FILE CSR E ST R ICTE D Re p o r t N o. TO (IDA) 9d This report was prepared for use within the Association. It moy not be pub- lished nor may it be quoted as representing the Association's views. The Association accepts no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the contents of the report. INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION IJTTAR PRADESH TUBEWELL IRRIGATION PROJECT INDIA August 29, 1961 Department of Technical Operations Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized
Transcript
FILE CSR E ST R ICTE DR e p o r t N o. TO (IDA) 9d
This report was prepared for use within the Association. It moy not be pub-lished nor may it be quoted as representing the Association's views. TheAssociation accepts no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of thecontents of the report.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION
IJTTAR PRADESH TUBEWELL
IRRIGATION PROJECT
INDIA
August 29, 1961
Department of Technical Operations
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CURRENCY EQUIVALENT
4.75 rupees (Rs) = 1 dollar (US$)Rs. 4.75 million = US $1 million
1 Maund (Md) = 37.3 Kg. or 8Z. 3 lbs.
I N D I A
UTTAR PRADESH TUBEETLL IRRIGATION PROJECT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE NO.
SUMMARY i - ii
I. INTRODUCTION 1
II. BACKGROUND INFORMATION 1
III. TUBEWELL IRRIGATION IN UTTAR PRADESH 2
A. History 2B. Description of Tubewell Irrigation 3
IV. THE PROJECT 4
A. General 4B. Proposed Works 4C. Cost Estimates 4D. Finance 5E. Organization and Management 6F. Operating Results 7
V. BENEFITS 8
VI. CONCLUSIONS AND RECCMIENDATIONS 9
ANNEXES
1. Foodgrain Production in Uttar Pradesh and in India2. Some Details of Tubewells
A. GeneralB. The Standard Tubewell of Uttar PradeshC. Yield of a Standard TubeweliD. Irrigation Regime of a Standard Tubewell
3. Costs of Establishing a Tubewell4. Costs of Tubewell Program5. Annual Revenues and Expenses6. Cash Flow Statement for the Operation of One Tubewell7. Gross Value of Increase in Production from One Tubewell8. Effect of Tubewell Project on Farm Income on a Four-Acre
Farm, Fully Irrigated
ONE MAP
I N D I A
UTTAR PRADESH TUBEWELL IRRIGATION PROJECT
SUMMARY
i. The Government of India presented to IDA, within the generalcontext of proposals concerming financing of the Third Five-Year Plan,a number of projects in the field of agriculture. One of them was forcontinuance of the program of tubewell irrigation development in theState of Uttar Pradesh. The general objectives of the program are toincrease agricultural production in the State of Uttar Pradesh by pro-viding irrigation water to regions that have inssuficient precipitationand are not within the reach of canal irrigation systems.
ii. The project, as appraised in the report, would be the continu-ation of a State well-drilling program for the three-year period April 1,1961 through March 31, 1964. In this period, 800 wells would be drilledand equipped in areas where water resources have been proven. The wellswould be drilled to an average depth of 300 to 400 feet and have an aver-age capacity of 3500o gallons per hour. The pumps would be driven byelectric power supplied from the State grid system and would dischargeinto about two miles of canal. Each well would irrigate approximately400 acres.
iii. The costs of drilling and equipping a well are estimated atan average of Rs. 51,500; a further Rs. 20,000 has to be added for theconnection with the electric grid. The costs of the project are esti-mated at Rs. 57.2 million. The direct requirements of foreign exchangeare small (about US$1.3 million), but the amount of the proposed IDAcredit would be US$ 6 million, or about 50 per cent of the costs of theproject. The Government of India would be the borrower. The project isincluded in the Third Five-Year Plan and the terms of lending by theCentral Government to the State of Uttar Pradesh for execution of theproject will be those normally applied to this type of project (4-1/8 percent interest for a term of 12 years without any grace period).
iv. The Irrigation Department of Uttar Pradesh would be the execu-ting agency and would drill, equip and operate the wells. The Depart-ment has had long experience in this work and it presently operates morethan 6,0o0 such wells successfully. It is fully capable of executingthe project efficiently.
