Course Teacher: Aminul Islam Sohan, Lecturer
Mogadishu University. sohan.bd71@[Link]
CHAPTER – 5
LINING OF IRRIGAITON CANAL & ECONOMICS OF LINING
ADVANTAGES OF LINING
o Seepage Control
o Prevention of Water-Logging
o Increase in Channel Capacity
o Increase in Commanded Area
o Reduction in Maintenance Costs
o Elimination of Flood Dangers
SELECTION OF SUITABLE TYPE OF LINING
o Low cost
o Impermeability
o Hydraulic efficiency (i.e. reduction in rugosity coefficient)
o Durability
o Resistance to erosion
o Repairability
o Structural stability
FINANCIAL JUSTIFICATION AND ECONOMICS OF CANAL LINING
(i) Annual benefits:
(a) Saved seepage water by lining:
Let, the rate of water is sold to the cultivators = $ R1/cumec
If m cumecs of water is saved by lining the canal annually, then the money saved by lining = $
m R1
(b) Saving in maintenance cost:
Let, the average cost of annual upkeep of unlined channel = $ R2
If p is the percentage fraction of the saving achieved in maintenance cost by lining the canal,
then the amount saved = pR2 $
The total annual benefits = mR1 + pR2
(ii) Annual costs:
Let, the capital expenditure required on lining is C $ & the lining has a life of Y years
Annual depreciation charges = C/Y $
Interest of the capital C = C(r/100) [r = percent of the rate of annual interest]
Average annual interest = C/2(r/100) $ [ Since the capital value of the asset decreases
from C to zero in Y years]
The total annual costs of lining = C/Y + C/2(r/100)
Annual Benefits mR1 pR2
Benefit cost ratio = =
Annual Costs C C r
Y 2 100
If p is taken as 0.4, then
mR1 0.4 R2
Benefit cost ratio = C C r
Y 2 100
1
Problem:
An unlined canal giving a seepage loss of 3.3 cumec per million square meters of wetted area is
proposed to be lined with 10 cm thick cement concrete lining, which costs $ 180 per 10 square
meters. Given the following data, work out the economics of lining and benefit cost ratio.
Annual revenue per cumec of water from all crops $ 0.35 million
Discharge in the channel 83.5 cumecs
Area of the channel 40.8 m2
Wetted perimeter of the channel 18.8 m
Wetted perimeter of the lining 18.5 m
Annual maintenance cost of unlined channel per 10 square meter $ 1.0
Solution:
Let us consider 1 km reach of canal. Therefore, the wetted surface per km = 18.8×1000 =
18,800 m2
(i) Annual Benefits
(a) Seepage loss
Seepage loss in unlined canal @ 3.3 cumec per million sq. m = (3.3/106)×18,800 cumec/km
= 62,040×10–6 cumec/km
Assume, seepage loss in lined channel at 0.01 cumec per million square meter of wetted perimeter
Seepage loss in unlined canal = (0.01/106)×18,800 = 188×10–6 cumecs/km
Net saving = (62,040×10–6 – 188×10–6) cumec/km = 0.06185 cumec/km
Annual revenue saved per km of channel = (0.06185×3.5) million $ = 0.21648 million $
= $ 21,648
(b) Saving in maintenance
Annual maintenance cost of unlined channel for 10 square meter = $1
Total wetted perimeter per 1 km length = 18,800 m2
Annual maintenance charge for unlined channel per km = $1,880
Assume that 40% of this is saved in lined channel
Annual saving in maintenance charges = $ (0.4×1880) = $752
Total annual benefits per km = $ (21,648 + 752) = $22,400
(ii) Annual Costs
Area of lining per km of channel = 18.5×1000 = 18500 m2
Cost of lining per km of channel @ $ 180 per 10 m2 = (18500×180/10) $ = 333000 $
Assume, life of lining as 40 years
Depreciation cost per year = $ (3,33,000/40) = $ 8325
Assume 5% rate of interest
Average annual interest = C/2 (r/100) = 3,33,000/2×(5/100) = $ 8325
Total annual cost = $ (8325 + 8325) = $ 16,650
Benefit cost ratio = Annual benefits/Annual costs = 22,400/16,650 = 1.35
Benefit cost ratio is more than unity, and hence, the lining is justified.
2
Practice Problems:
1. An unlined canal giving a seepage loss of 3.3 m3/s per million sq.m of wetted area is
proposed to be lined with 10 cm thick cement concrete lining which cost $18/sq.m. Given
the following data work out the economics of lining and benefit cost ratio.
Annual revenue per cumec of water $ 3.5 lacs
Discharge in the canal 83.5 m3/s
Area of the canal 40.8 m2
Wetted perimeter of the canal 18.8 m
Wetted perimeter of the lining 18.5 m
Annual maintenance cost of unlined canal $ 0.1/sq.m
Assume any suitable data if required
2. A canal of length 5 km and of discharge capacity 3.5 m3/s is proposed to be lined with
boulder lining. The total cost of lining is estimated as 4 million. The life of lining is
considered as 60 years. Justify the lining in the canal from the following data:
Rate of interest 8%
Seepage loss 2%
Revenue for irrigation water $ 75 per hec-m
Maintenance cost per km for lined canal $ 1000
Maintenance cost per km for unlined canal $ 2500
Base period of crop 120 days
Additional benefit/km $ 1000
