Chapter XIII: Appendix: B

SPECIFICATION FOR MAINTENANCE OF CHANNELS.

(See page 138.)

I. ROADS AND BANKS.

1. =Filling Holes.=--Holes to be all dug out and thoroughly opened and inspected, then to be filled in with rammed earth. Never to be filled in a hurry or without digging out.

2. =Dressing.=--Heavy soil to be dressed even. Light sandy soil to be disturbed as little as possible, and grass in such soil not to be removed except when in large tufts. When dressing is done, the road to be given (as far as possible) a transverse slope from the canal side of about 1 in 50.

3. =Trees.=--Branches to be lopped so as not to obstruct riders. Great care is needed to see that the men do not lop needlessly high. Roots, if projecting on road, to be covered up or cut out.

4. =Petty Repairs.=--Settlement or wearing down, if slight, should be made good on maintenance estimates, otherwise on special estimates. Cracks should be dug out and filled in and rammed. Old “dead men” or walls of earth should be utilised or at least levelled down.

5. =Sand or “Reh” Soil.=--Can be dug out to a depth of 9 inches and removed to a distance, and (the places having been inspected by the Subdivisional Officer) replaced by good soil got from pits or berms, the places being selected with care. If the lead is slightly askew, the stuff removed can be put in the same pits from which earth is got.

6. =Laying long coarse Grass on Road.=--This can be done in cases where the removal of sand or “reh” is not practicable or has proved ineffective. The grass is laid crosswise to prevent wheels sinking in.

II. JUNGLE AND TREES.

1. =Jungle.=--To be cut close to the ground or to be dug out by the roots when ordered. To be burned as soon as dry. Dead branches, twigs, etc., to be burned or removed to rest-houses, and not left about on canal land. Precautions to be taken against damage by fire to forests, etc. Clearance to include the channel[56] and both roads, and any jungle on the slopes of the spoil which obstructs the roads.[57]

[56] Jungle on inside slopes not to be cleared where banks fall in or
where channel is too wide.

[57] When an embankment runs parallel to an inundation canal, a chain
or so distant, the intervening space need not be cleared, nor need the
top of a bank be cleared if it is so uneven that it is not a road.

2. =Trees.=--Trees which fall into a channel or across a road to have their branches cut away at once. The trunk to be removed so far as is possible. Trees which are dead or broken off should be felled, also those which have been blown into inclined positions, unless bad gaps will be caused. Trees (unless required for stock) to be sold as they lie and removed, including the parts below ground, by purchasers, within a fixed time. Logs, etc., not to be left lying about on canal land. Stumps, etc., to be made into charcoal and the holes filled up.

_Note._--The above works (Parts I. and II.) to be done immediately after the rains (repairs to roads and removal of trees, branches, etc., being also done during the rains or whenever necessary) and finished at latest by 31st October.

III. CATTLE CROSSINGS OR GHÁTS.

1. =Repairs.=--Gháts to be dressed, strengthened, and kept neat, the bank being thrown back and curved so as to give a long inner slope, and lumps, etc., levelled off.

2. =Closures.=--To be closed (by order of Subdivisional Officer and no one of lower rank) only when very near to a bridge or near to another ghát.[58] If closed, to be staked up and bushing to be added. Not to be closed by loose thorny branches. Not to be allowed close to any milestone, outlet, etc.

[58] Regarding gháts at bridges, see Chap. II., Art. 12.

3. =Small Gháts.=--Gháts where only foot-passengers cross, can run diagonally up the slopes or as may be convenient. They should be dressed and kept in order.

4. =Canal Road at Gháts.=--At all gháts care must be taken that the canal road, especially if used for driving, is not cut up and is kept in proper order.

IV. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

1. =Rubbish or Obstructions in Bed of Channel.=--To be removed from the channel when it is laid dry, and not left till it is about to be reopened.[59] Old stakes, etc., to be sawn off when crooked or too high.

[59] Where the bed is too low, no rubbish clearance should be done
except in the case of very large snags, etc.

2. =Temporary Aqueducts or Damaged Wooden Bridges.=[60]--To be removed before water is expected (but not sooner than is necessary) and the banks repaired and made good.

[60] This applies to inundation canals.