Development Works in the Princely State of Bikaner under the Sutlej Valley Project (1922-1947)
Introduction
The Sutlej Valley Project (SVP) was one of the largest irrigation development schemes in British India. It not only provided water for huge tracts of British Punjab and the Princely State of Bahawalpur but also changed the socio-economic and physical geography of the arid Princely State of Bikaner. The development works undertaken in Bikaner under the aegis of SVP included the construction of the Gang Canal and associated works, large-scale canal colonies, extensive commercial agriculture, development of roads, railways, and markets, and a host of other public works. This article aims to document the development works carried out in the Princely State of Bikaner under the Sutlej Valley Project between 1922 and 1947.
Historical Background
Prior to the commencement of the canal irrigation works, the Princely State of Bikaner comprised mainly the Thar Desert. The only means of agricultural production in the kingdom were:
- rainfall – sparse and uncertain
- wells
- village tanks or ‘tankas and
- ephemeral streams
In the pre-canal days, the average annual rainfall in Bikaner was low, ranging between 100 and 300 mm. Consequently, the kingdom faced frequent famines and periodic shortages of pastures and water for the livestock since the natural vegetation consisted primarily of short grasses and thorny bushes.
Inclusion of Bikaner in the Sutlej Valley Project
The issue of the inclusion of the Princely State of Bikaner in the Sutlej Valley Project (SVP) was one of the most contentious issues during the planning of the project. There were several reasons why Bikaner was added to the list of the states benefiting from the SVP:
- A large volume of water from the Sutlej River was wasted in the form of floods.
- By providing an outlet for the Sutlej floods, India would create thousands of new acres in the Thar Desert fit for cultivation.
- The development of commercial agriculture would yield high revenues to the state.
Lastly, the British government was sympathetic to the plight of the people of Bikaner who suffered from recurrent famines. Thus, Bikaner’s inclusion in the SVP was a political decision as well.
It may also be mentioned that a water-sharinf agreement was concluded between the British Punjab administration, the Princely State of Bahawalpur, and the Princely State of Bikaner. This agreement was one of the earliest river-water sharing agreements concluded in the Indus Basin.
3. Construction of the Gang Canal
The construction of the Gang Canal was the largest development work undertaken in the Bikaner state under the aegis of the SVP. The Gang Canal, named after Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner, was one of the longest canals in British India.
Gang Canal – Engineering feat
The Gang Canal, which commenced from the Ferozepur Headworks, was a remarkable engineering feat of its time. The canal cut across hundreds of miles of the Thar Desert to provide perennial irrigation to the command area. Several distributaries, regulators, bridges, and escapes were built to meet the needs of irrigation.
4. Distribution Network
Apart from the construction of the main canal, extensive distribution works were carried out to ensure that every village in the command area received a share of irrigation water. The irrigation network consisted of:
- branch canals
- distributaries
- minors
- water courses
- field channels
- regulators
5. Expanding Irrigated Agriculture
Prior to the opening of the Gang Canal, only a small proportion of the land in Bikaner was under cultivation. However, the works undertaken under the SVP changed the situation. Hundreds of thousands of acres came under perennial irrigation following the opening of the Gang Canal and the extensive distribution works. The agricultural produce of the command area included wheat, cotton, mustard, gram, barley, and fodder. Thus, the canal works not only provided large-scale irrigation but also facilitated a shift from subsistence to commercial farming in the Bikaner state.
6. Desert Reclamation Works – Making the Thar Desert Bloom
The creation of fertile fields out of the Thar Desert was one of the most astounding feats accomplished by the SVP in the Bikaner state. The newly reclaimed tracts of land were cultivated extensively for commercial farming. Some of the districts that witnessed intensive desert reclamation works under the SVP include Sri Ganganagar, Raisinghnagar, Suratgarh, Anupgarh, Padampur, and Kesrisinghpur. The transformation of the Thar Desert into fertile farmlands under the SVP was indeed one of the most remarkable developments in the history of South Asia.
7. Canal Colonies
An important legacy of the SVP in Bikaner was the canal colonies that were established following the large-scale irrigation works. The Bikaner government allocated land to local farmers, ex-soldiers, Punjabi migrants, and farm tenants to settle in the newly created canal colonies. The new villages had roads, schools, and markets and were well planned.
