Beneficiary Participation in Irrigation Water Management: The Kerala

the assumed losses of 11 to 20 percent. The reasons for the losses were seepage, overtapping,
dead storage, leaky junctions and turn outs, poor OFD, and outdated agronomic and
agricultural practices. Education of farmers and professional groups was a basic problem;
engineers with training in agriculture were needed badly. There was shortage of water
arising from the distributional problem caused by defective design; outlets needed
improvements and water courses required renovation and remodelling. Water users
associations were defunct. The associations formed were only of an adhoc nature.
Extension services were inadequate. Kanjyo noted that the project goal of higher income
would be achieved only if the WUAs took up field channel cleaning and maintenance to
assure adequate water supplies and farmers were trained in improved water management
practices.
16 The village water master scheme was mostly a single-purpose agency entrusted with the
responsibility of O&M by two (or more) special village officials, one who was in charge
of the task of agricultural production and the other who was the Mayor Manages of the
irrigation system. Under the fourth model (Tertiary level W.M. system) the appointed
official, the tertiary water master, had the overall responsibility of water management at
the tertiary level. Obviously, the role of farmers was minimal.
17 Membership fee consisted of a periodical payment in cash; in the case of Subak it was Rs
1000/ha for members who were not active participations; but, for those who were, the
payment was limited to Rs 500/ha.
18 In 1982 accounts were as follows:
Religious Ceremonies = 62 percent
O&M of irrigation system = 25 percent
Subak Staff salaries = 3 percent
Others = 10 percent
19 The contributions comprised the following compulsory payments, used for O&M.
Membership fee : 15 kg rice/ha/season.
Compulsory fee : 60-150 kg of rice per season (wet season 60kg/ha, dry season
2=150 kg/ha)
20 Temporary fund: This was also raised for major rehabilitation purposes and improvement
of the irrigation system.
21 The Fund utilisation scheme was as follows: 45 percent for O&M, 30 percent for committee
compensation, 10 percent for administration, and 15 percent for other purposes including
savings.
22 Rs 1000 in cash for unauthorised draw of water, and Rs 1000 for water use for purposes
other than cropping.
23 This was a legacy of the colonial past. In several areas, it was the responsibility of
the Headman to see that cultivators together did proper maintenance even during the
period prior to the formation of cultivation committees.
24 In Kerala, District Collector is the chairman of PAC and Executive Engineer, the
convenor. In Nepal an official of the administrative service was the chairman and an
irrigation engineer, its secretary.
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