Water Resources and their Utilization for Irrigation in Agra District

Abstract

Water is the liquid that descends from the clouds as rain, forms streams, lakes and seas and is a major constituent of all living matter and that is an odorless, tasteless very slightly compressible liquid oxide of hydrogen H2O which appears bluish in thick layers freezes at 00C and boils at 1000C has a maximum density at 40C and a high specific head conductor of electricity and a good solvent. Water is of supreme importance to man, providing focal points for habitation, water for cultivation and a venues of travel, water power and recreation. The action of artificially supplying land with water to help the growth and productivity of plants. Canal is a artificial water course constructed for water supply and irrigation to unite rivers, lakes etc for purpose of inland transport. The district of Agra lies between latitude 260 -441 to 270 -241 North and longitude 770 -281 to 780 541 East. It is bounded in the north by Mathura, Etah, Firozabad districts and in the south by the Morena and Bhind districts of Madhya Pradesh, in the east by Firozabad, Mainpuri and Etawah districts and in the west by Bharatpur and Dholpur district of Rajasthan. The Study is based on the 15 blocks of Agra district viz. Achhnera, Akola, Bichpuri, Barauli Ahir, Khandauli, Etmadpur, Fatehpur Sikri, Jagner, Kheragarh, Sainyan, Shamsabad, Fatehabad, Pinahat, Bah and Jaitpur Kalan. The researchers have tried to study the water resources and their utilization and conservation in all the 15 blocks for water management. The present paper is devoted to the main purpose of water utilization and conservation in the district of Agra. Our purpose is to utilize maximum existing water and to conservate without wasting it. The present study is based on primary and secondary data. The researcher has collected primary and secondary data from every block regarding water resources and their utilization. In the district of Agra main water resources are rivers, canals, wells, tube wells, Tanks and reservoirs etc. The most prominent Water resources in the district are the river Yamuna and its tributaries– the Chambal, the Utangan along with their numerous other minor streams viz. Jhirna, Khari etc. Irrigation is the artificial application of water to land for agriculture to prosper, it is important for the crops to get water at the right time. Agra is an agricultural district and need water at the right time for the proper growth of its crops. Irrigation is important for cultivation in semi-arid parts of the district such as Fatehpur Sikri, Achhnera and Akola blocks. Tube wells, wells, Canal, Tanks, Jhils, Pokhar (Small lakes) and rivers are the source of irrigation in the district of Agra. According to the Sankhydiya Patrika-2015, In the district of Agra 252585 hectare land is net irrigated and 279715 hactare land is gross irrigation. Out of which 229199 hectare land is irrigated by tubewells (Public and Private), 21875 hectare land is irrigated by canals and 1448 hectare by well, 38 hectare land and 25 hectare land irrigation by Ponds and other source. Fatehpur Sikri and Achhnera blocks have maximum irrigated land 25696 and 23352 hectere whereas Bichpuri block has least irrigated land i.e. only 6858 hectare.