The Bamboo Tubewell-A Low Cost Device for Exploiting Ground Water

The bamboo tubewell, introduced in Saharsa in Bihar in December 1968, has brought the tapping of groundwater well within the reach of small cultivators. This paper discusses the special advantages of the bamboo tubewell and the remarkable results achieved in the districts of Saharsa and Purnea in Bihar, The success of the bamboo tubewell in Saharsa and Purnea has thrown into bold relief the pressing necessity to enforce ceiling and tenancy laws. These two districts are well known for extreme inequality in ownership of land. Big landowners are not interested in the intensive cultivation of their holdings and very few among them have gone in for bamboo tubewells. Most of the bamboo tubewells have been sunk by small and medium farmers. Strict implementation of the ceiling law will pave the way for more efficient utilisation of the available land. A considerable part of the cultivated area in the two districts, particularly in Purnea, is cultivated through share-croppers. It is unlikely that these lands will be irrigated by bamboo tubewells until permanent and heritable rights are conferred on the share-croppers.