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v, Water rate policies for irrigation projects in India are ingeneral lenient if compared with the policy in other countries, andrelatively few projects are self-liquidating. Under the present waterrate schedules, a tubewell has to be operated for nearly 5,000 hours ayear to cover its costs of operation, including depreciation and in-terest. The farmers have, in the past, been slow in availing themselvesof the services of the wells and it has taken an average of five yearsto reach 5,000-hours operation. The Government of Uttar Pradesh is con-sidering a change in the water rate structure to encourage the farmersto use the water more quickly. The report endorses the proposed changeand also recormends an improvement in extension services to encouragefarmers to make earlier use of the facilities.
vi. Estimates on the benefits of tubewell irrigation show thatthese benefits are very considerable. The investments per acre are lowerfor tubewell irrigation than for canal irrigation and the annual increasein gross value of production of approximately Rs. 180,000 per well ismore than two tires the average public investment in a well. The netannual income of a farmer with four acres of land may increase by Rs. 1500.
vii. The project would be suitable for an IDA credit to the Govern-ment of India to the equivalent of US$6 million. During negotiations wehave been informed that the Government of Uttar Pradesh will introducelegislation for a change in the water rate structure to promote a morerapid full utilization of the wells, and that special attention will be.given to the education of farmers in the proper utilization of irrigationwater.
I N D I A
UTTAR PRADESH TUETIELL IRRIGATION PROJECT
I. INTRCDUCTION
1. A mission visited India in February and March 1961 to reviewwith the Indian authorities projects in the field of agriculture and toappraise those thought ready and suitable for IDA financing. Among theproposals selected for appraisal was a program for the installation oftubewells in the State of Uttar Pradesh.
2. This project comprises the drilling and equipping of 800 tube-wells in Uttar Pradesh in the period April 1,1961 to March 31,196h. Thecosts of the project have been estimated at approximately Rs. 57.2 mil-lion (US$12 million). The amount of the proposed IDA credit would bethe equivalent of US$ 6 million.
3. This report contains an appraisal of the project based on docu-ments submitted by the Indian authorities and on findings of the fieldmission.
II. BACKGROUI) INFORMATION
4. The State of Uttar Pradesh straddles the great alluvial plain ofthe Ganges River in Northern India, extending from the vicinity of Delhito the junction of the Gogra and Ganges Rivers about 500 miles eastward.It is a very populous state, -with about 74 million people out of a totalfor India of 437 million.
5. Although the State lies north of the tropics, it experiences avery hot, dry pre-monsoon season (April-June), a hot, humid monsoon season(July-October) and a cool, dry winter season (November-March). Precipi-tation varies from 25 inches in the western sector to 50 inches in theeastern sector of the State, most of it falling in the monsoon season.
6. The alluvial soils of the Ganges Plain, which are of mediumtexture and generally low in soluble salts, are suitable for a wide rangeof climatically adapted crops. Much of the land may be used to grow twoor even three crops a year wlhere irrigation water is available. Ferti-lizers are generally needed to obtain full benefit from irrigation.Approximately 13 million acres are irrigated out of a total cropped areain the State of 50 million acres.
7. Uttar Pradesh is a very important producer of food grains andsugar (see Annex 1). It produces about one third of India's wheat crop,about half of the barley crop and about two fifths of the sugar.
a. Most of the farm holdings are quite small, the average being5.3 acres. This, under conditions in India, allows for commercial produc-tions on many farms. The average farm family consists of five persons whoperform most of the required labor with the help of a pair of bullocks.Arrangements for farm credit and for marketing are fairly well developedin Uttar Pradesh.
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III. TUBEWELL IRRIGATION IN UTTAR PRADESH
A. History
9. Despite the fact that a large section of farmland in UttarPradesh is under the command of gravity irrigation canals or of shallowwells, a need was felt in the thirties for an additional source of water.There was much land at a somewhat higher elevation and out of reach ofgravity irrigation. In other areas the canal water was often only avail-able during part of the year. Many farmers had developed shallow wellsand other primitive means for supplementing precipitation and canal irri-gation, but this was unsatisfactory because the supply was too small.
