Canals in Madhya Pradesh :

Madhya Pradesh literally means "Central Province", and is located in the geographic heart of India in between the latitude of 21.6°N-26.30°N and longitude of 74°9'E-82°48'E. The state straddles the Narmada River, which runs east and west between the Vindhya and Satpura ranges; these ranges and the Narmada are the traditional boundaries between the north and south of India. The highest point in Madhya Pradesh is Dhupgarh, with an elevation of 1,350 m (4,429 ft).The state is bordered on the west by Gujarat, on the northwest by Rajasthan, on the northeast by Uttar Pradesh, on the east by Chhattisgarh, and on the south by Maharashtra.

Madhya Pradesh state due to its rocky and stony surface is suitable for tank irrigation. But in recent years well (including tube well) and canal have gained popularity and account for 53% and 30.3% of the net irrigated area of the state. Main canal systems are:

1. Mahanadi Project Canals-The Mahanadi canals have been constructed fewer than three stages providing irrigation to about 3.4 lakh hectares of land. The scheme involves construction of barrage across the Mahanadi at Rudri across the Sandur River under Ravishankar Sagar Project, feeder canal, Pairi dam and 1,145 km long irrigation canals.

2. Wainganga Canal- It takes off from the Wainganga River (length 45 km) to irrigate about 4,000 hectares of land in Balaghat, Seoni (Madhya Pradesh) and Bhandara (Maharashtra) districts.

3. Tandula Canal - Under this scheme two earthen dams have been built near the confluence of the Tandula and Sukha rivers. Canals taken out from these are providing irrigation to about 66,000 hec­tares of cropland in Raipur and Durg districts.

4. Chambal Project Canals- This scheme in­volves construction of three dams. Canals under this scheme irrigate about 5.15 lakh hectares of agricul­tural land in Gwalior, Bhind, Morena and Datia districts. The main branches of the canal are the Ambah and the Morena.

5. Barna Project Canals -The Bama project involves the construction of a barrage across the Barna river (a tributary of the Narmada) and canals which irrigate about 64,400 hectares of land in Raisen district.

6. Tawa Project Canals- Canals originating from the barrage across the Tawa River with total length of 197 km irrigate about 3 lakh hectares of area in Hoshangabad district.

7. Halali Project Canals - Under this project canals have been taken out from the barrage built across the Halali river to iirrigate about 73,500 hectares of cropped area in Vidisha district.