Minor Irrigation Department

The Minor Irrigation Department of the Zilla Parishad in Raigad focuses on creating and maintaining small-scale irrigation facilities to support agriculture and enhance water resources in rural areas. It plays a crucial role in improving water availability for farming, especially for smaller landholdings.

Here are its brief functions:

Construction of Minor Irrigation Projects: The department undertakes the construction of various small-scale irrigation structures with an irrigation capacity typically ranging from 0 to 200 hectares (though historically it was often up to 100 hectares). This includes:

Percolation Tanks (Pazar Talav): These are built to help recharge groundwater levels in wells and borewells in the surrounding areas.

Village Ponds (Gaon Talav): For storing water for domestic use, livestock, and sometimes minor irrigation.

Storage Dams/Tanks (Laghulghu Talav/Bandhara): Small reservoirs for direct irrigation.

Kolhapuri-Type Weirs (Kolhapuri Bandhara): Low-height dams constructed across rivers or streams to hold back water, often with gates that can be operated. This water is then lifted by farmers for irrigation.

Cement Nala Bunds: Check dams constructed across small streams or rivulets to conserve rainwater and recharge groundwater.

Repair and Maintenance of Existing Structures: The department is responsible for the upkeep, repair, and desilting of all existing minor irrigation tanks, ponds, and dams under its jurisdiction to ensure their continued functionality and water storage capacity.

Water Conservation and Groundwater Recharge: A significant objective is to promote water conservation. The construction of various structures helps in increasing groundwater levels, which in turn benefits irrigation through wells and borewells.

Increasing Irrigation Potential: By creating and maintaining these minor irrigation facilities, the department directly contributes to increasing the irrigated area for agriculture, thereby boosting agricultural production and farmers’ income.