10. The possibility of obtaining additional supplies of irrigationwater by means of tubewells was first seriously considered in 1931, andtubewell development was given impetus by an abundant supply of electricpower generated at the falls in the Ganga Canal. In the period 1931-1934experimental tubewells were installed and the successful ones wereoperated commercially mainly in the western districts, which greatlyneeded irrigation. As a result of these trials it was decided that theindividual tubewell of approximately 1-1/2 cusec capacity, selling waterby quantity, was superior to a system of integrated tubewells and canalssupplying water on an acreage basis. Specifications concerning depth,capacity, spacing, operation, etc., were also drawn up and are still inuse.
11. In 1936, the chief engineer of the State put forward the GangesValley State Tubewell Irrigation Scheme. This involved the installationof 1,500 standard 1-1/2 cusec tubewells in the seven western districts ofBijnor, Moradabad, Budaun, NV1uzaffarnagar, Meerut, Bulandshar, and Aligarh.The wells would command 1,462,000 acres of culturable land, which had noother effective water supply and would irrigate an estimated 182,750 acresof sugar cane, 350,880 acres of wheat and 87,720 acres of kharif (wet-season) crops. This proposal -'as accepted by the government of the dayand the scheme was put into operation. In 1936/37, there were 533 wellsin operation and at the beginning of World War II (1939/ho) the number hadincreased to 1i71 and the original tubewell scheme was virtually complete.Tubewell irrigation was later extended to other districts of Uttar Pradesh;there were 2,931 in 1954/55 and 6,048 in 1959/60. Some are in the easterndistricts of Uttar Pradesh but the greater number is still located in thedrier, western sector. A fully utilized tubewell irrigates approximately400 acres of land so that approximately 2,400,000 acres of land in UttarPradesh State are actually or potentially irrigable by the existing wells.This development has been so successful that, under the Third Plan,projects for irrigation by tubewells are proposed in nine of the Statesof the Union. The number of proposed tubewells in these projects exceeds2,000 and it is interesting to note that the design and specifications arevirtually the same as in the original Uttar Pradesh scheme.
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B. Description of Tubewell Irrigation
12. Details of a tubewell and its operation are given in Annex 2.In summary, a tubewell is bored to penetrate approximately 100 feet ofgood water-bearing strata of sand or gravel. The average depth of boresin Uttar Pradesh is from 300 feet to 400 feet but occasionally it isnecessary to go as deep as 1000 feet. The water subsequently rises undersub-artesian pressure to from 15 feet to 30 feet below ground level.
13. There are two types of wells, strainer wells and slotted-pipewvells. The boring of strainer wells is done by percussion or with arotary rig using 6 to 12 inch casing pipes. Slotted-pipe wells, whichvary from 18 to 27 inches in dianeter are bored with a rotary rig. Thespace betwzeen the bore and 6-inch screen or strainer is filled with gravel.
14. Most wells are equipped with a vertical shaft pump (bore holetype), driven by an electric motor placed at ground level. The motor issupplied at 400 volts from a local ll,OO/bO volt outdoor transformersited near the well. The motor, metering equipment, etc., are housed ina small masonry structure built over the well. A small number of wellswould have diesel motors.
15. Water is measured by means of a masonry tank and V-notch, dis-charging into a distribution system usually from two to three miles long,built and naintained by the State. One to two miles of canal are masonrylined. The farmers have to dig ditches between the outlets of the Govern-ment canal and their farms.
16. The administration keeps a time schedule of the waterings perfield. For this purpose, the fields commanded by a well are numberedand mapped. This schedule also serves as a basis for the water bills.
17. In order to prevent undue water table reduction, wells arespaced about one and a half miles apart. Observations of test wells overa 25-year period show that the operation of the wells has hardly any in-fluence on the water table and that the rate of exploitation is conser-vative. The well water is of excellent quality for irrigation.
18. The yield of a standard tubewell is about 1.5 cusec and providesenough water to irrigate approximately 400 acres of land under the croppingsystem usually adopted in Uttar Pradesh. Since the tubewells are ratherwidely spaced in order to avoid over-exploitation of the ground water, theycommand nearly 1,000 acres where the topography is favorable. The cost ofcanals is a relatively small proportion of the total cost of the finishedtubewell. Consequently, the Government of Uttar Pradesh prefers to extendthe canals throughout the suitable areas in order to spread the benefitsamong farmers rather than to restrict irrigation to a portion of the suit-able land.