8. Development of Sri Ganganagar
No discussion of the development works undertaken in Bikaner under the SVP would be complete without mentioning the phenomenal rise of Sri Ganganagar as a commercial center. Sri Ganganagar was one of the most important districts to benefit from the SVP. It is one of the leading producers of wheat and cotton in India today. Sri Ganganagar has indeed come a long way from being a sparsely populated desert village to a regional center of commerce and industry.
9. Agricultural Development – Improved Seeds, Farm Implements, and Farm Practices
The Bikaner state took concerted efforts to promote agricultural development in the newly irrigated areas. The measures taken to achieve this goal included:
- the distribution of improved seeds
- agricultural extension work and
- the establishment of demonstration farms.
10. More Food Grains and Other Agricultural Commodities
Large-scale irrigation works facilitated an increase in agricultural production. The state witnessed a rise in food grain production, particularly wheat, and other commercial crops like cotton, mustard, gram, barley, and fodder. The increased agricultural production not only met the food needs of the people but also contributed to the state’s economy.
11. Livestock Development in Bikaner
Another beneficial outcome of the large-scale irrigation works was the improvement in livestock husbandry in Bikaner. The increased availability of fodder had a positive impact on dairy development. Moreover, livestock breeding, particularly cattle, sheep, camels, and poultry, developed considerably due to the improved fodder and healthcare services. Animal traction came to play an important role in farming. Thus, livestock development was another beneficial outcome of the SVP in Bikaner.
12. Rise in Population
The canal colonies provided employment to thousands of people and led to a significant rise in the population. The population of Bikaner kept on rising due to the influx of migrants seeking employment in the new settlements. It must be noted that many of the migrants who came to Bikaner were from Punjab, which was one of the first states to benefit from the SVP. The population boom was also due to the fact that the SVP brought an end to the periodic famines that had, until then, depopulated large areas of the Thar Desert.
13. Road Construction
The large-scale canal irrigation works could not have been completed without the construction of roads. The construction of roads not only facilitated irrigation works but also connected many villages and commercial centers, thereby promoting trade and transportation. Several roads were built for the smooth passage of canal machinery, including inspection roads along the canal banks. The roads constructed under the SVP also included village roads, bridges, culverts, and market roads.
14. Railway Development
The railway network also played an important role in facilitating the development works undertaken under the SVP. The railway network provided connectivity to the newly developed canal command areas. Moreover, the railways transported agricultural commodities, including wheat, cotton, oilseeds, wool, and livestock, to far-off markets. Thus, the railway development under the SVP facilitated both the agricultural production and trade.
15. Development of Markets
The large-scale commercial agricultural production under the SVP necessitated the establishment of commercial centers and markets. The markets that developed under the SVP were crucial in linking farmers with traders and promoting commercial farming in the newly cultivated areas. Some of the major markets that developed under the SVP include Sri Ganganagar, Raisinghnagar, Suratgarh, Padampur, and Anupgarh.
16. Industrial Development
Industrial development also accelerated under the SVP. The industrial establishments that developed under the SVP included cotton ginning factories, flour mills, oil mills, grain storage godowns, and workshops. These industries not only added to the prosperity of the state but also provided employment to thousands of people.
17. Employment Opportunities
The development works undertaken under the SVP created thousands of jobs for the local people. People were employed in different capacities, including canal construction, masonry work, road construction, and management of the irrigation works. Employment opportunities were also created in the industries that came up to meet the demand for agricultural produce.
18. Social Development
The prosperity brought about by the SVP could not have been achieved without the tremendous social development that took place in the newly cultivated areas. The establishment of canal colonies led to the provision of basic amenities such as education, medical services, and drinking water. Other social services that were provided in the newly developed towns and villages included veterinary services, police stations, and post offices.
19. Revenue Generation
The canal irrigation works not only brought in huge revenues from the sale of agricultural produce but also added to the state’s exchequer in the form of taxes. Moreover, the development of commercial agriculture under the SVP opened up new sources of revenue for the Bikaner state.
