Canal Irrigation System and Socio Economic Development in British Multan

Abstract

The British Authorities introduced a fine irrigation system in the south west region of the Punjab, because the south western part of the province was lacked to receive the monsoon rainfall which was vital for the agriculture products. The winter season rainfall was also not sufficient for the winter crops. The most of the farmer used the well irrigation it was costly and insufficient for the agricultural need of the farmers of the south western part of the British Punjab. Inundation canal was the second traditional irrigation system in the Multan and its adjoining areas of the British Punjab. But these canals were the seasonal canals operational only during the high level of water in the rivers especially in the summer flood period. The Inundation canals were unable to irrigate the large area of land in the south western part of the province. Therefore, the most land was arid and the people of this area were lived like nomadic society in the rural areas of the Multan region. The perennial canal started to construct by the British from 1885 onwards. The government also started canal colonies in this region which change the socio economic position of the people of the south western region of the Punjab Province during the British rule.