The canal system consists of main canals, secondary

canals and tertiary canals. The terms branch canals,

distributaries, minors and watercourses are also used

. The tertiary canals or watercourses deliver water to individual farmers.

The main reservoir stores the water collected from the catchment area and releases through the spillway or the power house. The structures which are constructed at the head of the canal, in order to divert the river water towards the canal are known as diversion head-work