User-Friendly Irrigation Designs by Nirmal Sengupta; Sage Publications, New THE relative significance of traditional minor irrigation sources for agricultural development in India is well known. Generally, rainfall occurs for three to four monsoon months in a year. Irrigation tanks, ponds and other micro water-sheds, known as 'small water bodies', store the run-off water and provide assured water supply throughout the year. Even from the earliest times people realised the importance of minor irrigalion sources. The level of prosperity of a village age directly depends upon the availability of water in minor irrigation sources. Further, 'small water bodies' contribute to ecological balance and provide water supply for rural and urban population.