Telemetry System in the Irrigation Network

Dr. Mumtaz Ahmed Sohag and Ali Asghar Mahessar

Sindh Irrigation & Drainage Authority,
Hyderabad, Pakistan.

Abstract: The irrigation system of Pakistan is the largest This enables the canal operation staff to observe and
integrated network in the world. There are 3 major record water levels.
storage reservoirs, 19 barrages, 12 inter-river link canals,
45 independent irrigation canal commands and over Any abnormal variation in the water level indicates
1,22,268 watercourses. Network of irrigation of the discharge variation in the canal. Abnormal decrease of
province of Sindh consists of 3 barrages and 14 canal water level along the canal may indicate abnormal
commands. withdrawal of supplies from a canal, which may result in
reduced supplies to outlets (karias) downstream. However,
The irrigation water is being used for agricultural, an abnormal increase in the water levels may indicate
industrial and domestic purposes. Owing to abnormal entry or availability of water in canal, which
mismanagement and inequitable distribution of water, it is may be due to sudden closer of outlets by khatedars due to
necessary to have a fool-proof system where water is rains as happened during monsoon rains of July 2003.
supplied to the end-users judiciously. The canal operation Sudden increase of water level in the canal may result in
is carried out with the help of water levels in the canal. To breaches in the canal bank. Breaches have often resulted in
record water levels, staff gauges have been installed at large-scale submergence of land, roads, villages and
every head regulators. This enables the canal operation destruction of standing crops. However, if a canal is
staff to observe and record water levels. Therefore, this running at full supply discharge, then it is presumed that
system of canal water management based on water level the canal is also carrying full supply discharge, which may
recording is tampered, which ultimately leads to not always be correct. Since silting of bed of the canal
inequitable distribution of water. reduces the area of the canal section and consequently
reduces the full supply discharge capacity of the canal,
Telemetry System has been designed to observe discharge even if the water level in the canal remains at full supply
with the help of gate openings and water levels. Since level. Therefore, it is not correct to assume that if the canal
sensors are used to observe these parameters, therefore, it is running at full supply level it is also carrying full supply
helps in obtaining accurate measurements. The telemetry discharge.
system is linked to the entire network and can be
facilitated at any other place through telephone/radio Gate Operator/Tandel
system, thus information is spread out to every corner
simultaneously. Thus it helps enormously the managers in The water level data is collected by Beldars and Tandels
proper regulation and distribution of water while the (gate operators) and is transmitted to higher offices by
farmers know about the quantum of water received by Canal wires along the canal. Since fudging and wrong
them. This system is widely practiced in the developed reporting of data is a common practice all over the world
countries. It has been recently introduced in the irrigation especially in far off and hazardous places, it should hardly
system of Pakistan at Twin Jamrao Head, a major be expected that the gauge heights data of the canal also
distributary of Nara Canal. The telemetry system is collected throughout the year and reported by Tandels in
working very efficiently and has opened new vistas; Sindh, who can be influenced by khatedars and landlords,
however, it requires willingness and participation of the would always be correct. Moreover, since a Beldar is
engineers and farmers. required to carryout several more functions daily like
maintaining of service roads, banks and canal section etc.
INTRODUCTION He may become too tired to walk or ride cycle to a far off
water level gauge twice daily to record water level
Irrigation system of Pakistan is the largest integrated readings especially when there is no supervisor available
network in the world. There are 3 major storage reservoirs, to all the time, therefore he may be inclined at times to
19 barrages, 12 inter-river link canals, 45 independent report fictious data. The system in vague therefore,
irrigation canal commands and over 1,22,268 watercourses. depends entirely on the honesty, integrity and hard work
Network of irrigation of the province of Sindh consists of of Beldars and Tandels. In the prevailing socio-economic
3 barrages and 14 canal commands. conditions it should hardly be expected from a low paid
Beldar that he remains honest and hard working while
In Sindh, canal operation is carried out with the help of others around him enjoy all sorts of illegal benefits.
water levels in the canal. To record water levels, staff Therefore, the system of canal water management based
gauges have been installed at every head regulator, cross on water level recording has many loopholes and cannot
regulator, bridges and along the canal at regular intervals. be relied upon any more.

