Paragraph on Sources of Irrigation in India!
Different sources of irrigation are used depending upon the topography, soils, rainfall, availability of surface or ground water, nature of rivers (whether perennial or non perennial), requirements of crops, etc.
The main sources of irrigation used in different parts of the country are (i) Canals; (ii) Wells and tube wells (iii) Tanks and (iv) Others (Dongs, Kuhls, springs, etc.)
It is clear from the above table that the relative importance of different sources of irrigation keeps on changing from time to time. For example, canals were the major source of irrigation until 1950-51, claiming 39.8 per cent of the net irrigated area in the country. The irrigated area under canal irrigation increased up-to 1989-99 and then started falling.
Its share declined to 29.2 per cent in 2000-01. With the introduction of diesel and electric pumping sets, well and tubewell-irrigated areas increased from 5.9 million hectares in 1950-51 to 33.3 million hectares in 2000-01 recording more than five and a half times increase in half century. Consequently, proportion of well and tube-well irrigated areas increased from 28.7 per cent to 60.8 during this period. However, tank irrigation lost its significance both absolutely and relatively.