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19. The typical cropping pattern for the area irrigated is as follows:
Crops Acres
Sugar Cane (all year) 125Other wet season crops 35Other dry season crops,
mainly wheat 240
Total 4oo
IV. THE PROJECT
A. General
20. The project comprises a three-year program for extension of thetubewell system in tttar Pradesh.
21. During the three fiscal years ending March 31, 1964, 800 tube-wells -ould be drilled and equipped to provide irrigation water for approxi-mately 320,000 acres. The Irrigation Department of Uttar Pradesh wouldexecute and operate the project under the terms of a project agreement tobe concluded between IDA and the State of Uttar Pradesh.
B. Proposed Works
22. The group of tubewells would consist of 530 slotted-pipe wellsand 270 strainer wells. They would be drilled to an average depth of 300to boO feet and have an average capacity of 1.5 cusec. They would beequipped with pumps driven by electric motors with power supplied from theState grid system. The State Electricity Board, within the Ministry ofIrrigation and Power of Uttar Pradesh, would undertake the work of connec-tion to the grid system and could supply adequate power for the operationof the wells included in the project. A small number of wells wJould havediesel motors.
23. The water distribution system of each well would include abouttwo miles of canal, complete with measuring devices, syphons and otherstructures. Approximately half of the canals would be masonry lined. Farmditches would be dug by the water users themselves.
C. Cost Estimates
2h. The costs of a slotted-pipe well are estimated at Rs. 55,500 andthose of a strainer well at Rs. 43,500 (average Rs. 51,500; see Annex 3).These costs estimates include 15% contingencies. Any unexpected engineeringhazards would be spread over 800 wells and would be negligible and the pro-vision should be sufficient. The estimate does not include interest duringconstruction, since the construction period of each well is only about twomonths. The cost of connection to the grid system, estimated at Rs. 20,000per well, is not included in the above figures.
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25. The costs of the project, including connection to the grid sys-ten, are estimated at Rs. 57.2 million, or the equivalent of US$12 mil-lion (Annex 4). The estimate is based on recent experience and is realistic.
D, Finance
General
26. The proposed IDA credit would be for US$6 million (Rs. 28.5mil-lion equivalent), or fcr 50 per cent of the costs.
27. The borrower of an IDA credit of US$6 million vould be the Govern-ment of India. Terms similar to those of other IDA credits granted to datewould seem appropriate.
28. The Government of India would make the funds necessary for theexecution of the project available to the State of Uttar Pradesh as a loan.It is assumed that the terms for this lending would be the same as thosefor similar lending for projects of this nature under the Second Five-YearPlan; that is, a rate of interest of 4-1/8 per cent and repayment withouta grace period in 12 equal annual installments. Funds derived from theproposed IDA credit would also be made available to the State on these terms.
29. Foreign Exchange. - Most of the equipment and materials requiredfor the project are manufactured locally. The main izported items aredrilling rigs and their transports and well pipes and casing. The Depart-ment of Irrigation of Uttar Pradesh has 18 drilling rigs and would requireat least 10 additional rigs. The cost of 10 rigs, six trailer trucks, work-shop equipment and spare parts, is estimated at Rs. 3million, or US$625,0co.The purchase of pipes and casing for 800 wells would require foreign ex-change to the amount of approxiwately US$700,000. The total direct foreignexchange requirements of the project are, therefore, the equivalent ofUS$1.3 million, or about Rs. 6.2 million. International tenders would becalled for the equipment to be imported. In the case of drilling rigs,there would be a decided advantage in standardization on the two makes al-ready held, so long as quotations are competitive.
30. Local Currency. - Rs. 51 million would be required in local cur-rency, of which the proposed IDA credit would provide Rs, 22.3 million.The tubewell program of Uttar Pradesh has been incorporated in the State'sThird Five-Year Plan, wihich has been accepted by the Central Government.The central development budget for the Third Plan would include provisionfor the remaining local currency costs of the project (Rs. 28.7 million).
31. Disbursements for the equipment (USt1.3 million) would be madeagainst import documents, but the balance of the proposed credit (US$4.7million) would be disbursed as a percentage of local currency expenditures.
