History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c24.s6.55

v1.c24.s6.55

The Kāśyapīyakṛṣisūkti says that in the absence of the facility of a water-reservoir a canal is to be provided. Such a canal is of four kinds, as it is fed from a river, a lake, a reservoir, or mountain slopes (i.e. a mountain rill). The feeding source of the canal is to be on a level higher than the region to be irrigated. An embrasure is to be made in it. In constructing the canal its bed is to be laid. The breadth of the canal is to be four, five, six, seven or ten hastas. Its height should be proportionate to its bed and its depth adjusted everywhere to the volume of its flow. Places with terrene faults, which cause the water to disappear either by absorption or desiccation or are covered with saltpetre, are to be avoided. At places two or three canals are to be dug according to requirement. The canals are to be made to fall gradually into a lake or pond. Where there is no such water- reservoir, the canal is to terminate into the fields, but, in such places, only small culverts are recommended.