Basic Civil Engineering

Chapter 31

Irrigation and Water Supply Engineering

31.1 INTRODUCTION

Irrigation is defined as the process of artificial supply of water to soil for raising crops. It is a science of planning and designing an efficient, low-cost, economic irrigation system tailored to fit natural conditions. It is the engineering of controlling and harnessing the various natural sources of water, by constructing dams and reservoirs, canals and headworks, and finally distributing the water to the agricultural fields. Irrigation engineering includes the study and design of works in connection with river control, drainage of waterlogged areas and generation of hydroelectric power. India is basically an agricultural country and all its resources depend on the agricultural ...