World Bank Lauds Andhra'S Irrigation Management Scheme

The World Bank has termed the Andhra Pradesh government's scheme of irrigation management by local water users' associations as a unique experiment never attempted before and has commended the same to member-nations.

The Bank has also convened a meet in Tokyo to discuss the Andhra scheme and has invited joint secretary in the command area development department of the state, Raymond Peter, who formulated the scheme to the conference. Chief Minister N Chandr- ababu Naidu, announcing this to mediapersons here yesterday said the World Bank has also assured the state adequate financial assistance in grounding the water users' associations programme.

 

The concept of the water users' associations envisages participation of farmers in the management of irrigation systems to improve irrigation potential by optimum utilisation of water resources, better collection of water rates and superior operation of irrigation projects. Under a law passed in the last session of the state legislature, some 15,000 water users' associations in the state will be established by the end of next month.

The landowning or tenant farmers who form the general body of the association in specific areas will directly elected a president and managing committee in polling slated for June 13. The government will neither interfere with the management of irrigation systems nor would it nominate any person on the managing committees.

A part of the government's revenue from the water rates will be made over to these associations for their day-to-day functioning. With 33 % of the irrigation potential of 64 lakh hectares created in the state still remaining unutilised, the government feels the setting up of the associations will ensure effective use of the available water resources, greater crop discipline, increased area under irrigation and equitable distribution of water.