3.1.3. Canal Irrigation

♤ Canals used to be the most used source of irrigation up-to 1960s, but in the 1970s they wells and tube wells became most used source of irrigation and now, canals constitute the second most important source of irrigation in

India.

♤ Canals are an effective source of irrigation in areas of low level relief, deep fertile soils, perennial source of water and extensive command area.

Figure: Canal Irrigation

♤ Therefore, the main concentration of canal irrigation is in the northern plain of India, especially the areas comprising Uttar Pradesh Haryana and Punjab.

♤ The digging of canals in rocky and uneven areas is difficult and uneconomic. Thus the canals are practically absent from the Peninsular plateau area.

♤ However, the coastal and the delta regions in South India do have some canals for irrigation.