CANALS 161 



tive. The remaining works are all classed as minor 

 works, and for convenience of administration and 

 accounts they are grouped into separate systems, 

 known respectively as the Dun, Bijnor, and Rohil- 

 khand Canals, and the Jhansi and the Hamirpur Lakes, 

 the names of the latter indicating the districts in 

 which the storage works are situated. To this list 

 of Government works should also be added the 

 numerous small canals which have been constructed 

 in the Government estates of the Naini Tal district, 

 and which are known collectively as the Tarai and 

 Bhabar canals. These works are managed by an 

 engineer of the Irrigation Department whose services 

 have been lent to the estates, but the expenditure on 

 them is not shown in the departmental accounts. 



Up to March 31, 1901, the capital expenditure which 

 had been incurred on all irrigation works under the 

 charge of the Public Works Department amounted 

 to 907 lakhs (£6,046,000). Taking the mean results 

 for the preceding six years, so as to include both wet, 

 dry, and normal years, the annual revenue derived 

 from the works which were in operation at the com- 

 mencement of the period amounts on an average to 

 88f lakhs, the working expenses to 29I lakhs, and the 

 net revenue to 59 lakhs, representing a return of 

 6*9 per cent, on the capital cost of the works, which 

 may be put at 853 lakhs. Taken as a whole, therefore, 

 the works yield a substantial profit to the State. 



In a year of average rainfall the works irrigate 

 about 2,500,000 acres, but the area varies greatly from 

 year to year according to the nature of the seasons. 

 In 1894-95, with a good monsoon followed by good 

 winter rains, the total area barely exceeded 1,000,000 

 acres. On the other hand, in 1896-97, when over the 

 whole canal tract there was practically no rain after 

 August, the area rose to over 3,000,000 acres. In that 

 year the real protective value of the works was fully 

 demonstrated. Under conditions very similar to those 



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