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Obsolete Gauge Recording Water Management Strategy:

The gauge heights recording instruments were introduced The water management strategy means, the distribution of
as a state-of-art method in the 19th century when the canals water in line with design and available proportion of water.
were originally introduced. However, during the last The water distribution strategy cannot be made without
century, tremendous development has taken place in the actual and proper available data. Therefore, the strategy
field of water storage recording, discharge measurements relies on and takes in account the water availability (water
and also in transmission of data. Unfortunately, in Sindh level in reservoir, expected surface flow), the water
the original method of recording of data is still being used. demand (irrigation, urban/rural supply and industrial). The
This method has become obsolete and probably in use strategy results in the following major decisions:
only in this part of the world. In view of the above the
system of water management based on gauge heights data
has lost its credibility altogether. • Diversion of water from dams/reservoirs/rivers/canals
• Allocation of water quota to the various stakeholders
Water users/Farmers • A reservoir/dam strategy (availability water target
monthly)
Farmers at head of channels took more water than due
share, whereas, at tail of channels Farmers suffer owing to Water Supply:
shortage of water. Ultimately, tail-end farmers have been
worried for not receiving their due share in our country Water supply is related to delivery of required quantity of
and particular in the province Sindh. This situation has led water to stakeholders. It might be split in four tasks:
to migration of tail-end farmers and peasants for looking
their livelihood in the province of Sindh. This condition Water Supply Management: Water Supply Management
creates due to not equitable and judicious distribution of could be applied the results of availability of water on
water in irrigation network of Sindh. daily basis, taking into account the actual water situation.
The objective is to ensure the supply of due share of water
Modern Water Technology to each stakeholder.
Operation of Infrastructure: The task consists in
Western countries though have much smaller canal physically adjusting gates, opening and closing valves, and
systems and supply waters to much smaller land and few starting pumping stations, according to the of Water
number of farmers, have been continuously upgrading Supply situation.
their data collection and transmission techniques and have
adopted state-of-art methods and technologies during
System Monitoring: The objective of this task is to monitor
every period. Pakistan is far behind the west in adoption of
the operation of the system, and to check that daily water
technology in nearly every field. However, it has the
management decisions have been correctly implemented
knowledge and capability to upgrades its technologies
in the field. It relies on hydraulic measurements (flow,
including water technologies. In nuclear field and in
water level, and water quantity).
aviation, Pakistan is equal to if not ahead of the west. In IT,
it is making very quick strides. The new state-of-art water
technology is known as Supervisory Control and Data Water Supply Control: This task consists in analyzing
Acquisition SCADA/Telemetry System. This technology field measurements in order to establish statistics. The
is simple, suitable, fool proof and completely automatic. objective is to follow-up and controls the implementation
Sindh has surplus electronic engineers who can be of the water management strategy, and to provide statistics
employed in large numbers if Sindh adopts the new for future water management planning.
technology. SCADA/Telemetry system is used extensively
all over the world to collect data of canals, tube wells, Water Distribution
pipelines, plant etc. it is extremely useful for monitoring
and collection and transmission of data from a remote or Water Distribution consists in the management of the
hazardous location. The new technologies can irrigation network. It involves the operation of the network
revolutionalise the irrigation management in Sindh. It will head structure, and the farm turnouts.
allow supply of design discharges in branches,
distributaries, and minors and allow judicious and Water Distribution activities may be divided into four
equitable distribution of water among khatedars especially tasks:
to those lying at the tail of the canal. The system has many
advantages and can point out the location of losses of
water from the canal. It can improve the safety of canal Organization of Irrigation Schedule: The output of the
structures from breaches and can avoid flood situation as task is a weekly calendar (or bi-weekly), which schedules
is being created nearly every year. The control of Beldars, the days and hours during which each farmer is entitled to
Tandels and Sub-engineers will be minimal. receive water. This schedule takes into account the water
quota resulting from the water management strategy, the

