CATTLE SURVEY OP THE AMRITSAR DISTRICT. 3 



" Sakhi " lands. The inundated lands are chiefly on the Ravi but some lie 

 on the Beas. Cultivation in the beds of the rivers is always precarious. 



7. In the raiuy season, the Beas carries an immense body of water 

 and in flood time may be nearly a mile in width 

 and from 30 to 35 feet in depth. When the floods 



subside, usually in August, the higher portious of the inundated land ara 



sown with coarse rice and pulses. 



The Bavi when in flood encroaches impartially on either side and 

 frequently causes considerable damage. It carries more fertilising silt 

 than the Beas, however, and where this is thrown up heavy crops of wheat 

 can be raised after the lapse of a year or two. 



In the cold weather the river dwindles to an insignificant stream and 

 owing to the Bari Doab Canal drawing off nearly all the water at 

 M adhopur it is mainly made up from springs in its bed. The recession 

 of the water has had an injurious effect on the fertility of the lands 

 along the banks. Much of the moisture has gone out of the soil and 

 the people have had to resort to well sinking where it was never required 

 before. The constant complaint along the Ravi is that the river has 

 gone back and left, them high and dry, while recurring summer floods 

 work damage in a few weeks which it takes a long time to repair. 



The perennial stream, the Sakhi, rises in flood at times and the 

 volume of water may be swelled by escape water let into it by a channel 

 cut from the canal. At these times it is liable to cause a good deal of 

 damage to the crops. Of the less important drainage lines the chief are 

 the Patti Rohi, the Kasur nala and the Hudiara line. Considerable 

 damaga occurs to the cultivation lying in the tract of these drainage lines 

 especially in the cold season when floods are not expected. In the 

 summer, crops are not usually sown where flood water is likely to reach 

 them. 



8. There are four reserved forests with a total area of 2,886 acres 

 under the Forest Department and 119 acres of 



Rttkbs and forests. 



unclassed forest under the Deputy Commissioner, 



