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| Participation in Irrigation Projects: Changing Patterns in Northwestern India - A case on Lift Irrigation System, by Government (Department of Agriculture) |
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Reference |
| Shingi, Prakash M; Bluhm, Louis H: "Participation in Irrigation Projects: Changing Patterns in Northwestern India " Centre for Management in Agriculture,IIM: Ahmedabad(Summer school-Programme Material) |
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Introduction to the Institution |
| Soyara village has a population of 425 people.The syetem has been working well since 1974. As such there was no irrigation system in place prior to Govt. intervention.Most of thr farmers grow rain-fed maize because their lands are situated at a higher altitude in the Himalayas.
Under the Govt. program of soil and moisture conservation, the Department of Agriculture had introduced a scheme of giving a 50 percent subsidy and a 50 percent loan to farmer groups interested in collectively owning an irrigation system.As a result 16 farmers from this vilage joined together to submit an application for lift irrigation project.The plan was to lift water from a nearby gorge by constructing a pump house and installing a 15 horsepower motor at an average cost of Rs 1250 per acre and then distributing water through open channels to the members.
The 16 farmers planned to grow paddy on a total of 23 acres in addition to the maize which they were already growing |
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Coverage of the Institution |
| Not reported |
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Rules for Management
of the Institution |
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(a) Boundary Rules |
| Spatial:Not reported in the text
Social:According to the procedures, certification to use water was premised on the following agreements:
1)water was not used by anyone just to preserve water rights, and the annual income of a member from all sources was less than Rs 6,000
2)To pay the expenses incurred by the state Govt.on the scheme
3)maintain the water source at their own expense after the scheme became operational
4)obtain an electrical hookup at theit own expense and to get the scheme executed through the Office of Soil Conservation
Membership is not transferable, and no one is allowed to sell water to non-members.This policy restricts benefits to those who share the operating risks |
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(b) Governance
rules |
| Since it was agreed that farmers would manage their own system by appointing a person among them, a man who was also performing religious functions for the village was selected to serve as a Kohli/pump operator.Depending on the area irrigated, everybody would give him a fixed quantity of foodgrains for his services
Maintenance:Minor repair work is carried out by the operator.For major repairs, he seeks help from other members or uses services in nearby town.Expenses ae shared equally. Whenever there is a shortage of water, the area under irrigation is reduced which is done by the operator after consultationwith others as to how much land will be irrigated. Under such circumstances, everybody places an equal area under irrigation.Priority is given occasionally to a person depending on his need of water for survival |
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(c) Resource Allocation |
| When a member requires water he goes to the pump house and registers a demand. The pump operator then starts the pump and notes the metre readings in the presence of the irrigator, he stops the pump when he is told to do so. The units consumed are recorded and the electricity charges are settled every month. Water is given on first- come first- served basis.If conflicts occur, the pump is stopped immediately to avoid mistakes in charging |
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Purpose |
| Maintenance of lift irrigation through participation |
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Country |
| India (Gujarat) |
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Region |
| Vill:Soyara |
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Date Of Publication |
| RS-27\03\96 |
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