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Water Policy Research HIGHLIGHT

Reviving Minor Irrigaon

9,000 in Tank irrigated Groundwater irrigated 7,658 Mission Kakaya is the flagship program of 8,000 7,350 Midterm Assessment of 7,000 , a state whose 6,255 ) Mission Kakaya es 6,000 5,603 formaon itself was catalysed by perceived (acr First Census Second Census Third Census Fourth Census Fih Census dy 5,000 regional injusces in water distribuon for

d Type of Structure a (1987) (1993-94) (2000-01) (2006-07) (2013-14) P r 4,000 irrigaon. Launched in 2014, the mission aims to de 3,165 un 3,000 harness benefits of tank irrigaon by increasing Dugwells (DWs) 7,320,586 4,466,958 9,617,381 9,200,191 8,784,359 ea r A 2,000 command area, water supply for irrigaon and Shallow Tubewells (STWs) 5,940,656 1,300 4,773,071 5,080,725 8,355,693 9,104,665 1,181 Medium Tubewells (MTWs) 3,176,684 1,000 opportunies for agriculture. Based on mulple 10 0 field studies, this Highlight presents a midterm Deep Tubewells (DTWs) 103,814 104,309 530,194 1,452,964 2,618,606 Kharif 2014-15 Rabi 2014-15 Kharif 2017-18 Rabi 2016-17 assessment of the project's impact on increasing Total Groundwater Schemes 12,197,471 9,651,992 18,503,268 19,757,820 20,520,305 irrigated area, farmers' incomes, groundwater Surface Flow Schemes (S-Flow) 436,466 418,584 642,013 601,115 592,156 recharge, opportunies for agriculture and Manisha Shah, associated livelihoods and shares insights on Bhar and Surface Li Schemes (S-Li) 481,045 352,916 606,918 647,738 600,093 improving implementaon and maximizing net Shilp Verma Total Surface Water Schemes 917,511 771,500 1,248,931 1,248,853 1,192,249 posive benefits. ALL MI STRUCTURES (millions) 13.11 10.42 19.75 21.00 21.71

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REVIVING MINOR IRRIGATION IN TELANGANA Midterm Assessment of Mission Kakaya*†

Research highlight based on Kumar and Kumar (2015); Bhar (2016); and Aryan et al. (2017).

1. TANKS IN PENINSULAR INDIA The state government in (undivided) Andhra Pradesh too Over the last half-century, tank irrigaon has taken a back recognized challenges surrounding the lack of access to seat in peninsular India's minor irrigaon landscape with irrigaon in the Telangana region, but it took a state tubewells revoluonizing the way farmers irrigate their land. reorganisaon to germinate a comprehensive project aimed In spite of being plagued by issues of power policies, at reviving Kakaya tanks to improve access to irrigaon. In frequent well failure and rapid groundwater depleon, pump 2014, India's youngest state Telangana launched 'Mission irrigaon has been able to provide 'on-demand' irrigaon Kakaya' to harness the benefits of tank irrigaon by access to farmers and helped them grow mulple irrigated increasing command area, water supply available for crops. Country-wide share of tank irrigated area, which irrigaon and opportunies for agriculture. One of the major accounted for more than 15 per cent in the 1950s slogans of the Telangana movement was “Mana Ooru, Mana (Thenkabail et al. 2009), has shrunk to a mere 3% in 2011-12 Cheruvu” (our village, our tank), which essenally became the (MoSPI 2015). Flow irrigaon from tanks, used for centuries tagline for Mission Kakaya. The five-year long program to grow rice, has declined because of increased number of intends to uphold the vision of Kakayas through revival and wells in tank commands. Accounng for 65 per cent of the restoraon of minor irrigaon sources to their original country's territory, Peninsular India sits on hard-rock capacity by effecvely ulizing 265 billion cubic feet (7.5 9,000 formaons, primarily Deccan trap basalts and granic BCM) of water allocated for minor irrigaon sector under Tank irrigated Groundwater irrigated 7,658 basement complex; yet extensive areas are irrigated with 8,000 7,350 Godavari and Krishna River basins, achieving the basins' groundwater. Tamil Nadu, where tank irrigaon dominated in 7,000 irrigaon potenal of twenty lakh acres. 6,255 ) the earlier century, saw flow-irrigated area from tanks fall by es 6,000 5,603 a third, from 9,40,000 ha to 6,01,000 ha (Palanisami and 2. STUDY LOCATIONS AND METHODOLOGY (acr First Census Second Census Third Census Fourth Census Fih Census dy 5,000 Ranganathan 2004), reducing irrigaon tanks to percolaon d In 2015, not long aer Mission Kakaya was announced, the Type of Structure a (1987) (1993-94) (2000-01) (2006-07) (2013-14) P

r tanks. Availability of cheap pumping technology and the 4,000 IWMI-Tata Program recruited two students from the de 3,165 provision of highly subsidised or free farm power catalysed a un 3,000 Instute of Rural Management, Anand for an exploratory Dugwells (DWs) 7,320,586 4,466,958 9,617,381 9,200,191 8,784,359 ea

