154 AGRICULTURAL CAPITAL 



where the tanks are often fed by diverting natural 

 streams, these two classes of tanks are used chiefly 

 for watering cattle and for bathing- purposes ; and the 

 j'hils, or natural depressions, which are found in large 

 numbers, more especially in the eastern districts of 

 the submontane and central tracts, account for nearly 

 the whole of the irrigation classed under tanks. In a 

 favourable year over 2,250,000 acres are irrigated from 

 this source ; but in a year of drought the supply of the 

 tanks fails, and the area falls to under 1,000,000. In 

 many districts, in a year of severe drought, it may 

 even be reduced to one-fourth of the area of a normal 

 year. But though the tanks fail when they are most 

 required, their protective value is very considerable. 

 They insure a good crop to a large area in all ordinary 

 years, and, occupying as they do a considerable portion 

 of the ground surface, their effect in maintaining the 

 level of the subsoil water must be very great.* 



From the facts and figures which I have just recited 

 it will be seen how numerous and important are the 

 works of irrigation provided by private individuals. 

 The Irrigation Commissioners of 1903 were, however, 

 of opinion that, notwithstanding the large extent to 

 which well irrigation was already practised in the 

 United Provinces, there was wide room for its exten- 

 sion. There are two obstacles to the construction of 

 wells by the tenant — (1) the absence of capital, and 

 (2) the fear that he may be rented on his improve- 

 ments. With regard to the latter, it is true that 

 tenants with a permanent right of occupancy are pro- 

 tected from enhancement of rent for a period of ten 

 years, and the law also provides that their rents shall 

 not be enhanced on the ground that the productive 

 capacity of the land held by the tenant has been in- 

 creased by an improvement effected by his agency or 

 at his expense. By another provision, however, the 



* Abridged from the ' Report of the Indian Irrigation Commis- 

 sion, 1901-03/ chap. xix. 



