Irrigation is one of the basic ingredients of agricultural activities. In the State of Hyderabad, where agriculture had been under the mercy of monsoon, irrigation acted not only as a stabilizing factor but also as an important production input in any agrarian system. The Hyderabad State lying in the subtropical area was always subjected to scarcity of rainfall and thus a great part of the country was open to severe famine conditions. The earlier rulers, realizing the importance of conservation, control and utilization of the waters flowing down many rivers and numerous streams, constructed many types of water harvesting structures. Tanks were the most popular ones amongst them. In fact tank irrigation had become by far the most predominant in the Hyderabad State, particularly in the Telangana region, where the rivers were not perennial and the country had to depend entirely upon the rainfall for its water. But the monsoon was generally confined to the few months of the year. Though normal rainfall was sufficient to increase the crop production there could be no assurance to the cultivation of both foodgrains and commercial crops without storing water for irrigation.

The heavy sand content in the soils of the Telangana region also promoted the peasant to depend on this source of irrigation. In the trap region like Marathwada, deep and porous soil was not suitable for irrigation. Out of nearly 3000 sq. miles of the irrigated area in the State more than 70 per cent was in Telangana.