r shi in farmers' irrigaon preferences towards pumping A 2,000 study of Mission Kakaya. During their fieldwork, Kumar and Shallow Tubewells (STWs) 5,940,656 1,300 water accumulated in wells recharged from tanks instead of 4,773,071 5,080,725 8,355,693 9,104,665 1,181 Kumar (2015) visited 12 villages in Rangareddy and Warangal Medium Tubewells (MTWs) 3,176,684 1,000 using flow irrigaon even in tank commands. 10 districts to understand Phase I implementaon of the Deep Tubewells (DTWs) 103,814 104,309 530,194 1,452,964 2,618,606 0 The Kakayas were a prominent dynasty in south India that program. Largely based on qualitave enquiry and open- Kharif 2014-15 Rabi 2014-15 Kharif 2017-18 Rabi 2016-17 th th shaped the history of Telangana between the 12 and 14 ended discussions, Kumar and Kumar (2015) reported on the Total Groundwater Schemes 12,197,471 9,651,992 18,503,268 19,757,820 20,520,305 century from their capital in present day Warangal. The several technical and instuonal challenges the program Kakaya rulers built thousands of small reservoirs or tanks was facing on the ground, including variability in community Surface Flow Schemes (S-Flow) 436,466 418,584 642,013 601,115 592,156 across Telangana to store rain water and make it available to enthusiasm and parcipaon across villages and legal Surface Li Schemes (S-Li) 481,045 352,916 606,918 647,738 600,093 people and their farms in the dry season (Kothavade 2017). disputes around encroachment of tank beds. Oen built in a cascade, these tanks were managed and Total Surface Water Schemes 917,511 771,500 1,248,931 1,248,853 1,192,249 maintained by the communies through a system of The following year, Bhar (2016) conducted another study ALL MI STRUCTURES (millions) 13.11 10.42 19.75 21.00 21.71 decentralized governance. The tradion was to de-silt the for ITP in Warangal and Karimnagar which included detailed water bodies in summer and apply the silt on farm lands to household interviews with 90 respondents in 5 villages and maintain and improve land producvity. Over the years, land village-level focus group discussions (FGDs) in the command use changes in the catchment, encroachment of tank beds, areas of 25 tanks in Warangal and Karimnagar districts and reducon in their relave importance for irrigaon during Phase II of the program. Bhar (2016) also conducted eroded the decentralized governance instuons and led to fieldwork in tanks where Bala Vikasa had worked with village their neglect. The fih Minor Irrigaon Census (GoI 2017; communies to implement tank desilng. Besides looking at reference year: 2013-14) reports 46,531 such decentralized the impact of tank desiltaon, Bhar (2016) made an storages or tanks in Telangana. interesng comparison between the implementaon

* This Highlight is based on research carried out under the IWMI-Tata Program (ITP) with addional support from the CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE). It is not externally peer-reviewed and the views expressed are of the author/s alone and not of ITP or its funding partners. † Corresponding author: Manisha Shah [[email protected]]

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protocols of Bala Vikasa and that under Mission Kakaya. In June 2017, ITP again recruited three IRMA students to assess the progress of Mission Kakaya and its impact on the agrarian economy and on tank dependent livelihoods. Thirty seven villages in old Adilabad (Nirmal district) and old Warangal district were selected using purposive sampling to study examples of best implementaon on the ground (see Figure 1). The selecon of these two districts was done in order to focus on most successful tank de-siltaon under the program in the last two phases. Officer on Special Duty, Irrigaon and Superintendent Engineer (Godavari Basin), and officials from Irrigaon Department were consulted for study area selecon. Given that both districts have good rainfall and good project compleon rates, the precondions for Figure 1: Study locaons for Aryan et al. (2017) best performance are met. For village selecon within those districts, district level officers like Execuve Engineers and 3. IMPLEMENTATION PROTOCOL Assistant Execuve Engineers were consulted. From each NGOs like Bala Vikasa, Lodi Mulpurpose Social Service mandal (block), 3-4 villages were selected. Tank repairs in 59 Society (LMSSS) and Modern Architects of Rural India (MARI) per cent of beneficiary villages covered were completed in have also been implemenng tank-desilng programs in phase I and remaining in phase II of the mission. A final round Telangana; albeit on a much smaller scale. One esmate puts of fieldwork was undertaken in December 2017 where 11 of the total number of tanks desilted under NGO programs over these tanks were revisited and 4 other tanks in Karimnagar the past decade at around 1,000 (Bhar 2016). The approach and Nalgonda districts were studied. Data for Kharif and Rabi followed by these NGOs, especially Bala Vikasa, is quite 9,000 seasons of 2014-15 was taken as the base year (before) and different from the implementaon protocol adopted in Tank irrigated Groundwater irrigated 7,658 compared with the two previous seasons from the me of Mission Kakaya. Bhar (2016) compared the two 8,000 7,350 survey – Rabi 2016-17 and Kharif 2017-18 (aer). approaches on different aspects, as shown in Table 1. 7,000 6,255 ) es 6,000 5,603 Table 1: Implementaon protocols of Mission Kakaya and NGO Tank de-silng programs (acr First Census Second Census Third Census Fourth Census Fih Census dy 5,000 Mission Kakaya Protocol followed by Bala Vikasa d Process Type of Structure a (1987) (1993-94) (2000-01) (2006-07) (2013-14) P Implementaon Protocol and other NGOs r 4,000 de 3,165 un 3,000 Instuonal I&CAD is the implemenng agency; it works in A 5-7 member commiee is formed for approvals, Dugwells (DWs) 7,320,586 4,466,958 9,617,381 9,200,191 8,784,359 ea r

