Water Users Association and Irrigation Management - Institute for ...

esources in many parts of the world. As a result, the efficiency of an irrigation system on
an average is estimated to be less than 40 percent. In Egypt, no irrigation water charges are
collected from the farmers. Unfortunately, there are many barriers preventing the efficient
pricing of water (Tsur & Dinar 1997). Traditionally, landowners and farmers in India form
an important vote bank and it is difficult to hike water charges. The high transaction cost of
estahlishing an effective system of water charges is another deterrent and is one reason why
the expansion of supply is the preferred alternative (Easter 1992). Subsidies on other inputs
like energy and fertilizers have also led to extensive use of water for irrigation.
The overall effect, theretore. of input subsidies and under pricing of water is its excessive
use. contributing to the hastening of the water table rise, and finally waterlogging and
salinity. At the national leveL the consequences manifest themselves in terms of a decline
in agricultural production. which affects the GOP. It may also bring down the export
potential of important crops or increase the import bill.
The discussion so far brings out the dynamics of water use in major projects and its impact
on soil productivity. Given such adverse effects purportedly created by irrigation projects
on the one hand and the !,1feater need to uti Iize natural resources to meet the food
requirements of an increasing population on the other, has led to a development dilemma in
the country. The dilemma exists because there is a need to build more and more irrigation
projects, but such projects are said to be environmentally disastrous. And the fact that the
scope of !,1feen revolution is almost limited to irrigated lands reinforces the crucial
importance of irrigation. Consequently, the adverse impacts caused by large irrigation
projects and canal irrigation have also led to a lot of discussion and debate by
environmentalists regarding the investment priority given to this sector. Although one has
to guard against environmental fundamentalism, there is little doubt as to the adverse
impacts of such projects. This does not necessarily imply that people's lives should be
sacrificed for the sake of the environment. People should however be treated as an integral
component of the environment and their interests should be inextricably tied to the well
being of the larger system. Hence it is axiomatic in these circumstances to build or ensure
environment-friendly irrigation projects by various stakeholders.
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