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E. Organization and Management
32. The Irrigation Department of Uttar Pradesh would site, drilland equip the wells and subsequently operate and maintain them. Becauseof the highly seasonal nature and occasional failure of the monsoon, theState has always set a high store by its irrigation systems and the Irri-gation Department of the Ministry of Irrigation and Power has a long andsuccessful history of irrigation development. The Department is in thecharge of the Chief Engineer, Irrigation, who has always been of highcaliber and an important figure in the State administration. An assistantto the present Chief Engineer would be in direct charge of the tubewellprogram.
33. The State is divided into seven "circles" for purposes of Irri-gation Department administration. Each "circle", which is in the chargeof a superintending engineer, is divided into three or four divisions(total 25), each under a divisional or executive engineer. These engi-neers are assisted by one or more sub-divisional engineers, who arerecent engineering graduates.
34. Within each "circle"', there is a special organization for theselection of tubewell sites and for the subsequent layout of the land forirrigation. Areas of alkali land and other non-arable lands are avoided,the vell being sited in the midst of a culturable area of approximately1,OCO acres. Detailed contour surveys are then carried out and maps on ascale of 16 inches to a mile are used for the layout of canals and ditches.
35. As a rule, a sub-divisional engineer is assigned to supervise theoperation of soe 150 lwells with the help of four technical assistants.Each well is operated by a guard, who is responsible for running the pump,opening the gates and recording the number of hours each farmer has re-ceived water. These records are sent to the Deputy Revenue officers ofthe sub-division who collect the water charges. Water is denied on non-payment and the collection record is good.
36. Research on soils and fertilizers is carried out by the Agri-cultural Chemist to the Governnent of Uttar Pradesh from laboratories atKanpur. The quality of this research is good and it helrs the extensionofficers in teaching the farmers the proper use of fertilizers. Increasedapplication of fertilizers will result in optimum crop yields from tube-well-irrigated areas.
37. Research on tubewells is performed by the Exploratory TubewellOrganization of the Central Government and by the Irrigation Research In-stitute of the Uttar Pradesh Govermment at Roorkee. This wjork is in com-petent hands and the development of a tubewell program is based on soundscientific principles.
38. This organization has shown in the past that it is able tooperate a tubewell program efficiently and the Department of Irrigationis ftlly competent to execute and operate the project.
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F. Operating Results
Water Rates
39. XIndian farmers have been accustomed to paying for irrigationwater since canal-irrigation was introduced about a century ago. EachState has its water rate schedule, established by Ordinance. The revenuesbased on this schedule cover costs of operation and naintenance andusually depreciation but, as a rule, do not cover interest. Upward re-visions take place from time to time as costs increase but the authoritiesare restricted in adjusting rates because the general policy toward thepeasant farmers is lenient. Relatively few irrigation projects are self-liquidating.
40. In Uttar Pradesh the water rate schedule wzas revised upward inMarch 1961. The new annual water rate for canal irrigation averagesapproximately Rs. 15 per acre per year. The standard charge for tubewellirrigation water is now one rupee per 16,000 gallons, or about Rs. 27.5per acre. The revenues on the basis of these rates meet operation andmaintenance costs and depreciation when the facilities are used for approxi-mately 4,000 hours per annum. W hen they operate for 5,000 hours per annum,uhich is close to full capacity, the revenues also more than cover interest.
Li. When a new well is established, it takes approximately five yearson the average for the farmers to adjust themselves to irrigation and tomake full use of the new facilities. The normal rate of increase in thehours per annum of well operation is:
42. Since a great many tubewells have been developed recently, abouttwo thirds of them have not yet reached the "break even" stage. During1959/60, operating expenditures of the program as a whole for the Irriga-tion Department amounted to approxizately Es. 34 million as against opera-ting revenues of approximately Rs. 18 million. The 6,048 wells in opera-tion in that year averaged only 2400 hours of pumping. Approximately 2,000wells were operating a sufficient number of hours to cover their costs.
43. Operating Costs and Revenues for One Tubewell. - Annex 5 givesestimated operating costs and revenues froms water sales for a tubewellpumping 5,000 hours per year. Costs amount to approximately Rs. 10,500and revenues to Rs. 11,000.