A Arrangement coordinaon with other line departments negoating rates, scheduling silt liing and supervision 2,000 Shallow Tubewells (STWs) 5,940,656 1,300 4,773,071 5,080,725 8,355,693 9,104,665 1,181 Medium Tubewells (MTWs) 3,176,684 1,000 Idenficaon of AE and DE (I&CAD) take lead; Gram Sabha passes Villagers idenfy tank and approach NGO 10 Tanks resoluon 0 Deep Tubewells (DTWs) 103,814 104,309 530,194 1,452,964 2,618,606 Kharif 2014-15 Rabi 2014-15 Kharif 2017-18 Rabi 2016-17 AE and DE (I&CAD) select according to “guidelines for Villagers select; NGO provides technical support and Selecon of Tanks priorizaon of tanks”; consult local polical representaves guidance, feasibility study Total Groundwater Schemes 12,197,471 9,651,992 18,503,268 19,757,820 20,520,305 Mandal Agriculture Officer and District Soil Tesng Lab Community uses tradional knowledge and wisdom and Surface Flow Schemes (S-Flow) 436,466 418,584 642,013 601,115 592,156 Silt Tesng involved; report sent to I&CAD selects area to be desilted Surface Li Schemes (S-Li) 481,045 352,916 606,918 647,738 600,093 DPR Preparaon AE and DE (I&CAD) prepare DPR NGO prepares DPR Tendering and Online tendering by I&CAD; selecon based on least cost NGO invites quotaons and negoates rates with Total Surface Water Schemes 917,511 771,500 1,248,931 1,248,853 1,192,249 Contracng [₹ 120-150 per load] contractors [₹ 40-50 per load] ALL MI STRUCTURES (millions) 13.11 10.42 19.75 21.00 21.71 Contractors responsible; work under I&CAD supervision Contractors responsible; accountable to “Supervision Desilng [Average desilted depth: 3 feet] Commiee” [Average desilted depth: 5-6 feet] Contractor responsible for organizing 12 tractors; Commiee includes tractor owners, ensures availability Silt Liing thereaer farmers' responsibility for silt transportaon Awareness about NGOs undertake awareness creaon through wall Contractors are responsible for awareness creaon silt applicaon painngs and posters Community Farmers contribute tractor cost only; rest funded through 70% of the cost is borne by community; 30% by NGO / contribuon Mission Kakaya grant

No 'maintenance fund' created for future desilng or Farmers who take silt contribute ₹10 / load towards a Maintenance Fund repairs 'maintenance fund' used for plantaon and repair works

Source: Adapted from Bhar (2016)

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4. IMPACT OF MISSION KAKATIYA irrigate an addional gross area of less than 21,000 ha. However, the assurance of water availability owing to beer 4.1 Impact on Irrigated Area monsoon increased the area culvated in Kharif season by The main objecve of Mission Kakaya is to revive and boost 300,000 ha (Chandrashekhar 2017). Thus, it is safe to minor irrigaon in the region by increasing water storage conclude that much of the addional area lay outside tank capacity of tanks through de-siltaon and repair of sluices, commands and was not aributable directly to addional weirs, and irrigaon canals. The project also has an impact on water storage in tanks. groundwater irrigaon through increased groundwater 4.2 Impact on Farm Economics recharge. Besides increasing culvated and irrigated area, Mission Field data shows a posive change in tank irrigated area for Kakaya has also significantly changed the farm economics all tank sizes. Aryan et al. (2016) surveyed 37 “best by reducing cost of culvaon and increasing producvity. implemented” Mission Kakaya tanks and found that, on The silt removed from tank beds was lied by farmers, average, culvated area increased by 196 and 159 per cent transported and applied to their fields. Several studies (see, in Kharif and Rabi seasons respecvely. However, a closer for instance, Mohammed et al. 2009; DHAN-CPP nd.) have noted, applicaon of silt on farmlands adds valuable look at the data suggests that such an increase cannot solely nutrients and improves the soil's moisture retenon capacity. be explained by increased tank storage capacity. Aryan et al. This helps farmers aain higher crop producvity while esmated that less than 10 per cent of the increase in Kharif reducing their expenditure on ferlizers. area and less than 50 per cent of the increase in Rabi area can be explained by addional tank storage; to explain the Our field studies report that the quanty of silt removed addional area, they offer three explanaons: [a] deficit from a tank was a funcon of the farmers' demand for silt rather than the size of the tank. Farmers could avail the silt rainfall in base year, 2014-15; [b] increase in area not only removed from the tanks free of cost but had to bear the due to increased storage but also due to repair of tank transportaon cost. Transporng a tractor-load of silt cost sluices, bunds and weirs prevenng any leakage to render between ₹100-500, depending on the distance of the field floodplains around tanks culvable; and [c] these numbers do 9,000 from the tank, accessibility of the tank and tractor Tank irrigated Groundwater irrigated not represent the “average” scenario as their sample was availability. Bhar (2016) reported 30-40 per cent increase in 8,000 7,658 7,350 purposively biased. Aryan et al. (2016) also found that much crop producvity and roughly ₹5,000 saving in ferlizer and 7,000 6,255 of the increase in culvated area was owing to expansion of

