Participatory Irrigation Management in Participatory Irrigation Management in Maharashtra- A case Study Maharashtra- A case Study

Dr Sanjay BelsareDr Sanjay BelsareSe and DS, GoMSe and DS, GoM

National Convention of WUAsNational Convention of WUAs07-08Nov , New Delhi07-08Nov , New Delhi

INTRODUCTION Maharashtra is the third largest state (30.8 million hectares) with the third largest population (113 million) in India.

About 58% of the state’s population is in rural areas, 80% of whom are dependent on agriculture

The availability of water in the state is highly uneven most of the rainfall occurs in just 40 to 100 days

Ultimate irrigation potential of the state is about 12.6 million hectare (M ha), 8.5 m ha is from surface water 4.1 m ha from ground water sources

As of June 2013, total surface irrigation potential created in the state was 4.9 MHa.

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF PIM

Phad SystemThe Phad system on canals has been implemented since 400 years in

Nasik & Dhule districts. Water is diverted by constructing bandharas across these rivers. Several beneficiaries belong to a single Phad. The crops are rotated in different phads in a 4-year cycle.Malgujari TanksThe tenure of Gond kings saw the creation of series of tanks in

Vidarbha. It is given to understand that nearly 10,000 tanks had been constructed

nearly 300 to 350 years back in Vidarbha region through entirely private enterprise of the Kohali community i.e. by deploying their own money and efforts.

Development in post-independence periodBombay Province in 1947 had created canal advisory committee, block

level water committee and corporate body of landowners. National Water Policy-1987 and Maharashtra Irrigation Act-1976,

emphasized on participation of farmers in irrigation management of WUAs. First WUA under cooperative act was established in 1989 .

Evaluation of Working of WUAs functioning in the State

A study was taken up in 2005 to evaluate performance of WUA & suggest suitable measures to strengthen them.

Total 439 WUAs throughout the State have been taken up for the study.

The regional breakup of these WUAs is as follows 8 from Konkan, 64 from Marathwada, 139 from Western Maharashtra, 150 from North Maharashtra, 8 from Nagpur, 70 from Amravati.

For this purpose information was collected through specially designed questionnaires

General findings

There are WUAs having:CCA between 100 to 250 ha

42 %Chairman aged above 40 years

77 %Chairman working for more than 2 years

79 %Irrigation throughout the stretch of the canal

69 %Users numbering between 100 to 200 51 %

General findingsEvaluation of WUAs brought forth following facts:-

After transfer of management to WUAs, it has shown that there is :

Improvement in irrigation efficiency in 66 % WUAs. 34% WUAs have diversified their cropping pattern by

growing sugarcane, wheat, sunflower, cornflower, soybean, banana, gram, orchards and flowers.

Water charge recovery in 34 % WUAs has increasedThe O & M grants are partially disbursed to 48 % of

WUAs. As much as 31% of WUAs have balance amount at

their disposal. Accounts of 40% WUAs had been audited.

LearningsWUAs were generally formed in tail areas. For

success of PIM, WUAs to be formed throughout command area.

WUAs were still dependent on the Government, for want of management and maintenance subsidy.

There was no sufficient increase in membership after formation of WUAs.

Canal systems were transferred without rehabilitation of the system. Also there was no fixed time schedule for completion. The condition of canal restricts sustainable development of WUAs.

The WUAs were registered under the Co-operative Act, least attention is being paid on development of WUAs.

WUAs had apprehension about securing due water quota provided in the agreements.

Reasons behind slow progress of WUAsDeferred maintenance due to inadequate O&M

funds deteriorated the canal system, prolonging its transfer to WUAs.

Farmers had a feeling that Government is completely responsible, thus not coming forward to participate

Untimely or sometimes no disbursement of grants to WUAs slowed down the growth of WUAs.

Inadequate training and capacity building of members of WUAs.

Lack of understanding and enthusiastic support from the Department officials

Challenges in up scaling of PIM There were few success stories, but real challenge was to Upscale PIM without loosing its quality.

Simple procedure for formation of WUAsTime bound rehabilitation of canal system before

transfer to WUAsHuge requirement of funds for rehabilitationTraining and capacity building of members of WUAs as

well as field officersRe-engineering of lower level management staffPolitical will and commitment of the Department Self-sustainable design of WUAsConflict management among WUAs and with canal

officers Monitoring and evaluation

REFORMS INITIATED BY THE GOMGOM had enacted standalone act known as MaharashtraManagement of Irrigation System by Farmers Act (MMISF)

to empower WUAs

Salient Features of MMISF Act 2005Water for irrigation shall be supplied to WUAs onlyAll landholders or leaseholders must be member of WUAs

(unlike earlier 51% of landholders or 51% users).Water will be supplied on volumetric basisWUAs have freedom of cropping patternAdequate representation to tail enders and women

members is provided in the management committee of WUA

Time bound programme of completion of rehabilitation works before transfer to WUAs

WUA modelMMISF act has taken utmost care to provide

WUAs model, which will be self-sustainablelegal agreement between WUAs and competent

authorityprovide bulk water use entitlementWRD will provide full technical supportadequate representation from tail, middle and

head along with due representation to womenconflict resolution among membersgrievances before an impartial forum.

Financial StabilityTo provide financial stability to WUAs, part of the

water charges paid to department are given back to

WUAsProject Basic Association

Minor level WUA (%) DLA (%) CLA (%) PLA (%) Total (%)Minor 75 nil nil nil 75

Medium 50 15 10 3 78Major 50 20 20 3 93

Higher Level Associations

Maharashtra Water Sector Improvement ProjectTo carry out rehabilitation of canal system in

time bound manner with financial assistance of World Bank

Farmers have contributed Rs500/Ha in rehabilitation of the canal system

Under MWSIP 6 lakh ha command area transferred to WUA

Training and Capacity Building

Water And Land Management Institute (WALMI) is acting as nodal institute

Training of Trainers (TOT) consisting of experts from irrigation, agriculture and social sciences

NGOs to nurture the WUAs and facilitate WUAs in discharging their functions.

Effective Communication with WUAsHolding workshops of WUAs & officers twice a yearState level coordination committee for WUAPublishing newsletters dedicated to PIM WUAs guidance centre in each officeA co-ordination committee is established under

Chairmanship of Secretary (CAD) and members are from WUAs , NGOs, policy makers and few field officers, to facilitate working of WUAs.

The coordination committee meets at least twice in year.

State level Awards for WUAsGoM has instituted awards for best performing

WUAs at State level and Regional level from 2010Every year State level campaigns and competitions

are undertaken to encourage participation of WUAsEvaluation is made on basis of water use, utilization,

agricultural and social parametersThe award constitutes certificate and handsome

amount (2 lacs to 7 lacs).The award has resulted in appreciating WUAs

efforts and motivating others to work better.

Monitoring and evaluation of WUAs Third party monitoring and evaluation system

establishedThe corrective action is taken based on timely

feedback

WAY AHEADGoM had also enacted Maharashtra Water

Resources Regulatory Authority Act 2005Facilitating and ensuring judicious, equitable and

sustainable management of water resources of the State

Provided water use entitlement to WUAs MWRRA ensures the enforcement of water

entitlementMMISF Act coupled with MWRRA Act will

consolidate PIM and will ensure the sustainable development and management of water resources in the State.

THANK YOU

www.wrd.maharashtra.gov.in