PIM and Water Use Efficiency - Evidences from the field but

challenges in scaling up

Sachin Oza, Executive Director, DSC

9th April 2013 1

The Journey so far• Wherever PIM has been effectively implemented, the

WUAs have participated in the joint assessment , regular operation and maintenance, water distribution, conflict resolutions etc.

• There are some successful examples in the country such as the Waghad in Maharashtra, Satak in Madhya Pradesh, Paliganj in Bihar, Dharoi in Gujarat and Shri Ram Sagar Project in Andhra Pradesh.

• These projects show us that though slow, farmer’s participation as envisaged in the various Acts is actually possible.

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Benefits of PIM• Various studies on the impact of PIM have been carried out by

academic institutions such as the SOPPECOM Pune, ISEC Banglore, GIDR, IIMA, IWMI and DSC. Some of the findings from these studies are:

• PIM creates a sense of ownership of amongst the users • PIM provides about 20% saving in water use • It improves water deliveries in the command areas• It provides healthy atmosphere between Department and

users • there has been a perceptible change in productivity as well as

cropping pattern. • PIM provides farmers to have choice of crops and irrigation

scheduling• It relieves the Government from the task of collecting water

charges and O&M3

PIM in Dharoi Irrigation System

• PIM has been promoted since 1995-96 but the intensive spread of PIM activity started after year 2004.

• Today about 196 cooperatives manage irrigation in Right Bank Main Canal Command area of Dharoi dam.

• WUAs established by DSC are spread over about 89 villages and manage about 25,784 ha of irrigation areas. There are about 20,491 farmers who are members of these WUAs. There are two federations constituted by these WUAs.

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Table no. 4.1 Block Wise Changes in Irrigated areas Before (Year 2003-04) and After (Year 2007-08) PIM.

Block No. Irrigated Areas (Ha) Difference Change

Year 2003-04 Year 2007-08 (Ha) (%)

1 5551 3537 -2014 -36.30

2 4964 7940 2976 59.95

3 5351 7753 2402 44.90

4 6646 8785 2139 32.20

Total 22512 36412 13900 61.74

5 ----- 11571 ---- ----

6 ----- 15252 ---- ----

7 ----- 8397    

Total ----- 63235    

Source: NRSA RS Data 2003-04, 2007-08,

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#

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#

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Kot

Madhi

Wagdi

RamparRampur

Changod

PhuderaPhudera

Khandeli

Pedhamli

Ransipur

Valasana

Virampur

Firozpura

Jawanpura

Sardarpur

Sundarpur

1

1

23456

7

N

2 0 2 Kilometers

Non Agriculture AreaAgriculture Area

WaterbodySattlement

LegendMain CanaBranch CaDistributMinorSub Minor

Landuse

#

#

#

#

#

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#

#

#

#

#

#

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Kot

Madhi

Wagdi

RamparRampur

Changod

PhuderaPhudera

Khandeli

Pedhamli

Ransipur

Valasana

Virampur

Firozpura

Jawanpura

Sardarpur

Sundarpur

1

1

2

3456

7

Landuse

Sub MinorMinorDistributBranch CaMain Cana

Legend

SattlementWaterbody

Agriculture AreaNon Agriculture Area

N

2 0 2 Kilometers

Year 2007-08 Irrigated Area7940 (Ha)

Year 2003-04 Irrigated Area 4964 (Ha) 6

Factors responsible for the slow progress of PIM.•Legal issues – no clear water allocation rights to WUAs, hardly any autonomy given to the WUAs, DCs and PCs to take independent decisions regarding planning, implementation and management of irrigation systems. •Technical issues – dilapidated physical system, water logging at head reach while high tailend deprivation. •Lack of political will to implement PIM in many States.

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Factors contd…•Financial issues – very little fund availability for O&M, low water rates and even lower water collection rates. •Institutional issues:

–WRD – diminishing HR, absence of coherent capacity building inputs, almost no accountability towards quality service delivery, –Capacity Building – Few competent Training Institutes –WUAs – lack of leadership, elite capture

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Recommendations for WUA development and support

1.Provide leadership2.Establish WUA support and training

programme– Establish State-wide PIM Support Units with Field Training Centres with

funding for at least 10 years (vis. AP model currently being developed)– PIM SU to provide guidance, training and support to WUAs, DCs and PCs– Strengthen WALMIs and include them as a key resource for training in PIM

and water management (including maintenance)

3. Allow WUAs to set, collect and manage service fees4. Separate WUA governance and management5. Allocate water rights/entitlements to WUAs/water

users9

Recommendations of the Study

Part II – Management, Operation and Maintenance

(MOM)

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• From construction to management focus, with separate construction and MOM wings.

• From a civil engineering dominated to multidisciplinary organization.

• From engineering-driven to performance driven organization, with a focus on service delivery.

• From a top-down to bottom-up organization working in partnership with water users

• Towards scheme-wise performance orientated management measuring success through the scheme’s agricultural performance and water use (efficiency and productivity).

• Recognize the central role of groundwater, use conjunctively with surface water including recharging groundwater

What is needed: A Paradigm shift;

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THANK YOU

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