SERICUL TURE AND THE PROCESS OF CHANGE - Institute for ...

flowing in the north-easterly direction, at a distance of about five
kilometres from the village. The 'Kottur Eri' is the nearest tank, which is
on its north-west, within 'a distance of about one kilometre. It provides
irrigation for about eight per cent of the agriculture lands of the village,
known as 'Eringeel Kaeni'. 'Chinneri' is another tank located on the
north-eastern side of the village. 'Chinnaru' is a small river, flowing
from west to south-easterly direction, at the south-western side of the
village at a distance of about one kilometre. The village is also
surrounded by forest areas on its southern and eastern sides. The lands
on the SO:1th, south-east and south-west, are of rocky structure. The
lands located on the northern side of the village are of black soil while
all the other sides are predominantly of red soil. The lands at 'Eringeel
Kaeni' are of a mixed type.
The sources of irrigation include wells, minor tanks and river
streams. In the past, regulation of irrigation water flowing from tanks
and streams was carried out by 'Neerkatti', an SC, belonging to Paraya
caste, who received annual grains for his service. This institution is no
more in existence today. The water is diverted to the fields on its flow,
by mutual adjustment and accommodation though tensions are not
uncommon in such a practice. There is a definite shift in the mode of
irrigation system in recent years, with total replacement of the traditional
system 'kavalai' by modem techniques of irrigation. There are a number
of electric pump-sets and diesel engines, installed to facilitate irrigation
activity. Ploughing is still carried out traditionally, though tractor
ploughing, hired from the neighbouring village is not totally unknown.
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