) pescide cost per acre of coon. Aryan et al. (2017) too es 6,000 5,603 paddy culvaon – both within and outside the tank reported improved producvity in paddy (15.5%), turmeric (acr command (Figure 2). First Census Second Census Third Census Fourth Census Fih Census dy 5,000 (22.2%), maize (26.9%), mirchi (28.5%) and coon (41.8%)

d Type of Structure a (1987) (1993-94) (2000-01) (2006-07) (2013-14) P (Figure 3). The reducon in ferlizer and pescide cost also r 4,000 A local (Namasthe Telangana 2017) reported that de 3,165 varied with crop – ₹1,915 per acre (46.4%) for paddy and un out of 20,814 tanks across 17 districts, around 10 per cent Dugwells (DWs) 7,320,586 4,466,958 9,617,381 9,200,191 8,784,359 3,000 ea ₹3,490 per acre (45.8%) for coon. r were overflowing aer monsoon 2017 and more than 40 per A 2,000 Shallow Tubewells (STWs) 5,940,656 1,300 4,773,071 5,080,725 8,355,693 9,104,665 1,181 cent were more than half full, predicng a water sufficiency Aryan et al. (2017) calculated that the overall impact on Medium Tubewells (MTWs) 3,176,684 1,000 scenario for 3-5 addional months and aributed it to tank profitability per acre aer accounng for reduced cost of 10 0 de-siltaon. In the two phases of the mission, 130 million culvaon, improved yield and transportaon costs. They Deep Tubewells (DTWs) 103,814 104,309 530,194 1,452,964 2,618,606 Kharif 2014-15 Rabi 2014-15 Kharif 2017-18 Rabi 2016-17 cubic metres of silt was removed from tank beds ll February esmated that profit per acre increased by 14.3 per cent for Total Groundwater Schemes 12,197,471 9,651,992 18,503,268 19,757,820 20,520,305 2017 (Chintala 2017), creang an equivalent addional water paddy and 47.8 per cent for coon. Bhar (2016) also 3 storage capacity. At 2,500 m per acre per season, this would esmated the Benefit-Cost rao of silt applicaon for Surface Flow Schemes (S-Flow) 436,466 418,584 642,013 601,115 592,156 Surface Li Schemes (S-Li) 481,045 352,916 606,918 647,738 600,093 Figure 2: Paddy area irrigated by groundwater and tank in base and Figure 3: Producvity change of major crops in the second year aer study years silt applicaon Total Surface Water Schemes 917,511 771,500 1,248,931 1,248,853 1,192,249 Before Aer 35 ALL MI STRUCTURES (millions) 13.11 10.42 19.75 21.00 21.71 9,000 32.0 Tank irrigated Groundwater irrigated

8,000 ) 7,658 e 30 28.8 7,350 r

c 27.5 7,000 A 25.3 s/ 24.9

) 6,255 25 tal 22.5 22.7 es 6,000 5,603 21.9 acr Quin ( (

20 5,000 dy d ield a Y

P

4,000

r 15

op 12.9 3,165 de 3,000 Cr un 10 9.1 ea r 2,000 A 1,181 1,300 5 1,000 10 0 0 Kharif 2014-15 Rabi 2014-15 Kharif 2017-18 Rabi 2016-17 Paddy (N=32) Coon (N=36) Turmeric (N=20) Maize (N=12) Mirchi (N=07)

