2.1.3. Tank

An irrigation tank or tank is an artificial reservoir of any size. It can also have a natural or man- made spring included as part of a structure. In some parts of the country, especially in the peninsular India tank is an important source of irrigation. About 3 per cent of the total irrigated

area is under tank irrigation.

According to the third minor irrigation census carried out in 2000-01, there are about 5.56 lakh tanks in the country, with the most occurring in the following states:

♤ West Bengal: 21.2 per cent of all the tanks in the country

♤ Andhra Pradesh: 13.6 per cent

♤ Maharashtra: 12.5 per cent

♤ Chhattisgarh: 7.7 per cent

♤ Madhya Pradesh: 7.2 per cent

♤ Tamil Nadu: 7.0 per cent

♤ Karnataka: 5.0 per cent