1 64 AGRICULTURAL CAPITAL 



sterling), equivalent to a return of 7*37 per cent, on 

 their capital cost, and after meeting interest charges, 

 which amount to Rs. 29,32,375, there is left a clear 

 profit to the State of Rs. 28,59,015 per annum. 



It must not, however, be supposed that all irrigation 

 works have proved equally lucrative to the State. The 

 Betwa Canal was constructed as a protective and not 

 as a productive work, and it is conducted at a loss to 

 the State. A mean of the financial results for the six 

 years ending with 1900-01 shows that the average 

 gross annual revenue of Rs. 85,000 falls short of the 

 maintenance charges by Rs. 17,000; including interest 

 charges, there is an annual loss from this canal of 

 Rs. 1,81,000. The canal was opened in 1885, and in 

 the fourth year from its opening the irrigated area rose 

 to over 32,000 acres. That area was seldom and only 

 by a small amount exceeded until the drought of 

 1896-97, when 87,306 acres were recorded. In years 

 of ordinary rainfall the irrigated area still falls short 

 of 40,000 acres. The work has, therefore, not fulfilled 

 either in its financial or protective effects the expecta- 

 tions that were formed when the estimates were 

 framed. But though the protection afforded to the 

 Jalaun district during the drought was not complete, 

 the canal led to a sufficient reduction of distress and 

 of expenditure on relief to justify its construction. 

 In the words of Sir Antony MacDonnell, 'it was the 

 salvation of the Jalaun district.' 



The three systems of minor canals, which were 

 referred to before, all irrigate in the submontane tract, 

 and are fed by streams which rise in or near the 

 lowest ranges of the Himalayas. Two of them, the 

 Dun and Bijnor Canals, are highly remunerative works, 

 returning y\ and i2-| per cent, respectively on their 

 capital cost. The Rohilkhand canals, which com- 

 mand a country generally less fertile and requiring 

 less artificial irrigation, return about 4 per cent, now 

 that the water-rates have lately been increased. Col- 



