NEED AND SCOPE OF MODERNISATION OF DISTRIBUTARIES IN UPPER GANGA CANAL

Abstract

The Upper Ganga Canal (UGC) System is one of the oldest and biggest irrigation system in India. It's net command area is about 1.0 Mha. Due to lot of squeezing of agricultural land, the main increase in agricultural production will have to come from full utilisation of potential area developed for irrigation (from saving of water losses on existing old system, double cropping, improvements in agricultural practices, better water management and use of fertilizers and pesticides). As the above existing system was functioning with much more than '.its actual designed capacity to fulfil the increased water •demand, by mid 70s, GOUP had recognised that the system was reaching the end of its effective life span. An important inequity in water supply has developed through extensive sugarcane cultivation in the upper parts of. the project area. This had made the irrigation services in the lower part of command even more unrealible and untimely because, of reduced water supply. It was 'felt that system's capacity could not be enhanced further without undertaking a major modernisation and rehabilitation of the existing system. Hence the Upper Ganga Irrigation Modernisation Project (UGIMP) was undertaken from 1980s and still continuing....