Revision as of 04:47, 9 January 2015

Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.

Indus Inundation Canals

An Imperial system of inundation canals in the Punjab, taking off from the west bank of the Indus, and irrigating part of Dera (ihazi Khan District. They are fourteen in number and cover a river frontage of 175 miles, protecting a low lying narrow strip of country from 6 to t6 miles wide, known as the Sind. These were mostly constructed by the Mirani chiefs and other native rulers, and were greatly improved by Sawan Mai, governor under Ranjit Singh. Five, however, were constructed by Baloch chiefs in 1862-3 for the use of their tribal lands, but proving a financial failure were bought up by Go\ernment.

The gross area commanded is 1,374 square miles, of which 661 are cultivable. The greatest area of crops matured is 348 scjuare miles, and the average about 300 square miles. The normal period of flow is from the beginning of May to the end of September ; consequently, while the autumn crop is matured entirely by canal water, the supply in the spring harvest is sufficient only for ploughing and sowing, after which wells are used. The average discharge of the whole series is 2,400 cubic feet per second. There are 680 miles of main canals and branches, of which 108 have been constructed under British rule, 75 miles of distributaries, and 7 of drainage cuts and escapes. As the irrigated tract is below the flood- level of the Indus, a system of embankments 75 miles long has been

The Indus Conservancy dcpaitnitnt and fees levied for its upkeep were abolished in March, 1906. built, and also works for training the river and protecting the irrigation works. The capital sum exi)ended from 1854 to the end of March, 1904, is 8-6 lakhs. Until 1897 there was practically no net revenue; in that year, by the revised settlement of Dera Ghazi Khan District, the indirect revenue was substantially increased and a low occupier's rate imposed. The gross revenue for 1903-4 was 4-1 lakhs and the net revenue i lakh, or 11 -88 per cent, on the capital expenditure. A con- siderable income is derived from Government lands on the Dhundi canal.