90
Utilization of Tubewells
Shallow Tubewells
Utilization of tubewells will depend upon the need for which the tubewells are
constructed. Most of the tubewells in India are used for irrigation, be it shallow
tubewells or deep tubewells.
Shallow tubewells are constructed by individual farmers to irrigate their own
command which is about 4 ha. having a prime mover varying from 3 to 5 hp.
The prime movers are either diesel operatd or electrical operated. Discharge
from such tubewell are about 10,000 gallons per hour which fall directly on a
stilling basin from where water is diverted through irrigation channels, mostly
'kutcha' though lined channels are constructed by few farmers to avoid
seepage losses. Diesel pumpsets can be carried by the individual farmers from
one place to another and is convenient for the farmers having scattered land
holdings. Electrical pumpsets on the other hand can not be removed from its
place of installation. A pumphouse is a must for electrical pumpsets. They are
normally preferred by the farmers because of cost effectiveness, but depends
on he availability of power connection, permission from the State Electricity
Boards. Taking power connection from a distant pole is costly and a cluster of
tubewell with electrical pumpset was introduced early so that the distance
between two tubewells was approximately 660 ft. or about 200m. In this case
also irrigation water is conveyed by 'kutcha channels'.
Shallow tubewells are sometimes known as 'filter points' as in Uttar Pradesh
where shallow tubewells are described as low duty tubewells with a pumphouse.
In other places like Assam 'Bamboo tubewells" are in vougue where the casing
pipe is of bamboo fitted with a specially designed bamboo filters. Life of such
tubewells are often questioned because of fluctuation of the water table causing
bamboo to rot. There are local variations of design as well when the top part
may be replaced by GI pipe. In some parts of Tripura, autoflows exist where a
small bamboo pipe, say about 6 meter long are inserted in the hole to get
continuous flow of water.
