Know Everything About Lift Irrigation System in India

Table of Contents

• What is Lift Irrigation?
• What is the Status of Lift Irrigation in India?
• What are the components of a Lift Irrigation System?
• How a Lift Irrigation System Works?
• Which are the Popular Lift Irrigation Projects in India?
• What are the Advantages of Lift Irrigation in India?
• What are the Limitations of Lift Irrigation System?
• What are the Government Initiatives for Lift Irrigation in India?

What is Lift Irrigation?

Lift irrigation is an effective method of irrigation that transports water using water-lifting devices, such as fuel-based or electric pumps. Farmers can use water from natural water sources that are below the height of the farms. Powerful pumps lift water from the source to be distributed to nearby fields through a pipeline.

Canals and dams played a significant role in increasing the irrigation area. However, it was effective for places that were below the dam's level. Higher-level areas still face water scarcity. Lift irrigation was adopted to solve this issue and irrigate higher-level areas.

What is the Status of Lift Irrigation in India?

Lift irrigation is expanding with significant progress in micro-irrigation systems. Many states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh are leading in implementing lift irrigation in India. Many projects like Kaleshwaram project in Telangana are underway that will help in expanding lift irrigation in the country. The Indian government support these projects through several schemes, such as Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojan (PMKSY). However, the implementation and management of these projects is still the state government’s subject.

According to the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), approximately 1401 lift irrigation schemes are financed to irrigate 22,000 hectares of land in Maharashtra. The total outlay of these schemes is Rs. 6462.50 million. More than 50 lift irrigation schemes have been completed in Purandhar Taluka in Pune and surrounding areas by Pani Panchayat. Pani Panchayat involves a group of farmers who are voluntarily engaged in collectively managing groundwater and surface water.

What are the components of a Lift Irrigation System?

The lift irrigation system (LIS) consists of the following components:

• Water Source: At the LIS system, the availability of water should be consistent throughout the year. Some of the key water sources include rivers, weirs and dams.
• Lifting Mechanism: Lifting mediums, such as water pumps, are required to lift water and transport it to the desired location.
• Conveying Mechanism: The rising main transports water to the destination. It can be made of suitable materials, such as concrete and steel.
• Distribution Line: The distribution line should be appropriately designed to cover the entire irrigation area in the field. The chambers are placed at higher altitudes, ensuring they cover the maximum region with gravity.

How Does a Lift Irrigation System Works?

The working of a lift irrigation system involves the following steps:

• Water is transferred from the source using mechanical means, like pumps, to the main delivery chamber. This chamber is found at the highest level of the command area.
• Then, proper distribution is used to supply water to the fields. Thus, this irrigation method does not utilize water movement due to gravity, as is typically observed in rivers or canals.
• Water distribution can be done using different methods. Most commonly, the area under irrigation is partitioned into different blocks. This partition is based on the topography of the region, as outlined in the contour plan. Then, the water needs of every block are determined. Based on this information and the available hydraulic head, these blocks are laid with pipelines.
• You need to establish field delivery chambers on the pipelines. The valves are installed to regulate the flow of pipelines and the flow from the main delivery chamber. This distribution process also has certain challenges. There is an unequal water distribution, as lower fields are observed to have more discharge due to a greater gravitational force.

Which are the Popular Lift Irrigation Projects in India?

Many Indian states have launched their own lift irrigation projects to promote the implementation of lift irrigation systems. Some popular lift irrigation projects in India include:

• Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP): KLIP is the largest multi-purpose lift irrigation project in the world. It is situated on the Godavari River (Kaleshwaram) in Telengana. Its goal is to increase the total Culturable Command Area (CCA) by producing 240 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of water.
• Mutchumarri Lift Irrigation Scheme: This scheme was covered by the Handri Neeva Sujala Sravanthi (HNSS) Irrigation Project. It was inaugurated at Muchumarri (Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh) to lift water from the Srisailam Reservoir.
• Jawaharlal Nehru Lift Irrigation Project: This project is situated in Haryana and is highly beneficial for Mahendragarh, Rewari, Bhiwani, Gurugram and Jhajjar districts. The ultimate irrigation potential of this project is 1,54,640 hectares, and its CCA is 2,49,901 hectares.

What are the Advantages of Lift Irrigation in India?

Lift irrigation is a feasible solution for irrigating fields in areas dependent upon rainfed farming or where dryland farming is practiced. The key advantages of the lift irrigation system are:

• Lift irrigation is best suited for diverse geographical landscapes, including hilly regions and flat plains. Water can be supplied across varying terrains and over long distances.
• It facilitates efficient water usage and conservation. Water is delivered precisely by water pumps and distribution networks. So, there is less wastage, which ensures sustainable agriculture in India.
• The crop quality improves due to the suitable and timely supply of water to crops. It results in higher crop yield.
• The controlled water distribution maintains consistent moisture levels in the fields. It reduces the risk of runoff and soil erosion.
• Stabilized agriculture is possible throughout the year, as water is consistently available.

What are the Limitations of Lift Irrigation System?

The primary disadvantage of lift irrigation is that it is a costly method of irrigation. LIS demands high operating costs, complex pumping, power supply and power equipment. All these factors increase the total cost of supplying water to fields.

What are the Government Initiatives for Lift Irrigation in India?

As water is a state subject, state governments are responsible for implementing projects related to water resources. The central government provides financial support for major and medium irrigation projects. These projects also include lift irrigation projects and are supported by the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY).

Under PMKSY-AIBP, the funding pattern for lift irrigation projects is as follows. The central-to-state contribution for projects in Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir (Union Territories), Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh (2 Himalayan States), and 8 North-Eastern States is 90:10.

This ratio is 60:40 for projects that benefit special regions in the general category states, including KBK (Odisha), Marathwada, Vidarbha, Bundelkhand, Left Wing Extremist Areas, Flood-Prone Areas, and Tribal Areas. A 25:75 contribution is available for projects that benefit regions in the general category states that are not covered in the previous point.