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crop water requirements, and the irrigation network control equipment. The remote stations are located NDP
physical constraints. office Karachi, SIDA office Hyderabad, NCAWB
Mirpurkhas. The telemetry communication network
Water Delivery to the Farmers: This task consists of transfers data collected through the field instruments with
opening and closing of farm turnouts in order to provide in the SCADA system. The telemetry system consisted on
water according to the irrigation schedule. The schedule telephone lines, radio, and cable or satellite terminal. This
may be modified one day prior to irrigation: either telemetry system is communicating and supplies data to
according to farmer’s requests in case of unexpected the mentioned offices regularly. The staff of IPD, NDP,
events SIDA and stakeholders is receiving data regularly. This
system is providing and supplying data accurate and better
Water Demand Assessment: This task consists in checking way. The staff of IPD and SIDA is remaining all time
aware about discharge and water position at Head
farm crops, in order to establish a Planting Register. The
Planting Register is used to compute present and future Regulator, on that basis they can make distribution of
irrigation water on justifiable and equitable in the
water needs, and farm quotas.
command area of canal in line with available quantity
water in the canal network. The discharges manipulated by
The Water Management Information System (WMIS): The telemetry system have been compared with discharges
Water Management Information System (WMIS) is an measured through velocity rod and current meter. There is
Information Technology tool developed to assist and less difference in comparison among them. Therefore, this
achieve optimal water management. WMIS is an system may be installed entire irrigation system of Sindh
integrated system, as it covers all tasks related to water that the distribution of water can be equitable and right.
management, from management of water resources, down Through this system all farmers from head to tail of
to water distribution to the farmer. channel can receive their due share of water. Out of this
system there is main benefit that all stakeholders can
Since 1960, telemetry has been used to monitor the acquire position of available of water in irrigation canals,
performance of water and sewage pumping stations, and on that based they can demand of their right and due
water reservoirs. This telemetry was designed, assembled shares, therefore the irrigation staff can not make
and installed in-house, and eventually featured a variety of exploitation of distribution of water in canal system.
technologies, depending on the era” of installation at each
site. The technology more-than-met the needs of the
distribution until the late 1980’s.

Description of Area

The study area is located in the Nara Canal system. The

Nara Canal off takes from Sukkur Barrage and splits into
five main canals, as Jamrao, Mithrao, Khipro, Hiral and
Thar. From these main canals, branch canals, minor and
outlets and lift machines off take water. There are 163
distributaries, 830 officially sanctioned direct outlets and
328 lift machines exist of which 178 are sanctioned. In
2001 the twin Jamrao canal was commissioned, the twin
Jamrao system has design discharge 3400 cusecs and its
length is 124 miles/203 km, and it consists Branch canals
(West branch, Dim branch, Shahu branch and lower
Jamrao canal), 16 distributaries,58 minors and161 direct
outlets.
Figure: 1 Shows the Installation of Telemetry System on
Head Regulator of Twin Jamrao canal.
SCADA/Telemetry System Installed at Twin Jamrao
Head Regulator Nara Canal
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
The Telemetry System has been installed at Twin Jamrao SCADA/Telemetry System
Head Regulator Nara Canal, the sensors analysis have At International level, much development and progress has
been installed with measuring scale of gates opening been made in diverse field through modern technologies.
boxes and one sensor has been installed one and half feet Modern technology has been applying for integrated water
above bed level at upstream of Head Regulator. The field resources at world level but particularly in developed
instrumentation and control equipment has been installed countries. Modern technologies such as Telemetry system,
in the room, which is constructed on the left side of canal. GIS and MIS are particularly related to irrigated
The sensors will transmit data to field instrumentation and agriculture. These countries have got much benefit from