20. Environmental Development
The most surprising aspect of the SVP was the environmental development, particularly in the desert tract of the Thar Desert. The canal command areas witnessed a phenomenal increase in forest cover, leading to the creation of extensive pastures and the lowering of the number of sandstorms. However, waterlogging and salinity were also serious problems that required the state to construct drainage works in some areas.
21. Role of Maharaja Ganga Singh
Finally, no discussion of the development works in Bikaner would be complete without mention of the role of the visionary ruler, Maharaja Sir Ganga Singh. It was largely due to his insistence that the SVP was extended to the Bikaner state, notwithstanding the strong opposition from the Princely State of Bahawalpur. The ruler took keen interest in the affairs of the SVP and played a leading role in financing the construction of canals and associated works. Maharaja Ganga Singh’s role in promoting large-scale irrigation works, including the canal colonies, facilitated by the SVP, was crucial in transforming the barren Thar Desert into a flourishing agricultural region. It is due to his public-spiritedness that the Bikaner state was integrated into the SVP.
Conclusion
A large number of development works were undertaken in the Princely State of Bikaner under the Sutlej Valley Project (SVP) between 1922 and 1947. Some of the major development works undertaken in Bikaner under the SVP include the construction of the Ganga Canal and associated works, large-scale canal colonies, extensive commercial agriculture, development of roads, railways, and markets, and a host of other public works. The development works not only transformed the physical and social geography of the Thar Desert but also significantly contributed to the state’s economy while alleviating the people from recurring famines and droughts. The SVP, facilitated by the forward-thinking Maharaja Ganga Singh, marked the beginning of a new era of public works and irrigation-led development in the Bikaner state.
FAQs
1. What was the contribution of the Princely State of Bikaner to the Sutlej Valley Project?
The princely state of Bikaner participated in the Tripartite Agreement and shared the canal water from the Gang Canal for the Sutlej Valley Project irrigation.
2. What were the developments made in Bikaner under the Sutlej Valley Project?
They constructed a modern canal system or re-line, and bridges and road overpasses to irrigate the desert of Bikaner. They built the regulators, distributaries, and associated works along with the canal command area.
3. How did the Sutlej Valley Project help the agriculture of Bikaner?
The Sutlej valley project helped in converting the desert into cultivable land. The canal system increased the agricultural production of Bikaner. It increased the scope for agriculture and helped the people to settle in their territory. This project provides economic development to many villages.
4. Why was the Gang Canal so vital for Bikaner?
Gang Canal was the main irrigation system in Bikaner which helps to develop the desert of Bikaner by carrying the water of the Sutlej river to fulfill the water needs of the people for consumption, irrigation, and economic development.
5. How did the Sutlej Valley Project modify the irrigation system in Bikaner?
Modifications have been made in the form of construction of regulators, distributaries, canal and road overpasses, bridges, cross-drain, measuring devices, and canal command areas.
6. What were the economic benefits of the Sutlej Valley Project on Bikaner?
The Sutlej Valley Project had a lasting effect on Bikaner’s economy. This project helped in the increase in agricultural produce, agricultural income, value of land, trade, livestock, and state revenue.
7. Did the Sutlej Valley Project promote settlements in Bikaner?
Yes, the Sutlej Valley Project promoted agricultural colonies and settlements because of the scope for cultivation in the desert of Bikaner. This project helped to construct markets and new villages and develop agriculture.
8. What were the engineering marvels involved in Bikaner’s development under the Sutlej Valley Project?
The work of the Sutlej Valley Project was an engineering marvel in which the engineers did an incredible job of bringing water from the Sutlej river to the desert for irrigation.
9. What were the challenges faced during the development of the Sutlej Valley Project in Bikaner?
The challenges were transporting water through the desert, laying off the canals through the sandy soil, regulating the flow of water, and sharing the canal water between the Punjab Government, Bahawalpur Agency, and Bikaner State.
10. What would you say is the legacy of the Sutlej Valley Project in Bikaner?
The legacy of this canal includes the development of agricultural production in the north-western part of Rajasthan. The irrigation practices followed today are a result of this project.
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