Anti-waterlogging measures

Anti-waterlogging measures are the steps taken to prevent the water table from rising, and to reclaim land that is already waterlogged.

1. Preventive measures

• Lining of canals and water courses to reduce seepage losses.
• Controlled irrigation: supply only the crop requirement, with a proper irrigation interval (avoid over-watering).
• Efficient water management: rotational supply (warabandi), farmer training, volumetric charges.
• Improving the natural drainage: clearing, deepening and straightening natural streams; providing cross-drainage works of adequate waterway so that roads, canals and embankments do not obstruct flow.
• Intensity of irrigation limited to the available drainage capacity; avoiding unlined canals on high-seepage ground; and a good cropping pattern.
• Interceptor drains along the canal.

2. Remedial (reclamation) measures

• Surface drains: open field, collector and main drains.
• Subsurface drains: tile or pipe drains and mole drains, to lower the water table to a safe depth (about 1.5 m or more).
• Vertical drainage: tube wells or pump wells; pumped water is reused for irrigation.
• Biological drainage: deep-rooted trees such as eucalyptus along canals and fields.
• Land levelling and construction of embankments against floods.

Prevention is cheaper than cure; a combination of lining and surface drains is generally adopted, with tile drains or tube wells for severely affected areas.