Beneficiary Participation in Irrigation Water Management: The Kerala

commitment on the part of the officials to programmes of decentralisation of power and
functions as the real reason. In consequence of the apathy on both sides, Canal Comittees
have not played the strategic role intended of them in the CADA Act. In this context, it may
be noted that CCs are functioning efficiently in some other States in India and several other
countries in the world.
Corruption
Our field investigation disclosed that a large section of farmers had a feeling that officials
were involved in corruptive practices especially in field channel lining. Only three officebearers
and 29 ordinary members pleaded ignorance of corruptive practices in field channel
lining; four office-bearers and 207 ordinary members were, however, of the opposite view.
Interestingly, it was the members of the lower reaches of the canal who were positive about
malpractices of officials.
Table 4.11 Frequency distribution of corruption in canal-lining and construction
by methods according to OBs and OMs
Qn.
No.
14
a
b
c
d
e
f
Statements OBs OMs Reaches-wise Total
UR MR LR
F % F % F % F % F %
No
knowledge of
corruption
3 6.3 29 7.1 19 12.5 6 4.4 4 3.3
There is 4 8.3 207 50.6 71 46.7 69 50.7 67 55.4
corruption
Reduces the
quality of
work
Adds less
cement than is
needed
Absent from
supervision
Undue interest
in granting
contract
17 35.4 148 36.2 35 23.1 56 41.2 57 47.9
22 45.8 181 44.3 54 35.5 69 50.7 58 47.9
19 39.6 92 22.5 30 19.7 32 23.5 30 41.3
25 52.1 140 34.2 42 27.6 48 35.3 50 41.3
Corruption entailed deterioration of the quality of work. Quality was affected adversely by
reducing the proportion of cement in the grout, executing the work without supervision of
engineers and awarding contract work to favoured parties with undue haste in gross violation
of the guidelines of Government of India. The opportunity for members of BFAs to participate
through contributions in the form of their labour was not made use of. According to ordinary
members and office-bearers of BFAs, the practice of using cement in smaller proportions
than the prescribed specification was found in 45 percent of the cases. Undue interest and
haste in awarding construction work to contractors of their liking was reported by 52 percent
41