Cash Flow
44. Annex 6 gives a cash flow projection assuming that hours of pump-ing per year increase at the normal rate. Debt service is on the termsproposed under the Third Five-Year Plan. The term of 12 years is too shortfor this type of project, but accumulated deficits during the first 12 yearscould be repaid by about the twenty- nineth year.
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45. For the 800 wells of the project, the annual deficits would showa peak of Rs. 5.1 million in the fourth year and would taper off to Rs. 1.6million from the eighth through the twelfth year. From the thirteenthyear on, annual surpluses wuld appear and they would amount to Rs. 2.8million from the sixteenth year on. The accumulated deficits would beovertaken by about the thirty-second year.
46. As stated in para. 39, long standing water rate policies forirrigation projects in India are lenient. Bearing in mind the relativelysmall amount of the proposed credit and the fact that water rates in UttarPradesh were increased last year, it would seem unrealistic to expect thatrates for this project would be further increased at this time. Althoughthe net benefits from tubewell development greatly exceed the water charges(para. 52), the reluctance of peasants previously farming at near subsis-tence level to incur the cash obligations for the water charge is one ofthe reasons why the utilization of the new facilities increases so slowly,The authorities of Uttar Pradesh, therefore, consider it preferable toconcentrate for the time being on measures to encourage an earlier increasein the number of pumping hours per year, but they are planning to recon-sider water rates at the end of the Third Five-Year Plan period, TheDepartment is now considering charging a concessional water rate duringthe first two years of the operation of a well as an incentive to earlyparticipation, From the third year on, a basic rate per irrigable acrewould be charged irrespective of vhether the water was used and a reducedrate would be charged for water actually supplied. A basic rate of Rs. 14per acre on 400 acres plus a charge of one rupee per 32,000 gallons wouldyield the same return at 5,000 hours as the present rate. This shouldresult in considerably more rapid full utilization of the facilities. Anintensified effort by the extension service would also assist in obtainingearlier participation of farmers.
47. During credit negotiations, we have been informed that theGovernment of Uttar Pradesh will introduce legislation with regard tochanges in the water rate structure and that the extension service willstage a special effort to help farmers in the adoption of correct irriga-tion practices.
V. BENEFITS AND JUSTIFICATION
48. Tubewell irrigation has some general advantages over canal irriga-tion, The public investment per acre is lower. The public investment ina tubewell including the canal system ancfelectric grid connection amountto approximately Rs, 170 per irrigable acre. The tubewell canal bringswater much closer to the farmers' fields than a standard Indian canalirrigation system which means that less on-farm works are required andtends to increase the water application rate per farm. Tubewells also aremore prompt in delivering water than canal irrigation, since the pump maybe started whenever a few farmers need water. Canal irrigation frequentlydelivers water in one growing season only.
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49. There are no accurate statistics of the volume and value ofagricultural production resulting from tubewells, The follotLng estimateswhich are based on the most reliable information available are, however,indicative of the order of magnitude of the agricultural benefits likelyto be obtained. In Annex 7, the expected increase in gross value of pro-duction from one tubewell has been estimated for two areas in the statewhere the cropping pattern is quite different. The estimates for thevalue of post-project production have been made on the basis of conservativeyield estimates. Almost all of the production will be for the internalmarket and prices have, therefore, been based on averages for the lastthree years in markets of the region.
50. The average increase in gross value of production per annum isestimated at approximately Rs. flo,o000 per well. For the S0C wellsincluded in the project, the increase in gross value of production would beapproximately Rs. 144 million, or more than twice the estimated cost ofthe project (Rs. 57.2 million). This is an extremely favorable ratio.
51. Private investments have not been estimated in money terms.They consist almost entirely of labor (which is surplus in nost regions)for the dtgging of small ditches. M4ost of the fields have bunds aroundthem already in which to store rainwater.