Source: Aryan et al. (2017) Source: Aryan et al. (2017) 3

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different crops and found that the rao was highest for level decline. The number of tanks completed and Mirchi (ranging from 6.2 to 13.7) and lowest for paddy (0.8 to expenditure for districts with highest water level rise (Medak, 2.2). These results perhaps explain the farmers' preference Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Warangal (U), Nalgonda) and highest for silt applicaon in high-value cash crops, rather than in water level decline (Jogulamba Gadwal, Vikarabad, Adilabad, paddy. Nirmal, Mancherial, Jagal, Kumarambheem Asifabad) are The silt removed from the tank beds is supposed to be lab shown in Figure 4. The districts with water level rise (the tested by the Agriculture department. However, our field increase in levels ranging between 3 m in Warangal (U) to studies found no evidence of lab tesng in 7 of the 15 tanks 11.46 m in Medak) mostly have a high number of tanks visited in December 2017; the villagers relied on visual repaired and de-silted compared to the districts reporng inspecon and local knowledge to assess silt quality. Some decline in water level; the range of both rise and fall of levels, farmers also faced shortage of tractors, found it difficult to however, is wide. This is perhaps due to rainfall deviaons, pay transportaon cost (as it oen requires upfront cash soil and aquifer condions, proximity to water bodies; which payment) and even scarcity of silt to carry. Those who could vary across districts. apply silt, however, reported posive results. Kumar and 4.4 Impact on Related Livelihoods Kumar (2015) also reported variable farmer interest for liing Though agriculture has a major share of benefits derived silt and posive impact of silt applicaon on farm economics. from tanks, other livelihoods like fishing, toddy tapping, and 4.3 Impact on Groundwater cale herding are also benefied by it. Telangana Bhar (2016) noted that as a result of tank desilng, water government's programs such as Haritha Haram (tree levels in nearby open wells and borewells improved by 10-15 plantaon drive) to plant Toddy and Etha trees around the feet. Farmers from 14 blocks also reported addional 3-5 tank bunds, distribuon of fingerlings and goats at subsidised prices have ensured the ownership of the tank not only from months of water availability in their wells, which has helped the ayacutdar but also from the other stakeholders like cale them irrigate crops in Rabi. Without accounng for rainfall herders, toddy tappers and fishermen communies. variaon across years, secondary data sources show a pre- Moreover, all informal cale herders' sociees and fishermen monsoon water level decline of 4.5 m and post monsoon 9,000 sociees in every village are being formalised. Fish farming in Tank irrigated Groundwater irrigated water level improvement of 2.7 m between 2014 and 2016 7,658 the study area has emerged as a profitable venture where 8,000 7,350 (Table 2). 7,000 even non-fishermen community is willing to invest and 6,255 ) A survey by the Telangana Groundwater Department harness the benefits from the tank in the village. An impact es 6,000 5,603 comparing water table in May 2016 and 2017 reported an

(acr assessment study shows 62 per cent increase in fish First Census Second Census Third Census Fourth Census Fih Census dy 5,000 average year-on-year increase in ground water level by 3.45 d producon in the tanks across the state (NABCONS 2017). Type of Structure a (1987) (1993-94) (2000-01) (2006-07) (2013-14) P r 4,000 m ( 2017). There was a rise in water levels in 22 This addional source of income has helped them diversify de 3,165

un out of 31 districts while remaining 9 districts reported water 3,000 their livelihood. Dugwells (DWs) 7,320,586 4,466,958 9,617,381 9,200,191 8,784,359 ea r A 2,000 Table 2: Groundwater levels recorded in different mandals Shallow Tubewells (STWs) 5,940,656 1,300 4,773,071 5,080,725 8,355,693 9,104,665 1,181 Medium Tubewells (MTWs) 3,176,684 1,000 Pre-monsoon water level Post-monsoon water level 10 (m bgl) (m bgl) 0 Mandal Name Change (m) Change (m) Deep Tubewells (DTWs) 103,814 104,309 530,194 1,452,964 2,618,606 Kharif 2014-15 Rabi 2014-15 Kharif 2017-18 Rabi 2016-17 2014 2016 2014 2016 Total Groundwater Schemes 12,197,471 9,651,992 18,503,268 19,757,820 20,520,305 Sarangpur 13.55 18.76 -5.21 13.68 8.80 4.88 Surface Flow Schemes (S-Flow) 436,466 418,584 642,013 601,115 592,156 Laxmanchanda 1.65 11.68 -10.03 2.53 1.25 1.28 Nirmal 3.31 4.02 -0.71 7.80 1.95 5.85 Surface Li Schemes (S-Li) 481,045 352,916 606,918 647,738 600,093 Khanapur 7.50 10.38 -2.88 6.86 5.27 1.59 Total Surface Water Schemes 917,511 771,500 1,248,931 1,248,853 1,192,249 Dilwarpur 9.40 18.42 -9.02 8.30 6.00 2.30 ALL MI STRUCTURES (millions) 13.11 10.42 19.75 21.00 21.71 Pembi 4.25 7.48 -3.23 4.54 2.68 1.86 Mamda 3.07 5.23 -2.16 4.60 1.60 3.00 Kaddam 4.22 8.22 -4.00 3.83 1.45 2.38 Nallapalli 7.36 9.36 -2.00 7.88 4.20 3.68 Narsampet 6.28 12.72 -6.44 4.97 2.78 2.19 Wardanapet 7.93 11.41 -3.48 7.67 5.69 1.98 Wardanapet/ Ayanaval 7.93 11.41 -3.48 7.67 5.69 1.98 Elkathurthi 11.42 12.96 -1.54 10.00 11.11 -1.11 Thorrur / Pedha Vangara 8.02 16.62 -8.60 9.13 3.24 5.89 Average Values 6.85 11.33 -4.50 7.10 4.40 2.70 Source: Groundwater Department, Telangana