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modern technology (Telemetry System) in equitable and Benefits of modern SCADA Telemetry systems
judicious distribution of irrigation system and network.
The tangible benefits of SCADA/Telemetry system can,
Accordingly, there is dire need of application and
and should, be identified to meet business justification
utilization of such type of technology to introduce in the
requirements; many unquantifiable or unanticipated
irrigation network of Sindh. The objective and purpose of
benefits have subsequently been demonstrated. These less
introducing the telemetry system is to make equitable and
tangible benefits add considerable value to the investment
right distribution or water from head to tail network of the
and help to illustrate that the use of modern
province of Sindh.
SCADA/Telemetry technology is a fundamental strategic
tool for operations as the new century approaches.
SCADA/Telemetry System is a combination of data
acquisition and telecommunication system. The SCADA The Strategic Benefits of modern SCADA systems
system collects information from the field, transfer it to a include:
central control site or main computer conducts the
necessary computation and analyses and then displays the • Improved operating and stakeholder/ customer service
data on computer screen. Control functions are automatic capability
and do not need any operator instructions. The data so • Opportunities to standardise operating procedures and
collected is transferred by telemetry system with the help to better utilise staff
of one of the telecommunication system options, which
• Reduced costs and risks through standardisation of
may include satellite communication.
technology: maintaining SCADA, training operators,
etc
The Main Components of SCADA/ Telemetry System
• Reduced incident risks through the reduction in the
are:
number and severity of operational incidents and
improved capability to respond once an incident has
• Filed instrumentation and control equipment
occurred (remote monitoring, remote control, and
• Remote station ability to control groups of assets)
• Communication network, and • More knowledgeable and capable staff, learning
• Central monitoring station through the power of the technology
• Better ability to negotiate with water managers and
The data from the field is collected by field stakeholders
instrumentation and control equipment. These include
• Improved capital and maintenance planning through
sensors, meters and or actuators and are directly connected
more integrated, useable information
to the canal gates at regulators. It is this equipment, which
• Improved ability to integrate with information
records data and transfer it to remote stations.
systems such as financial, customer, maintenance
management, planning, geographic, email, etc
The remote station is located at a suitable location in the
canal network like offices of sub divisional officers, etc. • Improved ability to take advantage of any
opportunities.
The telemetry communication network transfers the data • IPD staff and Stakeholders receive information about
collected through the field instruments with in the SCADA distribution of water in their offices
system. The telemetry system may depend on telephone
lines, radio, and cable or satellite terminals. CONCLUSIONS

The data is transferred to the central communication SCADA/Telemetry systems should be seen for their value
station, which is equipped with computers. At the central as a powerful, integrated information system, linked to
communication station the data is processed automatically distribution of irrigation water, urban / rural supply water,
by computers and very useful information in the form of waste water and ground water. Through this modern
output is supplied, which can be used by canal managers. SCADA/ Telemetry system organizations related with
The computer output consists of real time water levels and water can manipulate about distribution of water The
canal discharge. The system can be programmed in such a discharges manipulated by telemetry system at Twin
way that water level computed discharge for even every Jamrao Head Regulator have been compared with
second can be supplied. Each Executive Engineer and discharges measured through velocity rod and current
Superintending Engineer may have monitoring system meter. There is less difference in comparison among them.
installed in their offices. This helps in proper regulation Telemetry data is provided in annexure-1. There is no
and management of water resources. The facile and rapid doubt that water is precious and essential for all living
dissemination of information helps in controlling of water flora and fauna, therefore dire step should be taken for
theft and canal breaches. The collection of sound data is saving water. All the stakeholders would receive their due
beneficial in the planning and development of the share from head to tail of irrigation network through the
irrigation system. installation of this system. Telemetry System will bring a
great change and help in ensuring equitable and judicious
distribution of irrigation waters. However, it requires

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