The equitable distribution of canal water is imperative to ensure social ju
stice;as well as crop productivity. In north-west India and Pakistan, water
from the tertiary canal (watercourse) is distributed to the farmers throug
h a rotational system of irrigation. In this system the duration of supply
to each farmer is in proportion to his holding in the outlet (watercourse)
command, without considering the seepage loss. The rate of seepage loss inc
reases with increase in length of watercourse from head to tail. Thus, the
farmers in the lower reaches get much less water per unit area than the far
mers in the upper reaches. The farmers must be compensated for the seepage
loss. Therefore, a model was developed to ensure equitable distribution of
water to the farmers located on a watercourse in proportion to their land h
oldings giving due compensation for the seepage loss. The model is based on
the assumption that soil throughout the length of flow is homogeneous and
loss through evaporation is negligible. The model developed ensures an equi
table distribution of water to the farmers according to their land holdings
. A comparison of existing and revised time allocation reveals that the far
mers located in the upper reaches were getting more time (up to 12.2 min pe
r unit area), while the farmers located in the lower reaches have been gett
ing less time (up to 28.1 min per unit area). The existing allocation of ti
me of 0.75 h per unit area to all the farmers according to the old rules wa
s revised to 0.546-1.219 h per unit area from head to tail. The conclusions
drawn suggest that the strategy developed here should be adopted elsewhere
in the existing system of irrigation for equitable distribution of canal w
ater.