( 45A ) 



Bundelkhand, where, as already stated, the construction of field em- 

 bankments has for many years been utilized by the cultivators for the 

 improvement of their fields. In 1905 a tank division of the Irriga- 

 tion branch was formed for the special purpose of projecting and 

 carrying out works of this nature. This division was abolished on 

 the constitution of the Jhansi division of the Betwa canal and of 

 the Ken and Dhasan canal divisions which provided a staff sufficient 

 for all schemes within their respective areas ; but the work has 

 been carried out with energy and has comprised the preparation of 

 projects and the surpervision of the building up of numerous field 

 embankments or bundhis which in their beneficial effect in prevent- 

 ing surface erosion resemble the colmate di monte of Italy. 



7. Such operations on a large scale are of course very expen- 

 sive, and it is therefore probable that unless the landholders can be 

 induced to undertake for themselves the reclamation of at least 

 some of ravines which now carry away the most fertile portion of 

 their soil no very great advance can be made except during times 

 of famine, when the Local Government has in any event to provide 

 work for the relief of distress. Works of this nature have actually 

 been carried out under the supervision of the Forest department in 

 the Etawah district during the recent famine and are reported to 

 be admirably suited for famine works. The objects of the opera- 

 tion in the ravine tracts in the Etawah district are as follows : 



(1) To prevent the further erosion of the ravines, that is, the 



scouring out of the bed and the banks of the ravines. 



(2) To check, and finally altogether stop, the further exten- 

 sion inland of the ravines. 



(3) To prevent the good soil being washed off the upland 



fields and carried away down the ravines to the rivers. 



(4) To retain the rainfall which at present runs straight off 

 the land into the rivers, and thus to retain moisture in 

 the soil and raise the water-level. 



(5) To improve the pasture and tree growth on the ravines 

 and thus to establish fuel and fodder reserves. 



The experiments which have been made for this purpose in the 

 Etawah district are as yet in an undeveloped state, but the results 

 which have been attained, more particularly as to the growth of 

 grass on treated areas, are highly satisfactory and promise good 

 results on the upland areas to which such treatment may be 

 applied elsewhere. 



8. In this Government's resolution no. 348, dated the 26th 

 August, 1912, stress was laid upon the importance of developing 

 the waste lands of the province, but no allusion was made to the 

 special desirability of reclaiming ravine land as such. Sir James 



