REFORMS AND INSTITUTIONAL RESTRUCTURING IN WATER SECTOR IN MAHARASHTRA STATE, INDIA- A STEP TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. Mr. E. B. Patil, Mr. E. B. Patil, Principal Secretary (WR), Principal Secretary (WR), Water Resources Department, Water Resources Department, Govt. of Maharashtra, India Govt. of Maharashtra, India Dr. Sanjay Belsare Executive Engineer and Associate Professor, Water Resources Department, Govt. of Maharashtra, India Irrigation Australia &ICID 7 th ARC, Adelaide 27 June 2012

INTRODUCTION  Maharashtra is the third largest state (30.8 million hectares) with the third (30.8 million hectares) with the third largest population (97 million) in India. largest population (97 million) in India.  About 58% of the state’s population is in rural areas, 80% of whom are dependent in rural areas, 80% of whom are dependent on agriculture on agriculture  The availability of water in the state is highly uneven most of the rainfall occurs in highly uneven most of the rainfall occurs in just 40 to 100 days just 40 to 100 days  Ultimate irrigation potential of the state is about 12.6 million hectare (M ha), 8.5 m ha is from surface water 8.5 m ha is from surface water 4.1 m ha from ground water sources 4.1 m ha from ground water sources  As of June 2011, total surface irrigation potential created in the state was 4.8 m ha.

CHALLENGES IN WATER SECTOR IN MAHARASHTRA  Firstly, Competition among different sectors has increased dramatically  Of the total water used in the state about 75 % goes to irrigation, about 75 % goes to irrigation, 16 % for domestic water supplies, 16 % for domestic water supplies, 4 % for industrial use, 4 % for industrial use, the remainder for other uses such as livestock, hydro and thermal power the remainder for other uses such as livestock, hydro and thermal power  Secondly, poor quality irrigation service delivery is undermining the performance of irrigated agriculture.  Thirdly, limited cost recovery in the irrigation sector contributed to inefficient on-farm use of irrigation water and added to the fiscal burden of the state.  Fourthly, planning and management of water resources in the state are fragmented and un-coordinated and is not being done holistically, treating surface & groundwater as one resource

REFORMS INITIATIVES IN WATER SECTOR UNDERTAKEN BY GOM  To overcome the poor scenario and improve the performance of irrigation project, following reforms were undertaken : State Water Policy.State Water Policy. Water Pricing.Water Pricing. Maharashtra Management of Irrigation System by Farmers (MMISF) Act 2005.Maharashtra Management of Irrigation System by Farmers (MMISF) Act Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority (MWRRA) Act 2005.Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority (MWRRA) Act Restructuring Of Irrigation Development Corporations (IDCs) into River Basin Agencies (RBAs)Restructuring Of Irrigation Development Corporations (IDCs) into River Basin Agencies (RBAs) Benchmarking & Water Auditing of Irrigation Projects.Benchmarking & Water Auditing of Irrigation Projects.

STATE WATER POLICY  Govt. has adopted State Water Policy in July 2003 considering experience of last 50 years in water sector & to face the challenges of 21st Century. (Revised in 2011)  Maharashtra State is among first few states to have its own water policy  Unique features of State Water Policy  Multi-sectoral approach River basin based planning and management of water resources River basin based planning and management of water resources Regulatory Authority Regulatory Authority River Basin Agency River Basin Agency  Improving Service Delivery Involving the users (PIM) Involving the users (PIM) Water Use Entitlement Water Use Entitlement Bulk Supply Bulk Supply Charging on Volumetric basis Charging on Volumetric basis Private Sector Participation Private Sector Participation

MAHARASHTRA MANAGEMENT OF IRRIGATION SYSTEM BY FARMERS (MMISF) ACT 2005  100% membership (landholders + leaseholders)  Water for irrigation shall be supplied to WUAs only  Water will be supplied on volumetric basis  WUAs have freedom of cropping pattern  Adequate representation to tail-enders and women members in managing committee  WUAs will be registered by WRD  Time bound programme of completion of rehabilitation work

Functions of Authority To lay down principles for To lay down principles for issuance of water entitlements issuance of water entitlements working out annual allocation percentage working out annual allocation percentage tariff structuring tariff structuring To maintain database of entitlements To maintain database of entitlements To clear water resources projects for construction To clear water resources projects for construction Dispute Resolution for Water Resources Sector Dispute Resolution for Water Resources Sector To ensure development of water resources as per Integrated State Water Plan To ensure development of water resources as per Integrated State Water Plan To ensure preservation and protection of surface and ground water quality To ensure preservation and protection of surface and ground water quality MAHARASHTRA WATER RESOURCES REGULATORY AUTHORITY (MWRRA) ACT 2005.

