Since 1892 the area
irrigated has varied between 10,000 and 20,000 acres. The return shows
about 1100 irrigation tank and nearly 8000 wells, of which about 1500
are durable and the remainder temporary. The number of wells appears
to have almost doubled in the last fifteen years, while that of tanks
shows little variation. A kachcha are unlined well may be med
at a cost of about Rs. 30, the side being shored up with rough unhewn
stones, but a masonry well will need Rs 250 and in unfavorable
circumstances Rs. 500. The depth of the well, the nature of the rock
and the thickness of the walls are the determining factors. The usual
method of irrigation is by the mot or leather bag or a pair of
bullocks. Two upright on the parapet of the well carry a cross-bar and
pulley, over which a thick rope passes, one end of it end being
attached to the yoke of the bullocks, and the other end of the bottom
of leather bag. Another rope is fastened to the mouth of the bag end
passing over a wooden roller placed on the parapet is also fixed to
the yoke of the bullocks. The bullock are then made to go down the
step inclined path or dhao prepared for the purpose, and on
doing so they will pull the bag up to surface. As it reaches the
parapet, the lower rope draws the nozzle over the roller and the upper
rope tips up the bottom of the bag, thus the causing the water to flow
out into the small masonry cistern (taka) constructed at the
base of the parapet, from which it is carried by channels into the
land to be irrigated. The bullocks are then trained to go backward up
the path; the strain of the rope is relaxed; and the mot drops
back into the well by its own weight. The cost of the bag is about
Rs.10 and of the accessories Rs.5; but the bag needs replacing every
two years.
Tank irrigation is
effected either by channels (salang), or by direct cut (murkhand),
the latter being of course the most reliable supply. Irrigation
banking up by or diverting a stream is occasionally practiced on a
small scale.
