Expansion of Irrigation in West Bengal: Mid-1970s to Mid-1990s

This paper, the second in a series of two, attempts to identify the basic structure of irrigation in West Bengal and the extent of growth of irrigation in the post-land reform period. The first paper presented a detailed evaluation of the secondary data available on irrigation in West Bengal. This paper uses these data to identify certain features of irrigation development in the state. After presenting an overview of the pattern of irrigation in the state, the author analyses the growth of irrigation from groundwater and canals and the changes in irrigation from ponds and river lift-irrigation schemes. Finally, inter-district variations in the growth of irrigated area are discussed. [The first article in the series, 'Irrigation Statistics in West Bengal', appeared in the issue of July 7, 2001.]