Status of Implementation  MWRRA Act 2005 brought into force on 8th June  Authority established on 17th August 2005 with HQ in Mumbai  Authority performing it’s full fledged functions issuing entitlements, clearing irrigation project, tariff order etc functions issuing entitlements, clearing irrigation project, tariff order etc  It is first such attempt in the Country

RESTRUCTURING OF IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS (IDCs) INTO RIVER BASIN AGENCIES (RBAs)  To strengthen the State's capacity in multi-sector planning and management of water resources at a river basin level.  Mainly responsible for planning and development of new Surface water schemes for irrigation/multi purpose use, construction of ongoing project and also management of existing schemes.  Corporations manned by the staff transferred from the WRD and are used as vehicles to raise money from the market  Under the administrative control of the WRD.  Preparation /periodic revision of the river basin plans and intra sectoral allocation of water  Management and operation of multi purpose water storage  Ensuring water entitlements in given multipurpose schemes to various water using utilities

BENCHMARKING OF IRRIGATION PROJECTS  Benchmarking (BM) is a systematic process for securing continual improvement through comparison with relevant and achievable internal or external norms and standards.  Benchmarking implies comparison, either internally with previous performance and desired future targets or externally against similar organizations.  The department has started Benchmarking of irrigation projects in year , for selected no. of projects with 10 performance indicators.  Twelve Indicators selected for benchmarking includes : System Performance (2) System Performance (2) Agricultural Productivity (2) Agricultural Productivity (2) Financial Performance (6) Financial Performance (6) Environmental Performance (1) Environmental Performance (1) Social Aspects (1) Social Aspects (1)

WATER AUDITING  It is the need of the hour to have ‘more crop per drop’.  Water auditing is a systematic & scientific examination of water accounts of the irrigation projects.  Comprehensive water accounting method devised, with water accounting at project level as well as at last manageable unit i.e. section office level.  The water use efficiency arrived is compared with the targeted one.  Report on Water Audit Report for year was published, which was first such attempt in the country.  Maharashtra is the first State in the country which is regularly publishing Report on BM and WA reports on World Water Day  For effective implementation of WA and BM, an independent organisation is being set up which directly reports to Secretary.

EFFORTS MADE TO MAKE REFORMS ACCEPTABLE  All policy issues first discussed in groups of experts  Drafts were prepared  Conferences & meets of farmers, NGOs to discuss the policy drafts  Awareness campaigns with the help of news papers, exhibition, seminars  Discussions with leaders of various political parties  Cabinet approval  Bills introduced & thoroughly discussed  Both bills were unanimously passed by assembly

MAHARASHTRA WATER SECTOR IMPROVEMENT PROJECT  The transferring of irrigation management to farmers is very crucial for the improving irrigation efficiency, productivity of water as well as sustainability.  Before transferring canal system to WUAs, it is necessary to carry out rehabilitation of the system.  Maharashtra Water Sector Improvement Project (MWSIP)taken up with World Bank assistance to rehabilitate the system and transfer to WUAs.  With initial success in performance improvement of irrigation project in state, it will go long way in improving scenario in water resources management in the state.

Improvement in Water Use Efficiency Sr. No Year Designed water storage Mm3 Water availability on 15 Oct. Mm3 % available storage with designed Water used for irrigation Mm3 Irrigated area on canal Lakh Ha Irrigated area on (Canal & Wells) Lakh Ha Water use efficiency (canal) Ha/Mm

Improvement in Financial Performance  Maharashtra has increased water charges to meet 100% O&M cost, with an in-built provision of 15% increase per year  Impact of increase in water rates and recovery drive can be seen from following table O&M cost is fully recovered consistently through recovery of water charges, O&M cost is fully recovered consistently through recovery of water charges, which is a step in the direction of sustainable development. which is a step in the direction of sustainable development. It is first such example in the country It is first such example in the country Sr. No.YearTotal Irrigation Assessment O&M Cost (Establishment + M&R) Total Recovery% of Recovery with O&M Cost

CONCLUSION  There is a need of adoption of total approach for overall development of water sector  The approach involves policy reforms, technological and managerial interventions  The reforms have improved water use efficiency and financial performance of irrigation projects, with O&M expenses being recovered through water charges

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