economics of on-farm development - Institute for Social and ...

Report has been extremely critical in stating that not a single project has been
completed since independence within the stipulated target date (as cited in
CBIP), 1977: I). Swaminathan's study specific to Kerala puts the cost escalation
for major and medium projects at about 675 percent, the highest being 2260 per
cent in the Kaillada Irrigation project as on 31.8.1988 (Swami nathan, 1990).
As labour component is an important aspect, higher wage rates may lead
to higher costs <strong>of</strong> construction. In this regard. Viswanathan (2000) examines the
problem <strong>of</strong> cost escalation and time lag in the completed and ongoing major and
medium irrigation projects in Kerala 21 ,
where wage rates in general and
construction wages in particular are relatively higher. The cost escalation in the
case <strong>of</strong> 14 completed major and medium irrigation projects has been estimated at
611 per cent as <strong>of</strong> 1995-96.
There have not been many studies examining the impact <strong>of</strong> institutional
intervention on irrigation developnlent in the specific irrigation commands in the
state, except Varadan (1989). Chackecherry (1995), Varadan (1998) and
Madhavachandran (1999). Madhavachandran
(1999) shows that in respect <strong>of</strong>
Malampuzha and Chitturpuzha irrigation projects in Kerala, the productivity
levels <strong>of</strong> irrigated paddy have been 3200 kg. per ha. and 2750 kg. per ha. against
the potential yield <strong>of</strong> about 5000 kg. per ha. As a result, the user participation in
terms <strong>of</strong> incurring expenses on maintenance <strong>of</strong> OFD structures is 50 per cent in
the Malampu/ha scheme and 56 per cent in the Cheerakuzhi project. The study
also brings out the following evidences <strong>of</strong> user participation in irrigation
management in Kerala:
75