52. Participation in a tubewell program is profitable for the farmer.Taking a four-acre farm as an example, Annex 8 shows that gross incomeshould increase from approximately Rs. 300 a year to Rs,, 2,100 a year, orby Rs. 1,800. Cash costs should not be more than approximately Rs. 300higher and, therefore, net farm income should increase by about Rs. 1,500a year. Again, extra labor has not been taken into account, since thefarmer and his family have a great number of wasted days which could bemade productive under the program,
53. Most of the increase in production will be available for sale,since the farmer produces most of his subsistence needs under present dryfarming conditions. The above figures are for a farm with all four acresunder irrigation, and the results to the farmer would, of course, be lessstriking if only part of his farm were irrigated. In view of the approxi-mate nature of these calculations, no figure of the net return on the invest-ment in the project is put forward, although the relationship would obviouslybe most favorable.
54. Economically, the project is fully justified.
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VI. CONCLUSIONS AND RECCMMENDATIONS
55. The project is technically sound. The Irrigation Department ofUttar Pradesh is fully capable of executing and operating the projectefficiently. Operating costs per well should be met and including debtservice there would be deficits for the first 13 years. The investmentshould be repaid over a period of approximately 29 years. Economically,the project is very attractive and fully justified.
56. The project is suitable for an IDA credit of US$6 million (Rs. 28.5
million equivalent). The borrower would be the Government of India,
ANNDC 1
UTTAR PRADESH TUBSEIELL IRiIIGATION PROJECT
Foodgrain Production in Uttar Pradesh and in India
Uttar Pradesh All IndiaArea Production Production
C r o p 1958/59 59/60 1958/59 59/60 1958/59 59/601,000 acres ........... ,0tn.........00
Rice 10,206 10,047 2,984 2,370 30,400 29,300
Maize 2,702 2,698 611 1,017 3,400 3,600
Wheat 9,564 9,566 3,036 3,239 9,800 9,700
M1,illet 7,032 6,885 1,598 1,536 16,500 15,200
Barley 4,591 4,508 1,395 1,441 2,700 2,600
All cereals (including localvarieties) 34,095 33,704 9,624 9,603 62,600 60,500
Gram (peas) 6,726 6,732 1,758 1,512 6,900 5,400
All pulses (including localvarieties) fl,693 11,709 3,775 3,579 12,900 11,200
Sugar in terms of gur 2,747 2,917 3,076 3,203 7,100 7,600
NOTE: The population of Uttar Pradesh in 1960 was about 74 million, out of
437 million for all of India.
ANNEX 2
UTTAR nRADESH TUBEWELL IRRIGATION PROJECT
Some Details of Tubewells
A. General
The function of a tubewell is to extract water from the sub-soilby pumping. The advantage of tubewells over open or surface wells is thatwater may be raised, not only from any water bearing stratum nearest thesurface, but from strata at much deeper levels. Various forms of tubewellshave been adopted for use in different strata conditions, but the basicprinciple of operation is the same; i.e. the formation of a section ofrelatively coarse water-bearing material around a perforated tube or screen,which will provide as free a passage for the extracted water as possible,while preventing the bore from being blocked by fine material from theaquifer. Many forms of screen are in use, ranging from relatively finewire mesh to perforated pipes, depending on the type of strata. The forma-tion of the layer of coarse material around the screen, is termed "develop-ing the well", and is carried out by extract&ng the finer material throughthe screen by pumping until a state of equilibrium is attained. lihere thestrata consist of rather fine grained sand, or in cases where slotted orperforated pipes are used, the well may be artificially shrouded or gravel-packed by inserting fine gravel between the casing pipe and the screenbefore lifting the casing. The type of well to be adopted will be largelydependent on local conditions.
B. The Standard Tubewell of Uttar Pradesh
Research carried out by the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Branch ofthe Public lWorks Department from 1931/34, resulted in the adoption of astandard for tubewell design and for spacing of the wells which hasbasically been in use ever since. It was decided at that time by theChief Zngineer, Sir William Stampe, that the individual tubewell of l-L cusec.capacity, selling wiater by quantity, was superior to a system of integratedtubewells and canals supplying water on an acreage basis. He decided thatthe system would best be operated by the state wlith wells approximately1.5 miles apart using hydro-power from the falls in the Ganga Canal.
