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| Farmer Managed Irrigation Systems in Nepal - Chattis Mauja Irrigation System |
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Reference |
| Pradhan, Prachanda (----), "Farmer Managed Irrigation Systems in Nepal", (Prachanda Pradhan is Head, Nepal Field Operations of International Irrigation Management Institute (IIMI), Khatmandu, Nepal) |
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Introduction to the Institution |
| This system known as Chattis Mauja Irrigation System is over 100 years old. he written regulations to administer were approved by the memebers in the system in general assembly in 1979. |
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Coverage of the Institution |
| This irrigation system with a command area of 3000 ha, extends to 6 village and Nagar Panchayats with a population about 25,000 in Rupendehi district. |
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Rules for Management
of the Institution |
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(a) Boundary Rules |
| Spatial: extending over the command area of 3000p ha. Social: The land holders or operators within the defined service area of the irrigation system of that user group. The land holders or operators has to furnish the committee with a record of teh share of water entitled to him and teh local committee registers his/her land area and entitlement of the share of water. He or She then becomes the memebr of teh group. |
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(b) Governance
rules |
| The responsibilities of the memebrs of water user groups are (i) to provide labour in proportion to his land for teh maintenance of the main canal and village canal (ii) to attend the meetings of the water users group at the village level as well as at the central level (iii) to approve, disapprove, or ammend the regulations in the annual meetings (iv) to elect the officials of the water users committee (v) to pay the fine for not complying with the rules of the committee if he breaks a rule (vi) to get grievances redressed either through village level committee or central committee.
The system operates through a 3 tier organisational structure with a village committee in each Mauja, Regional committees each covering 6 village committees and one central committee.
Village level committees are connected to the higher levels of the irrigation management organization and responsible for making irrigation system functional, consisting of two to five memebers. The old villages usually have only two members, wheeas in new villages there are up to five members on the committee.
In new villages, the chief of the committee is called the Chairman and in the old villages the chief is called Muktiyar. The Muktiyar or hairman is elected annually by the water users of each villages. Other memebers also are selected by the water users. Often times the same person will be reelected chairman or Muktiyar and chaukidar unless the water users feel strongly against the incumbent functionaries.
In many village committees, the chairman or Muktiyar and the Chaukidar are remunerated by the villagers either in cash or kind. The range of remuneration is between Rs. 500 and 1000 annually.
The regional committee is the link between the central committee and the village committees. The regional committee is composed of the Chairman or Muktiyars of six maujas. From among these members, one will be elected as the Chairman of the regional committee. There are altogether nine Regional Committees in the Chhatis Mauja Irrigation System. The chairmen of these nine committees are the ex-officio memebers of the central committee.
The Central Committee is the most powerful body in the mangement of chhatis Mauja Irrigation System. Previously, the decisions regarding the activities to be undertaken for the mangement of the irrigation system were made by the central committee meeting. In 1979 the central committee framed written rules and regulations which were approved by the general body of water users.
The central committee is composed of a chairman, vice chairman, nine regional members and a committee-appointed secretary, two Meth Muktiyars and two messengers. The functions and responseibilities of these officials are spelled out in the irrigation regulation of Chhatis Mauja.
The village leve canals are the responsibility of the village leve committee. As far as the main canal is concerned, it is the responsibility of the central committee to plan, to prepare the schedule, to mobilize human and material resources and to specify the types of work to be done. The village committee then complies with these plans.
In April, the annual meeting of the general assembly is convened. Thousand of people participate in the meeting. The meeting is held in a central location within the command area, often in one of the local high schools. Those members who are absent from the meeting have to pay a fine. The annual progress report, work schedule for maintenance and desilting, and financial accounts are presented by the secretary to the general meeting. Progress is reviewed, new proposals are discussed. (For example, who is to get the water first, from tail end or head end) Accounts are settled and the date for maintenance and desilting is fixed. In the same meeting, the election for the chairman and vice-chairman are also be discussed. If the assembly feels that the incumbent chairman and vice-chairman should continue for the next term as well it is decided so. If they feel otherwise the date for the election is fixed.
The desilting activity in the main canal is considered the most important event of irrigation management. Now, this activity takes place during winter season.
Each village is assigned the amount of work to be done. Such work is assigned within easy reach of each village so that they do not have to walk far and do not have to work in other villagers water inlet areas. However, the construction of the diversions in the Tinau river is the responsibility of all the villages. In an average, 60,000 people would be mobilized for the maintenance of the system in a year.
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(c) Resource Allocation |
| The whole irrigation system including its maintenance is aimed at providing water to the entire command area for paddy cultivation.
Each village canal has a direct inlet connected to the main canal. As far as possible, the system has avoided the sharing of water among the villages through the same canal. The main canal and most of the village canals are mud structures. Only a few village inlets have permanent structures which have been made through the contributions of concerned villages.
The inlet size is fixed by the central committee on the basis of the land to be irrigated within the village. Two wooden poles are placed at the entry point of the inlet to fix the size of the hole. Frequent inspection is made to check whether the hole of the inlet has been tampered with. The central committee can punish in accordance tothe gravity of the tampering done by the village.
When there is enough water in the main canal, water distribution is easy. However, rigorous rules and regulations havce been framed, keeping in mind the problems of water distribution management when there is a scarcity of water. Elaborate procedure of water distribution for different occassions has been developed and followed by the water users. |
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Conflict Resolution Mechanism |
| From the responsibilities of the member listed above in the governance rules, the village level committe and central committes resolve any conflicts that arise. The sanction mechanisms seem to be in the form of fines. |
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Purpose |
| To manage an irrigation system, one of the larger frmer managed systems in Nepal with 3000 ha command area. |
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Country |
| Nepal |
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Region |
| Rupendehi district |
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Date Of Publication |
| Srinivas: 20/07/96 |
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