4 SOCIAL SCIENTIST A province-wise break up of public investment in economic overheads is somewhat difficult owing to the fact that railways, which is the major" component of such investment, run through a number of provinces. Nevertheless, in the case of irrigation, roads and power, such a break up would enable us to observe the regional pattern and shifts in their distribution over the period under study. Pattern of Investment in Irrigation A province-wise break up of the gross investment in irrigation is given in Table I. As can be seen from the Table, the gross amount invested in irrigation in the period under study amounted to about Rs 3.2 million. Of this, nearly one third had gone to Punjab. Bombay and Sind together have claimed about 20 per cent. United Provinces and Madras have got about 16 per cent and 17 per cent respectively. The rest have gone to Bengal, Bihar, G P and Berar, Burma and so on. Taking the entire period, Punjab and TJ P together have absorbed about half of the gross public investment in irrigation undertaken in British India. UP and Punjab accounted for nearly a quarter each of Rs 558 million of gross public investment in irrigation undertaken during 1860-1898. The Lower Ganges and Agra Canals were the most important productive works in U P. But Punjab was the most fortunate province to get a relatively larger dosage of canal irrigation facilities created during the nineteenth century. As the focal points of colonisation, the Lower Sohag and Para Canal projects from the Sutlej, the Sidhani Canal, the Lower Ghenab Canal and its further extensions conferred enormous benefits on the canal colonies and adjoining areas. The share of Punjab in irrigation facilities shot up during 1898-1919 a'ccouting for as much as 47 per cent of the gross investment of nearly Rs 670 million. Apart from the completion of the Lower Chenab extensions, Lower Jhelum, Upper Chenab and lower Bari Doab were the new systems developed during this period. In terms of its share in the total outlay and the area covered by irrigation facilities the first two decades may be regarded as the golden age of irrigation in Punjab. The upsurge of irrigation activities in Punjab continued even after the First World War, though in a subdued manner. In absolute terms, the volume of investment in irrigation continued to increase from period to period, though the relative share of Punjab was reduced to 30 per cent in the post-war period. The programme of canal colonies was slowly coming to an end after the First World War except for the Upper Jhelum Canal Colony (1916-21), the Lower Bari Doab Canal Colony (1914-22), the Niliban Colony (1922-30) and the Haveli Project Colony which was completed around 1939. Besides, the Sutlej Valley Project, started in 1921-22, involved some investment. On the other hand, the Ghenab Inundation Canal completed during the same period did not necessitate much investment. Though U P was even with Punjab as far as irrigation investment