PIM as A Thrust Area/Priority Item

PIM as A Thrust Area/Priority Item

With effect from August 2003 Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) has been identified as one of the thrust areas for the country as a whole and its progress is being monitored by the Prime Minister‘s Office.

Issues for Policy Initiatives

a. All states to be emphasized upon the need to enact PIM acts in a definite time frame

b.                Strengthening   of   financial   resources   of   Farmer

â€'Revenue sharing arrangement to be considered

c. Rationalization of water charges

d. Empowering women for a greater role in Irrigation Management.

Action Taken for Implementing PIM

Ministry of Water resources has written to all the States, which have not yet enacted

relevant act to facilitate participation of stakeholders in Irrigation Management, asking them to implement the same. An indicative Roadmap as under has also been suggested for promotion of PIM to take a time bound action in the matter.

Indicative Roadmap:

1) Draft legislation on PIM and its approval by the State Legislature at the earliest, preferably in the next Session of the State Assembly.

2) Based on the PIM Act, prepare necessary Rules and Regulations within two months of the notification of the Act.

3)Organise Statewide orientation/awareness generation camps for functionaries of Irrigation/CAD

Departments and farmers. 4) Formation of Water Us the responsibilities assigned under the Act. 5) Fix a target of covering at least 25% of the area of

the major and medium irrigation projects under PIM during the X Plan. 6) Formation of an appropriate committee at the State level that will monitor the progress under PIM and interact with

the Central Government. Copies of the Model Act on PIM and also the PIM Acts of a few States were sent to the States/UTs for reference and guidance.

Milestones:

State Governments are being persuaded since 1985 to promote Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM). In order to facilitate the States in formulation of the roadmap for promotion, enactment and implementation of PIM the following action points and milestones need be considered. Depending upon the status of the progress of implementation of the PIM in the States the action points may be suitably modified.

1 To constitute a Committee within the State to study the provisions of Model Act, PIM Acts of other States, Existing Irrigation Acts of States, Irrigation Water Cost Recovery Structure, and other Regulations of the States.

2 Preparation of Draft PIM Act (if not already done) by the State. In this regard the State may obtain help from WALMIs, NGOs or other State/Central organisations followed by the process of approval.

3 Awareness and motivation of the farmers in PIM activities. WALMIs can play major role

in this activity. This activity of imparting awareness and motivating the farmers could be done simultaneously along with the other activities of implementation of PIM.

4 Preparation of draft rules and regulations in connection with identification of jurisdiction, formation, election, role and responsibility of WUAs and Irrigation departments/CADAs (if not already done).

5 The process of identification and notification of jurisdiction of each WUA, Minor / Distributary Committee for each Major, Medium and Minor Projects. This should be immediately followed by holding of elections of WUAs.

6 Necessary steps may be taken to repair the irrigation systems to be transferred to the

farmers. In case of CAD projects, such steps are to be taken within the framework of Restructured CADWM Programme.

7 Signing of MoUs between the State Govt. and the WUAs for transfer of responsibility and the irrigation system. This could be done immediately after the necessary completion of repairs and the formation of WUAs.

8 Formation of an appropriate committee at the State level that will monitor the progress under PIM and interact with the Central Government

9 Monitoring and evaluation of the functioning of the system by the state Govt. for at least three years after handing over the system to the WUAs.

State have been pursued from time to time enact relevant Acts to facilitate participation of stakeholders in Irrigation Management, asking them to formulate a roadmap for furthering the implementation of PIM in their States in a time bound manner and keep the Ministry informed of the progress of the same. It is also requested to furnish the latest information on the status of implementation of   PIM   /   formation   of   Water   Users‘