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| 'Phad' Communal Irrigation Management System in Maharashtra |
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Reference |
| Patil, R K: " Phad System of Irrigation in Maharashtra " |
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Introduction to the Institution |
| In north-western part of Maharashtra, a communal irrigation management system prevails known as "Phad" system. Available documents indicate that the system came into existence in the early 16th century. The system is operative on three rivers in the Tapi basin- Panjhra, Mosem and Aram- in the districts of Dhule and Nasik. The details mentioned here is about the system working in Dhule. The river Panjhra originates in the Sahyadri ranges, runs from west to east for about 88 kms, takes a sharp turn north and after flowing for another 30 kms meets Tapi at Thalner. It receives its runoff from the monsoon rains, but also has a significant post-monsoon flow which can sustain a sizeable irrigation in the winter and summer seasons. Although a series of bandharas were built on the river to divert water for agricultural use, but the exact number of them is not known, since many of them are in dilapidated conditions. Presently there are 14 bandharas functioning in the upper reaches. Each independent sub-system comprises a bandhara ( a low diversion weir in stone masonry ) across the river, a small canal on the bank and distributories for irrigation. The area under irrigation under different bandharas varies from 4 hectares to 192 ha.
In the Raywat bandhara system, the canal system is quite elaborate. The inlet to the canal is ungated, so the canal draws in water only when there is flow at the bandhara. It appears to have a uniform capacity of about 150-300 litre/sec. Along its length there are a couple of escapes ( Sandani) for diverting excess flow, when not required into natural drains. The maximum discharge in the canal is limited by the provision of notches (without freeboard), in the sidewalls of the aqueducts. There are distributories from this canal for feeding different subareas of the command and each of these distributories can carry the full discharge of about 200 litres/sec. From the distributories there are farm water courses (Sarangi) for carrying the water to individual farms. Generally there is a masonry structure at the head of distributory and diversion of water is controlled by putting wooden planks, or earthen bunds across the canal. Even though there are escapes on the canal and distributories, there is no planned drainage system for different fields. The soils are generally well draining and the topography also permits speedy drainage. |
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Coverage of the Institution |
| Such system are found in other parts of Maharashtra |
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Rules for Management
of the Institution |
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(a) Boundary Rules |
| SPATIAL: The Raywat bandhara system, comprises a weir across the river Panjhra near village Bhadane. A canal takes off on the river bank and after running for about two kms through ravine land, commands an area of approx. 234 ha of the village Raywat (134 ha of assured irrigation and 10 ha of unassured irrigation ) , in addition an area of seven ha of village Bhadane is also commanded on the way. |
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(b) Governance
rules |
| Under the command of each bandhara there is a committee (Panch committee) elected by the assembly of all irrigators. One cannot hold an office in the committee unless one is an irrigator in the command. The committee appoints irrigation staff every year, hears the complaints from irrigators and irrigation staff also takes policy decisions regarding the allocation of water and maintenance of the system. Irrigation staff comprises of "Havaldars" (supervisors), "Patkaris" ( watermen) and " Jagalyas"(watchmen). The raywat bandhara consists of 2 supervisors, 6 watermen and 6 watchmen
MAINTENANCE: Maintenance and repairs of the bandhara structure is the responsibility of the Government but the canal system is maintained by the irrigators themselves. It's only once in 15/20 years, the bandharas needs to be repaired . Maintenance of the canal system is done generally twice a year (May and Oct). The cleaning starts from head of the canal and is done in stretches between escapes. The cleaning groups are arranged in the following sequence.