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Figure 4: Tanks completed and expenditure incurred in districts with high water level rise and decline

500 450 Tanks Completed Total Expenditure (₹ '00 Lakhs) 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 l l ) r k d d a ial a ad a a r g wa (U ma b b b l a gal e d a ed a ir onda a a n J g N lg M dilabad n ama a nch im ikar Asif A a a a Ga iz N ar V ar M N K W lamb ogu

High water level rise J Water level decline

5. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION means that the interests of the community are not always aligned – e.g. fishermen prefer that the tanks remain full Mission Kakaya, undoubtedly, has set the ground for for as long as possible while command area farmers want technical innovaons, tender reforms, online procurement, the water to be released for irrigaon. Opmizing tank 9,000 billing and payment, and created a noteworthy example for Tank irrigated Groundwater irrigated operaons to maximize net posive impacts needs the 7,658 other state intervenons. Our field studies strongly indicate 8,000 7,350 different stakeholders to work together – something that 7,000 that when implemented well, it has the potenal to bring 6,255 Mission Kakaya has not put emphasis on. ) significant posive benefits to the village agrarian economy – es 5,603 6,000 in terms of expansion of irrigated area; enhanced [d] Supply-driven Implementaon: Contrasng with the work (acr First Census Second Census Third Census Fourth Census Fih Census dy 5,000 done by Bala Vikasa, Bhar (2016) described Mission d groundwater recharge; reducon in cost of culvaon; Type of Structure a (1987) (1993-94) (2000-01) (2006-07) (2013-14) P r 4,000 improved crop producvity; and posive spill over impacts Kakaya as a supply-driven, rather than demand-driven, de 3,165 program. As discussed in Table 1, in the case of Bala un 3,000 on fisheries, toddy tapping and cale herding. However, the Dugwells (DWs) 7,320,586 4,466,958 9,617,381 9,200,191 8,784,359 ea r quality of implementaon and responsiveness of the village Vikasa, the community idenfies and iniates the tank A 2,000 Shallow Tubewells (STWs) 5,940,656 1,300 1,181 community has not been uniform across the districts. desilng process. This not only ensures their 4,773,071 5,080,725 8,355,693 9,104,665 Medium Tubewells (MTWs) 3,176,684 1,000 contribuon, but also their commitment to the work. This 10 Our field studies threw up some insights on how Mission is not the case in Mission Kakaya where nearly all tanks Deep Tubewells (DTWs) 103,814 104,309 530,194 1,452,964 2,618,606 0 Kakaya implementaon can be improved: Kharif 2014-15 Rabi 2014-15 Kharif 2017-18 Rabi 2016-17 in the state were taken up for desilng. [a] Work Planning: Bhar (2016) and Aryan et al. (2017) note Total Groundwater Schemes 12,197,471 9,651,992 18,503,268 19,757,820 20,520,305 [e] Sustaining Benefits: By the me desilng work in the last that the work planning process was unduly focussed on tank under Mission Kakaya is over, or soon aer, tanks Surface Flow Schemes (S-Flow) 436,466 418,584 642,013 601,115 592,156 civil works such as bund and sluice gate construcon desilted in Phase I would be ready for another round of rather than on desilng for field applicaon and Surface Li Schemes (S-Li) 481,045 352,916 606,918 647,738 600,093 desilng. Tradionally, the operaon and maintenance of groundwater recharge. The planning also seemed to give tanks was managed by the community through the Total Surface Water Schemes 917,511 771,500 1,248,931 1,248,853 1,192,249 lesser priority to repair of feeder channels, distribuon instuon of Neerudu / Neerka. Mission Kakaya seems network, waste weir and removal of encroachments from ALL MI STRUCTURES (millions) 13.11 10.42 19.75 21.00 21.71 to have missed out on an opportunity to revive this tank beds and feeder channels. important instuon to ensure that the gains achieved [b] Planning for Silt Uptake: Bhar (2016) noted poor or during implementaon are sustained aer the 5-year complete lack of coordinaon between I&CAD and program. Agriculture departments; this oen meant that the This last insight is crucial unless the Government of results of the silt tests were available only aer the Telangana sees Mission Kakaya as an on-going program detailed work planning had been done. Bhar (2016) also which will require significant public resources perpetually. In reported that due to poor planning, tank desilng works a scathing crique of Mission Kakaya, Kumar et al. (2016) were somemes interrupted by rains. argued for the need for a scienfic assessment of the [c] Conflicng Interests: The tank user community is a diverse hydrology of catchments in Telangana to beer understand set and comprises of command area farmers, non- which tanks will benefit from desilng, and which might not. command farmers, tank-bed culvators, fishermen, One way to address this crique, and also ensure local washerwomen and toddy-tappers among others. This ownership of tank management is to turn the program into a

