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Participation in Irrigation Projects : Changing Patterns in Northwestern India - Community Irrigation System, Samloti |
Reference |
Shingi,Prakash M; Bluhm,Louis H :"Participation in Irrigation Projects :Changing Patterns in Northwestern India " Centre for Management in Agriculture, Ahmedabad |
Introduction to the Institution |
Samloti is a neighbouring village to Mumta.This is a old community irrigation system (Kuhl) managed and operated by Kohli(water tender) on behalf of the water users.The Kohli's post is heriditary.For rendering services he is paid in kind.At the harvest he is given equal amount of grain to the weight of the seed sown.He is incharge of rebuilding the dams each spring and coordinates and administers the distribution of water as well as other social and political aspects of the system. |
Coverage of the Institution |
These type of irrigation system are found in other parts of Northwestern India |
Rules for Management
of the Institution |
(a) Boundary Rules |
Spatial:It is a small village, the irrigation system irrigates about 20 acres of paddy fields to 23 farmers
Social: Not reported |
(b) Governance
rules |
The irrigation community is operated by a "Kohli" on behalf of the water users.The kohli's role is multifunctional.He is incharge of rebuilding the dams each spring and coordinates and administers the distribution of water as well as other social and political aspects of the system. |
(c) Resource Allocation |
Not reported |
Conflict Resolution Mechanism |
In the meantime the irrigators gradually stopped making payments for thr services of the Kohli,since most of his function were being taken over by the council and the govt.At the same time people of Samloti refused to participate in the construction of the headwall of the Mumta village,since they felt that their irrigation system had already been transferred to the Govt.,so they need not participate.In retaliation to this the Mumta farmers delayed the construction of headwall by 15 days, as a result of which water would reach the Samloti irrigation system only after sowing season is over |
Problems Faced by Institution |
The formal committee structure depended mostly on voluntary cooperation and could not meet the labor requirements.The grants given were not adequate to cover expenses ,as a result the irrigation system could not be operated effectively and thus became defunct.Irrigators could only grow fodder in absence of sufficient water.The council made a decision to hand over the irrigation system to the Department |
Changes in the Institution over time |
To promote democratic decentralization,a three tier structure was created to plan and implement community development programs.Village panchayats were given the power and resources to execute govt.approved schemes,as a result of which the functions relating to the construction and repair work shifted from the Kohli to the Council(Panchayat) |
Other Features of Institution |
Samloti had a symbiotic relatioship with Mumta village since that its agriculture depended partly on the proper management of the irrigation system in Mumta village.The irrigators of Samloti used to participate at the time of construction of headwall in Mumta, the Kohlis of both villages would work out a joint strategy to get the work done, but now the conditions have changed. |
Purpose |
Participation in Irrigation Project |
Country |
India (Gujarat) |
Region |
Vill:Samloti |
Date Of Publication |
RS-27/03/96 |
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