Report On The Administration Of The Punjab And Its Dependencies For 1891-92

· 1893 · Public domain (published pre-1930) · archive.org ↗

110 PUNJAB ADMINISTRATION REPORT, 1891-92.

2erection were the Jubilee Museum at Lahore and the Dufferin Hospital at Delin,

3both of which made satisfactory progress. The Delhi Water Works were nearly

4completed, as also the Ludhidna drainage scheme. The Prince Albert Victor

5Wing of the Mayo Hospital at Lahore was formally opened on New Year's Day

61892. Out of more than 24,000 miles of roads in the Province little more than

72,000 are metalled, and of these only 770 are maintained by District.

8Funds. No doubt the construction and due maintenance of metalled roads

9cannot be carried out without the expenditure of considerable sums; still, until

10something more is done in this direction than has hitherto been done, it cannot be

11said that the Province is satisfactonly supplied with communications. |

1224. IRRIGATION.—‘the present year has been in the case both éf

13Perennial and Inundation Canals a year of steady advance. The interest charges

14on the capital outlay of the canals amounted to nearly 25 lakhs, and maintenance

15charges to nearly 30 lakhs. But after providing for all interest charges there still

16remained to Government a surplus of nearly 17 lakhs, of which about 9 lakhs

17accrued undcr the head of Indirect Revenue.

1825. The total area irrigated amounted to 3,067,336 acres, being 224,594

19acres in excess of the area irrigated in the previous year. The increase occurred

20on all canals both Perennial and Inundation with the exceptions of the Western

21Jumna and Chenab Canals and the Indus Series. The remarkable deficiency in

22the rainfall in most parts of the Province naturally led to a considerable expansion

23in irrigation. The decrease in the area irrigated by the Western Jumna Canal

24resulted in a slight diminution in the revenue. Two sections of the Sirsa Branch

25Canal, the Karnal Section and the Patidla Section, are now practically completed.

26A satisfactory alignment has been found, although with difficulty for the 3rd or

27Hissar Branch, and very good progress was made towards the completion of the

28distributary system. The Sirhind Canal is now giving very good returns, the

29percentage of profit being 6°06. The.arca irrigated by the Bari Dodb Canal this

30year exceeded that of the previous year, which previously was the largest on

31record, by 57,740 acres. Very extensive works were undertaken in the course of

32the year in repairing, widening and remodelling different branches of the canal.

33The maintenance charges consequently show an increase of 14 lakhs, and the net

34revenue was 7°16 per cent. on the capital against 8°08 last year.

3526. The satisfactory completion of the Chenab Canal Weir is the most

36noteworthy feature in the year’s record of the Punjab Canals. The season fortu-

37nately proved most favourable for the rapid progress of the work. The river fell

38rapidly in the months of September and October. In November it was possible to

39complete the diversion of the river, and the work progressed steadily to its comple-

40tion.on the 2nd February 1892. At the same time the record of progress on the

41and Division of the Chenab Canal is cqually deserving of commendation. The

42Rakh Branch has been extended, 8 réjbah4s have been either completed or well

43advanced, and 500 miles of water-courses have been constructed. The result is

44that 400,000 acres were ready for colonization at the end of the year, and the

45introduction of colonists has been in active progress since the beginning of

461892-93.