The average tubewell has a depth of 260 ft., of which 90-100 ft.are through coarse water-yielding sands. The average yield lith 90 ft. ofsix-inch strainers is 33,000 gal. per hour (approximately 1j cusec.).The local depression of the water table, while pumping, is 16 to 22 ft.from a static water table standing mostly at 15 to 25 ft. The pumps are of
twqo kinds:
1) Direct coupled horizontal motor pump sets fixed at spring levelin masonry sumps of six feet diameter giving an overall efficiencyof 60-65%.
ANNEX 2Page 2
2) For depths of about 30 ft. or over, vertical shaft pumps of the"bore holel" type are used, the electric motor being at groundlevel.
The electrical metering equipment and control gear are installedin a small circular masonry house built over the well at ground level.Current is supplied at 400 V. from a local 1 o,000/400 v. outdoor trans-former station sited near the well. 'later is measured by a means of amasonry tank and V-notch discharging into the local distribution system,which usually comprises two tiles of government-built channel. One mile,on the average, is masonry-lined to reduce percolation in sandy stretches.
C. Yield of a Standard Tubewell
The yield of a standard tubewell is 1-1/2 cusec. (33,696 gal.per hour, but usually considered in the Uttar Pradesh as 33,000 gal. perhour).
The amount of water yielded by a 1-1/2-cusec. tubewell is:
1) Per hour = 1.488 acre in.- 0.124 acre ft.
2) Per 24-hour day = 2.976 acre ft.3) Per 1,000 hours = 124 acre ft.4) Per 2,000 hours = 2k8 acre ft.5) Per 3,000 hours = 372 acre ft.6) Per k,000 hours = 496 acre ft.7) Per 5,000 hours = 620 acre ft.
WeUls at full development are operated for an average of about 5,000 hoursper year,
D. Irrigation Regime of a Standard Tubewell
The regime of the tubewell is determined by the water require-ments of the principle crops, sugar cane and wheat at critical periods ofthe year.
Sugar cane occupies the land for a full year and its highestwater requirement is in the hot, dry season from April through June, Threeor four waterings are required in this period as well as a pre-plantingwatering and one watering in March, late in the rabi (dry) season. Themaximum possible irrigation interval for sugar cane in the hot, dry seasonis considered to be 21 days, wqhen five inches of water is given at eachwatering. In 21 days of continuous pumping, the standard tubewell maydeliver about 62.45 acre ft. This is sufficient water to give a five-inchirrigation to 150 acres of sugar cane. In practice, it is more reasonableto operate the pump for 22 hours per day, and under this regime, the maximumsugar cane area irrigable is 137 acres. lith other kharif (wet season)
ANNEX 2Page 3
crops, such as cotton which needs one irrigation before the monsoon, lesswater is available for sugar cane. With 35 acres of other kharif crops,it is possible to grow 125 acres of sugar cane.
Crops grown during the rabi season require on the average of2-1/2 waterings. The maximum possible irrigation interval for wheat (inthe western districts of Uttar Pradesh) is considered to be 40 days, wihenfour inches of water is given at each watering. In 40 days of pumping,the standard tubewell may deliver approximately 10 acre ft. This issufficient water to give a four-inch irrigation to 330 acres, However,as the sugar cane must receive the pre-planting watering at this time, only240 acres of rabi could be grown.
The area to be irrigated from the average or standard 1-1/2-cusec. tubewell is, therefore, usually as follows:
Typical cropping patterns for four-acre farms in western andeastern areas are given in the diagram on the next page.
The area irrigated averages about 40't of the command area of1,000 acres. This is not a high intensity of irrigation, but it is con-sidered to be as much water as may safely be taken from the ground water.In addition, of course, a rainfed kharif crop is taken from all the non-irrigated land, or a hardy rabi crop like gram or pigeon pea is taken fromland left fallow during the monsoon.
UTTAR PRADESH TUBEWELL IRRIGATION PROJECT
CROPPING PATTERNS
BEFORE PROJECT AFTER PROJECT
COOL, DRY COOL. DRYMONSOON SEASON SEASON HOT, DRY SEASON MONSOON SEASON SEASON HOT. DRY SEASON
Kharif crops Rabi crops Kharif crops Rabi crops
AcresJun JulI Aug Sept Oct Nov DecI JonI Feb Mar Apr ~May 0 Junj Jul jAug SptOct INovIDecl Janj FebjMar .Apr IMay A. WesternArea Farm
