Himalayan Times (1956)

June 17, 1956

'jSiinntaneat iitnto

Seven

of South India the cons-
truction of tanks was quite
common, as in the lamil
tract.

During the British
regime many of the exist-
ing major irrigation works
were constructed and put
into operation. The West-
ern Yamuna Canal, the
Eastern Yamuna Canal in
U. P. and the Cauvery
Delta were three of the
improvement schemes of
irrigation which are also
most lucrative in India.
Certain other works were
also taken up, buteven then
the total area irrigated in
1951 was 51 million acres
out of a total cultivable
area of 361 million acres,
and a total cultivated area
of 292 million.

The present Five Year
Plan was only part of
the long term programme
which aims at doubling,
on a period of 15 to 20
years, the area under irri-
gation and the production
of power to 7 million
K.W.S. The immediate
programme included about
140 large irrigation schemes
and about 100 power
schemes. Of the total
original outlay on irrigation
and power development
about Rs. 430 crores were
to be devoted to multi-
purpose and irrigation
projects, Es. 120 crores
to power projects and
Bi. 112 crores to minor
irrigation schemes.

In the Second Plan,
although industries have
been given priority, irri-
gation and power also
occupy a major place in
the Plan frame. The Plan
frame as prepared by
Professor Mahalanobis
allots Rs. 900 orores for
irrigation, agriculture)com-
munity projects, etc. and
Rs. 450 crores for power.

The Planning Com-
mission in the first report
envisaged doubling the
area under irregation du-
ring the next 15 to 20
years. Th9 works under-
taken during the First
Plan, will bring 7 million
acres of additional area
under irrigation at the
end of the Plan, while
8.5 million acres will be
brought under irrigation
by minor works. The total
area -vould thus be 15 5
million aores, bringing the
total irrigated area of the
country to 66.6 million
acres. Although the final
decision as to the specific
projects to be undertaken
during the Second Five
Year Plan has not been
taken, it may be presu.
med that, on the basis
of reaching the above
target, projeots likely to
cover about 12 to 15
million acres of additional
land may be taken up.
The net results to be
achieved from these irri-
gation schemes will be
about 15 million tons of
additional foodgrains. This
is one aspeot of utilizing

the waters of the rivers.
But electric power will
be needed for large and
small industries, and it
is apt that the large
untapped available water
resources should be har-
nessed to generate electric
energy.' •

It cannot be gainsaid
that we are lagging far
behind in the consump-
tion of electricity when
compared to other count-
ries. The per capita con.
sumption, which stood at
the beginning of the Plan
period at 13 25 K.w, will
rise to 18 K.w. at the
end of the first Plan.
And our target is 30 K.w.
per capita at the end of
the second Five Year
Plan. But having regard
to the fact that the per
capita consumption in the
U.S.A. is 2,772 K.w. and
1;291- K.w. in the U. K.
this target would appear
too modest It only in-
dicates, however, the lee-
way to be made up be-
fore we can hope to be
anywhere near the indus-
trial countries of Europe
and America.

The powerX potential"1
at the beginning of the
Plan period was only 1.7
million K.w. During these
five years an additional
1.2 million K.w. will be
added fiom the works
already undertaken and at
the end of the second
Plan the works which are
under construction will
add 1.1 million K w.