5

2 Water Policy Research Highlight-08

truly demand-driven project. It is safe to assume that village ensure that where village communies see value in tank communies will not be very enthusiasc about maintaining desilng, the government can extend a hand of support. The tanks that have lile or no chance of filling up due to land idea of having a maintenance fund through small use or other changes in their catchment. On the other hand, contribuons from farmers can also be effecve in covering tanks which do offer direct and indirect economic benefits part of the desilng costs and/or clearing feeder and through command area irrigaon, enhanced groundwater distribuon channels. To encourage this and incenvize recharge and posive impact on fisheries and other farmer contribuons, the government can offer to top up the livelihoods should be rounely desilted, ideally by the local Tank Maintenance Fund through a matching contribuon. communies with support from the state. Finally, the government must also ensure that its policies do Desilng of tanks needs to be done in a small me window not result in conflicng outcomes. Through Mission Kakaya, before the monsoons each year. During this me, if the the government is invesng heavily in improving Government of Telangana can make JCBs available for groundwater availability and at the same me, the villagers who want to desilt their tanks, a self-targeng government announced 24*7 free power to farmers mechanism can take shape. Just as Bala Vikasa enters a (Balakrishna 2017) – which will undoubtedly lead to village only aer a village community comes together and groundwater over-exploitaon. Such steps are likely to shows willingness to contribute, such a mechanism can negate any long-term posive impacts of Mission Kakaya.

References Aryan, S.P., Singh, R. and Varthini, P. (2017): “Assessment of Mission Kakaya in Telangana”. Unpublished internship report. Anand: IWMI-Tata Water Policy Program. Balakrishna, V.V. (2017): 24x7 power to farmers in Telangana will cost the exchequer Rs 7000 . , 6 June. Available online: hp://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/2017/jun/06/24x7-power-to-farmers-in- telangana-will-cost-the-exchequer-rs-7000-crore-sources-1613406.html Bhar (2016): “Mission Kakaya study”. Unpublished report. Anand: IWMI-Tata Water Policy Program. Chandrashekhar, B. (2017): No rain gains for minor irrigaon tanks in State. The Hindu, 29 August. Available online: 9,000 hp://www.thehindu.com/news/cies/Hyderabad/no-rain-gains-for-minor-irrigaon-tanks-in-state/arcle19583002.ece Tank irrigated Groundwater irrigated 7,658 8,000 7,350 Chintala, P. (2017): Mission Kakaya gets global aenon. The Hindu, 19 February 2017. Available online: 7,000 hp://www.thehindu.com/news/cies/Hyderabad/Mission-Kakaya-gets-global-aenon/arcle17327210.ece 6,255 ) DHAN-CPP. (nd.): Tank Silt Applicaon for Agricultural Producon Enhancement - Scope, Issues and Challenges. Policy Brief #12, es 6,000 5,603

(acr Water Series. Chennai: Centre for Policy and Planning, Dhan Foundaon (DHAN-CPP). Available online: First Census Second Census Third Census Fourth Census Fih Census dy 5,000 d hp://dhan.org/cpp/pdf/policybrief12.pdf Type of Structure a (1987) (1993-94) (2000-01) (2006-07) (2013-14) P th r 4,000 GoI (2017): Report of 5 census of minor irrigaon schemes. November, New Delhi: Ministry of Water Resources, River de 3,165 un 3,000 Development and Ganga Rejuvenaon, Minor Irrigaon (Stascs) Wing, Government of India. Available online: Dugwells (DWs) 7,320,586 4,466,958 9,617,381 9,200,191 8,784,359 ea r hp://mowr.gov.in/report-5th-minor-irrigaon-census-has-been-released A 2,000 Shallow Tubewells (STWs) 5,940,656 1,300 4,773,071 5,080,725 8,355,693 9,104,665 1,181 Kothavade, M.R. (2017): The Kakaya legacy of pro-poor governance and water management and its revival through Mission Medium Tubewells (MTWs) 3,176,684 1,000 Kakaya. Journal of US-China Public Administraon, 14(4):198-209. 10 0 Kumar, M.D., Bassi, N., Kishan, K.S., Chaopadhyay, S. and Ganguly, A. (2016): Rejuvenang Tanks in Telangana. Economic and Deep Tubewells (DTWs) 103,814 104,309 530,194 1,452,964 2,618,606 Kharif 2014-15 Rabi 2014-15 Kharif 2017-18 Rabi 2016-17 Polical Weekly, 51(34): 30-34. Total Groundwater Schemes 12,197,471 9,651,992 18,503,268 19,757,820 20,520,305 Kumar, S.C. and Kumar, S.D.V. (2015): “Mission Kakaya: Telangana's aempt to replace Saurashtra's success". Unpublished report. IWMI-Tata Water Policy Program. Surface Flow Schemes (S-Flow) 436,466 418,584 642,013 601,115 592,156 Mohammed, O., Wani, S.P., Vineela, C. and Murali, R. (2009): Quanficaon of Nutrients Recycled by Tank Silt and its Impact on Soil Surface Li Schemes (S-Li) 481,045 352,916 606,918 647,738 600,093 and Crop - A Pilot Study in Warangal District of Andhra Pradesh. Monograph. Internaonal Crops Research Instute for the Semi- Arid Tropics. Total Surface Water Schemes 917,511 771,500 1,248,931 1,248,853 1,192,249 MoSPI (2015): Irrigaon - Stascal Year Book India 2015. Ministry of Stascs and Program Implementaon (MoSPI), Government of India. ALL MI STRUCTURES (millions) 13.11 10.42 19.75 21.00 21.71 NABCONS (2017): Mission Kakaya Phase 1 Impact Evaluaon Study Findings. NABARD Consultancy Services (NABCONS). Namasthe Telangana. (2017): Status of ponds in various districts. 29 August 2017. Palanisami, K. and Ranganathan, C.R. (2004): “Value of groundwater in tank (surface) irrigaon systems. Coimbatore, India”. Water Technology Centre. 31p. The Hindu (2017): “Rise in groundwater level in Telangana”. The Hindu, 9 June 2017. Available online: hp://www.thehindu.com/news/cies/Hyderabad/rise-in-groundwater-level-in-telangana/arcle18951871.ece Thenkabail, P.S., Dheeravath, V., Biradar, C.M., Gangalakunta, O.R.P., Noojipady, P., Gurappa, C., Velpuri, M., Gumma, M. and Li, Y. (2009): Irrigated Area Maps and Stascs of India Using Remote Sensing and Naonal Stascs. Remote Sensing, 1(2): 50-67.

