Malda Training Diary - Administrative Training Institute

Page 107 of 107
Information
At 8.30 a.m. went to Piyasbari and photographed worms making cocoons.
At trial 4 PWs were examined. Investigation is highly perfunctory.
In the block, AEO (Agri Extn Offr) told me about STW and DTW. For STWs land minimum
to be 2 acres, depth 100-150 ft, water level of the spot to be 20-21 ft in May-June. AEO
enquires and recommends and BDO sanctions, GP certifies land is free of encumbrances,
then 75% expense or Rs.3000 is given after completion. Banks & Coops also give loans.
Govt takes 3 and 5/8% interest. If late, 4 and 5/8%. Bank takes 10%. Bond to be registered.
Group of 5 who together have not above 8 acres can take STW loan. A total of Rs.4000 can
be given, but no scope for group loan in pump scheme. STW to be done in clusters so that
later electrification is easy. Diesel cost comes to Rs.1.50 per hour. Normal coverage 5-8
acres. If 4 inch pipes are used, then 10 acres. Ruston pump is best for STW.
General benefit if provided by DTW which command 100-125 acres during kharif and 50-60
acres in Rabi crops. For DTW and RLI the farmers havae to pay a water rate of Rs.11 per
acre for 1 st crop and Rs.15 per acre for 2 nd and 3 rd crops. Farmers are going in more and more
for Boro instead of Rabi. This needs more water, naturally area is command is reduced.
Hence a crop-wise rate on water is needed. To make a DTW/RLI, farmers give a proposal
with map of command area and donation of the site (half bigha for DTW, 1 bigha for RLI).
The district committee (DM, EE, DAO, DE of SEB) decide the priority-wise gradation.
In Old Malda there are 14 RLIs, 19DTWs of which only 9 are energised. Distance between 2
DTWs to be 2 miles at least and depth 400 ft. It is important to have pipelines to cut out
wastage due to bad drainage canals. Here all DTWs have pipelines.
Guidelines for site selection:
a. no absentee landlords in the command area because they are never interested in
investing for better production.
b. Tillers should be owners and poorer to benefit.
c. Slope of land to be regular. If undulating, then arrange staging of pipelines.
d. Layout of pipeline to be for maximum benefit to land, should not be left to contractor.
Usually 1 main and 2 subsidiary pipelines covering 4000 ft. here they are
underground with spouts at spots. Repair is difficult and leakage will spoil crops. In
Bihar they have concrete surface channels which are much better.
e. Availability of power. Fluctuation leads to stopping of pumps and engenders lack of
confidence in farmers. No such trouble with RLI. Time lag between power failure and
resumption of work by DTW is 7 to 10 days! DTW are meant to run 8 hours but in
Boro season they run even 22 hours.
For Boro, extra pump is needed. DTW is meant where crops need less water. Now allowed
for clay soil and for HYV seeds as these take only 70-100 days to ripen.
RLI produces 20 mds/bigha boro, 8 mds wheat, 5 mds jute. DTW gives 15-16 mds boro,
provides an extra Aus crop along with Aman. About 7-8 mds/bigha of Aus (local seeds), rabi
8-10 mds and Aman 8-10 mds also, boro 15 mds/bigha.
Problem of just 2/3 mechanics for these pumps in the whole district. Also dual control of
pump staff: BDO gives pay while maintenance is by Agri-Irrgn/Agri-Mech. Fuel supply
system is wholly dependant on private sources. Great potential in RLI since surface water is
plenty. More block staff needed here as continual guidance is called for. Also continuous
motivation to urge repaying of loans.
Problem in DTW: people refuse to give 1 ft of land for drainage canal: they want irrigation
by water overflowing from one plot to another. There is much waste.
14.6.1972 (holiday)
Today is a local holiday for Ramkeli Mela to celebrate Sri Chaitanya’s meeting with Roop
and Sanatan under the tamal tree here. I visited the mela round 4.30 p.m. This time there is