Irrigation Department Uttar Pradesh

ACTIVITIES OF ARMY ENGINEERS UNDER EAST INDIA COMPANY

1823

First Irrigation Office opened at Saharanpur.

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Remodeling of old Moghul Canal on left bank of Yamuna taken up and commissioned as Eastern Yamuna Canal in 1830.

1840

Construction of Ganga Canal started and completed in 1854

1874

Commissioning of Agra Canal

1878

Commissioning of Lower Ganga Canal

1879

Unprecedented famine took heavy toll of life in Bundelkhand

1880

First Famine Commission set up

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Commission recommended that 40% of the cropped area should be provided with irrigation facilities.

CENTRAL PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT ESTABLISHED

1885

Betwa Canal opened to Irrigate Jalaun and Hamirpur districts.

1903

Second Famine Commission setup 

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Commission reiterated the provision of Irrigation facilities as above.

1913

Hydro Power Station on Upper Ganga Canal started at Bahadrabad (Near Hardwar)

1930

Tube well construction commended in Meerut Distt.

1939

Steam Power Station at Sohawal in Distt. Faizabad to supply Power for pump Canal on River Ghaghra.

1939

Separate Hydro Electric wing named "Hydel" was set up in deptt.

1950

Hydro Electric wing seperated, Electricity Deptt was formed.

1954

First flood work entrusted to Irrigation Deptt.

1945

After IInd world war, emphasis on grow more food schemes. Investigation of new projects. Commercial policy underwent radical change at independence emphasis was on welfare of presentoverall deployment of State.

1949

Research Institute at Roorkee was formed.

1961

Rihand Dam completed : project cost Rs 28 crores.

1961

On completition of second five year plan following major measures was taken :

1. Setting up of central Design Directorate at Lucknow.

2. Central Organisation at Lucknow for procurement of Store & Equipment at Lucknow.

3. Creation of Post of Chief Engineer for each major project.

4. Creation of Post of Engineer in Chief.

5. Creation of Post of Liasion Officer at New Delhi for dealing import licenses and foreign exchange.

6. Separate Organisation for looking after construction and operation of State tube wells under Director of Tube wells was setup on 31.07.1965.

7. During severe drought in 1966, existing system of Irrigation was found inadequate, need was felt for lift irrigation and lift irrigation schemes were take up in act 1966 to fight unprecedented drought conditions

1968

Directorate of Lift Irrigation was created.

1968

Main function of Irrigation Deptt in short are to deal with.

1. Utilisation of  water resources of state for the propose of irrigation by mean of Canals tube wells, dams, bundhies etc.

2. Utilisation of water resources of state for Power Development.

3. Flood control in river, improvement of damage, removal of water logging and training of rivers for protection of towns.

4. Assessment of  Irrigation revenue and collection of miscellaneous revenue occurring from Canals.

5. In 1954 Building and Roads branch was named as P.W.D and Irrigation Deptt.

6. Technical Audit Cell for Irrigation at Secretariat was setup in Sep. 1964