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2 About the IWMI-Tata Program and Water Policy Highlights

The IWMI-Tata Water Policy Program (ITP) was launched in 2000 as a co-equal partnership between the Internaonal Water Management Instute (IWMI), Colombo and Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT), Mumbai. The program presents new perspecves and praccal soluons derived from the wealth of research done in India on water resource management. Its objecve is to help policy makers at the central, state and local levels address their water challenges – in areas such as sustainable groundwater management, water scarcity, and rural poverty – by translang research findings into praccal policy recommendaons. Through this program, IWMI collaborates with a range of partners across India to idenfy, analyze and document relevant water management approaches and current pracces. These pracces are assessed and synthesized for maximum policy impact in the series on Water Policy Highlights and IWMI-Tata Comments. Water Policy Highlights are pre-publicaon discussion papers developed primarily as the basis for discussion during ITP's 9,000 Annual Partners' Meet. The research underlying these Tank irrigated Groundwater irrigated 7,658 8,000 7,350 Highlights was funded with support from Internaonal Water 7,000 Management Instute (IWMI), Tata Trusts, CGIAR Research 6,255 ) es 6,000 5,603 Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE) and CGIAR (acr Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food First Census Second Census Third Census Fourth Census Fih Census dy 5,000

d Type of Structure a (1987) (1993-94) (2000-01) (2006-07) (2013-14) P Security (CCAFS). However, the Highlights are not externally r 4,000 de 3,165 peer-reviewed and the views expressed are of the author/s un 3,000 Dugwells (DWs) 7,320,586 4,466,958 9,617,381 9,200,191 8,784,359 ea r alone and not of ITP or any of its funding partners. A 2,000 Shallow Tubewells (STWs) 5,940,656 1,300 4,773,071 5,080,725 8,355,693 9,104,665 1,181 Medium Tubewells (MTWs) 3,176,684 1,000 10 0 Deep Tubewells (DTWs) 103,814 104,309 530,194 1,452,964 2,618,606 Kharif 2014-15 Rabi 2014-15 Kharif 2017-18 Rabi 2016-17 Total Groundwater Schemes 12,197,471 9,651,992 18,503,268 19,757,820 20,520,305

Surface Flow Schemes (S-Flow) 436,466 418,584 642,013 601,115 592,156

Surface Li Schemes (S-Li) 481,045 352,916 606,918 647,738 600,093 IWMI Headquarters IWMI-Tata Water Policy Program 127 Sunil Mawatha “Jal Tarang” Total Surface Water Schemes 917,511 771,500 1,248,931 1,248,853 1,192,249 Pelawae, Baaramulla Near Smru Apartments, Behind IRMA Gate ALL MI STRUCTURES (millions) 13.11 10.42 19.75 21.00 21.71 Mailing Address Mangalpura, Anand 388001, Gujarat, India P. O. Box 2075, Colombo, Sri Lanka Tel: +91 2692 263816, 263817 Tel: +94 11 2880000, 2784080 Fax: +94 11 2786854 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Website: www.iwmi.org

IWMI is a RESE ARCH CGIAR PROGRA ON Research Water, Land and Center Ecos stems and leads the:

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