1. Cutting the bushes and weeds
2. Removal of silt with shovels
3. Carrying the silt in baskets
4. Ploughing with bullocks
5. Dozing with bullock drawn scrapers
There are bed stone in the canal which which gives an indication of the level to which cleaning has to be done. After the first general meeting in April-May, all the irrigators are informed through a public announcement about the maintenance requirement . Each family has to provide a pair of bullocks and 3 men for one day. The families which cannot provide these in kind, have to pay the charges (Rs 30 for pair of bullock/day and Rs. 10 for 3 men/day). The requirement of labours varies depending upon the type of bandhara but the average requirement is about 100 men and 50 billock pairs working for about 4 to 5 days. The farm water courses (for carrying water from the distributory to the farm ) are maintained by the individual irrigators, the responsibility of the irrigator is to maintain the channel length between the off take and his own farm
It is the duty of the watermen to see that water flows in the main canal and the distributories. During irrigation periods, all the staff work in the same "phad" (block), where water is applied. Application of water to individual farms is done by watermen. The watchmen are responsible to protect the crops particularly during the harvest process. The supervisors have to oversee the work of watermen and watchmen. Methods of payment varies from cash to kind with different forms of mixed payments in between. On the Raywat bandhara, payment is in cash for sugarcane and in kind for others. Each irrigator has to pay according to the crop grown in the phad. The payment is per farm (with adjustment for variation in size). If the irrigated crop is a food crop e.g.wheat, sorghum etc, the payment is in grain per season ( Kadi-pendi), or in terms of unharvested rows of crop ( Chache). For rainy season and winter, the payment for sugarcane is per farm per season and for the summer it is per watering. The payment is to be distributed among different staffs but generally the supervisors get more than the others. The salaries are equavalent to about Rs 2000-3000 per year. |
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(c) Resource Allocation |
| The whole command area ( Patasthal or Thal) is divided into "Phads", size ranging from a few hectares to 50 ha., depending upon the topography. Only one crop would be grown in one phad, the kind of crops to be grown in the phads are decided by a assembly of irrigators, well in advance of the rainy season. The meeting takes place generally on the auspicious day of "Akshayya Tritiya" between April and mid-May. Crops are rotated among the phads, such that over a period of two to three years, every phad gets sugarcane, which is the main cash crop. The sequence of irrigation is from head to tail end. The "Phad" at the head is irrigated first. The entire flow in the canal is diverted into the phad. Within the phad the farms at the head are irrigated first and then the next ones, till the tail farms are irrigated. Generally here is no problem in the rainy season. After the rainy season a meeting of the irrigators is held, and depending upon the rate of flow in the river ( and in the canal ), broad guidelines are laid down for proper rationing of water. Water distribution is done by irrigation staff. The rotational schedule is strictly followed and infringing the discipline are fined by the committee.
For supplying water on each individual farm, the function is assigned to the irrigation staff. As they are not interested in any particular farms nor own any land, they are expected to be fair in application of water to all the farms and therefore the chance of any conflict also becomes less.
The land owner is not authorised to apply the water on the farm
Availability of water in relation to the irrigation requirements is a important factor, there are yearly variations. In the Phad system, this is managed by demarcating the command in two categories: ASSURED irrigation is so limited that in most of the years it can be irrigated without much difficulty. In a few scarcity years, irrigation is done by extending the rotation period in summer and with little stress in the system. In every good years the "UNASSURED" area gets the irrigation benefits. The unassured area is invariably at the tail end, and perennial crops are not permitted, thus limiting the losses in the hot season |
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Conflict Resolution Mechanism |
| The principal conflict in irrigation arises when there is a scarcity of water. In the Phad system, the area for irrigation is earmarked in relation to average annual water flows rather than flows in good years. The area to be irrigated in years of plentiful water flows is in an extended area, so that the farmers in this extended area know that they would get water once in few years. This area of unassured irrigation is not interspersed with the assured area and is invariably at the tail.
SANCTIONS: In the case of unauthorised watering, the matter is reported by the supervisor to the committee and a penalty is imposed in the form of a fine.
Non- maintenance of farm water course results in the loss of turn of the irrigation.
Non-participation in the maintenance of canals ( either in the form of contribution of labour and bullocks or payment thereof )is dealt by imposing penalty in the form of fines. Fines are paid expeditiously and the matter settled. |
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Problems Faced by Institution |
| Not reported |
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Changes in the Institution over time |
| Not reported |
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Other Features of Institution |
| An important feature of this system is the existence of large capacities of the canals in relation to the irrigation requirements. The capacity of the canal is practically constant from the bandhara down and including the distributories, which means that capacity factor (ratio of actual capacity of the canal to the capacity required as per crop water management) increases from head of the canal. This design provides a better flexibility of operation at the phad level |
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Purpose |
| Management and allocation of Water resource |
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Country |
| India (Maharashtra) |
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Region |
| Dhule, Vill: Bhadane |
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Date Of Publication |
| RS- 24/02/97 |
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