirpur | Hamirpur |
| Urmil Barrage Canal | Mahoba / Urmil | Mahoba |
| Utari Barrage | Lalitpur / Utari | Lalitpur |
| Pathrai Barrage Canal | Jhansi / Pathrai | Jhansi |
Minor Irrigation
About 77% of irrigation in the state is done through minor irrigation means. About 78% of this irrigation is done by private means. The following programs related to minor irrigation are being run in the state-
Mukhyamantri Small Irrigation Scheme – Free boring scheme was running in the state since 1985 and medium depth tube well scheme and deep boring since 2004-05. By ending these two, the Chief Minister’s Minor Irrigation Scheme is being implemented from 2020-21.
Scheme for construction of deep tube wells by heavy ring machines – This scheme is going on in plateau etc. areas with difficult strata. In this, the farmers are given a grant of 50% of the cost or a maximum of Rs 1 lakh by the government. In this, boring of more than 60 meters depth is done.
Check Dam Construction Scheme – This scheme is being run from 2008-09 to make check dams on rivers/drains for maximum recharge of ground water along with use of rain water in plateau areas of the state (Bundelkhand).
Artesian Well Scheme – Artesian wells ( उत्स्रुत या पातालतोड़ कुँए ) are made in Nadi village block in Jalaun. In this scheme, up to 50% of the total cost is given by the government for Handset Artesian well.
Community Blast Well Scheme – This scheme is running since 2011-12. Applicable for small and marginal farmers in 39 plateau/semi plateau blocks of Jhansi, Lalitpur, Chitrakoot, Mahoba, Prayagraj, Mirzapur, Sonbhadra and Chandauli districts of the state, where free boring is not possible. In this scheme, a 15 m deep well of 6 m diameter is constructed.
Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Collective Tubewell Scheme – This scheme, which has been operated since November 2012, is also being run in areas with deep strata where free boring is not possible. In this scheme, a maximum grant of Rs 3 lakh 92 thousand is given to the small group of small and marginal farmers of the general category, while a maximum grant of Rs 5 lakh is given to the majority group of SC / ST / BC / minority category.
Summary
Irrigation is a process of bringing water to agricultural farm artificially. There are various reasons to have irrigation-
- Monsoonal rainfall has spatial and temporal uncertainity in Uttar Pradesh.
- Different water requirement-more for kharif and less for rabi crop.
- To reclaim the land and promote dryland farming.
- To reduce ‘agricultural distress’ and minimise drought like situation.
Source of Irrigation : ( 2019-20 )
- Tube-wells – 73.4%
- Canal – 15.1%
- Wells – 8.6%
- Ponds, lakes & tanks – 0.6%
- Others – 2.3%
As shown in the figure & data, Tube-Well and Canals are the important means of Irrigation in Uttar Pradesh.
(1) Tubewell – Since Uttar Pradesh has more ground water resource which is available near surface. Tubewell has various advantages such as lower cost, simple process, no issue of salinity or alkalinity, no dispute over ownership.
Whereas, major problems associated with tubewells are depleting water level, low utility during drought as water level is already low and has limited spatial utility.
(2) Canal Irrigation – It refers to diverting water from river to the farms using canals.
This mode of irrigation is developed in UP because of perennial rivers, evenness of the land, penetrable soil so canals can be constructed easily.
The major problems associated with canal irrigation are-water logging, salinity & alkalinity, water wastage, huge land & capital requirement.
Uttar Pradesh is an agrarian state, so irrigation is lifeline of Uttar Pradesh. With better water utilisation, micro-irrigation, mapping of water level accross state and use of technology, we can reduce water wastage and resolve associated issues
Drainage System of Uttar Pradesh
20th Agriculture Census : India vs UP
Land Use Indicators : India vs Uttar Pradesh
Crop Rotation In Uttar Pradesh
Cropping Seasons in Uttar Pradesh
Agriculture and Animal Husbandry in Uttar Pradesh