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

The study by Abassi (1991) on the environmental impact in some of the major irrigation
projects of Karnataka otTers some useful insights on the causal factors of waterlogging and
salinity. In the Upper Krishna project. close to 1000 hectares has been affected due to
waterlogging and about 500 hcctares are prey to salinity and sodicity. Improper leveling of
irrigated land, absence of tield drains, silting up of natural drains along with weed growth,
non-exploitation of groundwater and adoption of a cropping pattern not best suited to the
specitic soil has led to adverse effects. Natural factors like the heterogeneity of gcology and
landscapes further contributed to the problem. In the Malaprabha Project, more than 2460
hectares have become waterlogged or saline because of the adoption of a cropping pattern
not suitable to the soiL apart tTom improper water management practices. Furthermore,
field canals were not maintained properly and the lands were not leveled as required.
Similarly, in projects like Ghataprabha, an area of about 2000 hectares is estimated to have
been affected by waterlogging.
The hazards of over irrigation and its impact on large and small farmers have been
highlighted by Das (1991). This study was undertaken in the Ajoy-Kopai inter riverine tract
in western West Bengal to analyse the nature and extent of loss incurred by farmers due to
uncontrolled canal irrigation. Large areas have heen degraded. It was noted that, there was
no cause and effect relationship between elevation, socio-economic groups of farmers and
the amount of degraded land. Both the rich and the poor farmers have fallen prey to land
degradation. The author has attrihuted improper provision and unscientific distribution of
irrigation water. lack of proper coordination and communication between various
organizations and farmers as reasons for adverse eth:cts on the soil.
Patel et al. (1992) in their study on the Mahi irrigation scheme bring out a wide range of
irrigation-induced environmental problems in the Kheda district of central Gujarat. While
waterlogging and salinity prohlems have increased enormously, the beneficiary's families
in the command area seem to have been lett with only 2-3 acres of fertile land. Introduction
of perennial irrigation and poorly drained flat plains has also changed the microclimate of
the areas leading to an increase in the moisture level of the atmosphere. Land sat data has
revealed that waterlogging and salinity has extended into the adjoining charter tract. Prior
to the introduction of the irrigation scheme, water and the rich alluvial deposits of the Mahi
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