The author gives a brief history of tank irrigation in South India. The number of irrigation tanks in India were 208,000, of which 120,000 were in the three Southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. These tanks irrigated 1.8 million hectares. The author uses graphs to point out to the decline in tank irrigation.
Going back in time, the author then looks at tank irrigation in Tamil Nadu where Sangam literature mentions tanks and paddy cultivation. The positive attributes of tanks which include ecological benefits, recharging of ground water, flood control and provision of livelihood are discussed.
The author also explains how tanks are managed today. The role of the Public Works Department and Panchayat Union is explained. The reasons for the decline in tanks is looked into, these include importance given to groundwater exploitation, increase in private wells and pumps in tank command area, break down of village institutions, poor maintenance and the Green Revolution.
The paper ends with the suggestion that watershed management and rainwater harvesting should be used to revive these water bodies.
This paper was presented at the National Seminar on Water and Culture organised by Kannada University and Sahayoga in 2007.
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