Martand Canal CAD Project
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Government of Jammu & Kashmir Evaluation Report On Martand Canal CAD Project (District Anantnag) Office of the Regional Joint Director, Evl & Sts, Kashmir Directorate of Economics and Statistics, J&K Planning and Development Department Highlights of the study 1. “Martand Canal” irrigation project located in district Anantnag was taken-up under Command Area Development and Water Management (CAD & WM) Programme during 2001-02. It had a gross command area of 6882 hectares which includes 4337 hectares of cultivable command area, spread over 62 villages of 2 tehsils namely, Anantnag and Pahalgam. 2. The official profile of CAD project “Martand Canal” reveals that the available funds amounting to `747.21 lakhs, had been expended to the extent of `742.71 (99.40%) lakhs during the period 2001-09. The revised cost of all activities amounting to `865.03 lakhs approved under the project had not been released in full resulting in adverse effect on the implementation of CAD activities. 3. Field enquiry conducted in 12 sample villages, in which 50 sample beneficiaries were interviewed in the field, revealed that the size of irrigated land was raised by 23% i.e., from 762 kanals to 935 kanals. Overall 744 kanals (80%) of the land of 50 sample beneficiaries was provided treatment under CAD activities under different components. 4. Coverage of additional un-irrigated land of 173 kanals under irrigation resulted change in cropping pattern i.e., shift towards irrigated crops. This led to increase in production & productivity and consequently improvement in social status in terms of residential set up as revealed by 32(64%) sample beneficiary farmers. It was reported by all 50 sample beneficiaries that their income level stood increased due to the implementation of the CAD activities. Moreover, increase in production of paddy crop by 28%, horticulture crop by 13% and oilseed crop by 39% was assessed during the reference period. It was thus observed that socio-economic status somehow had been improved. 5. The enquiry also revealed that 18 beneficiaries(36%) have indicated no improvement in their social status as a result of the implementation of the CAD programme. This portion of beneficiaries had, evidently managed no favourable change in their pattern of cultivation. As could be seen from Table 3.08 of the report that the additional land brought under irrigation belonged to only 32 sample beneficiaries and the remaining 18 farmers could not increase the irrigated land which would have given boost to their farm production in a big way. The cropping pattern in their favour remained unchanged and consequently no abnormal increase in their production occurred. However, all the beneficiaries had stated that there was increase in production. But in favour of some it was normal which could not make any impact on their socio-economic status. 6. The field enquiry revealed that the implementation of the CAD project resulted in 25% increase in Area under crops and 39% increase in production during Rabi crops. Besides, during Kharief crops 30% increase in Area and 28% increase in production of paddy was also recorded. The increase in the area under irrigation is exclusively the achievement obtained under the CAD activities. However, for the increase in production and productivity of crops, the efforts of other line departments of Agriculture, Horticulture, Irrigation etc. also matters to a great extent. But the CAD activities which brought more land under irrigation and also facilitated better irrigation flow have definitely had their favourable effect on the positive outcomes. 7. All sample beneficiary farmers/Water User Association members who were interviewed in the field reported their satisfaction over implementation of the CAD activities. The increase in irrigation facilities, judicious distribution of irrigation water, minimization of wastage/leakage of irrigation water was reported by the sample beneficiaries. However, no Water User Association was formed in 5 sample villages. 8. In fact the CAD activities are mainly focused on the maximum utilization of created irrigation potential in a given command area. The basic parameters for gauging the successfulness of the programme are the maximum utilization of created irrigated potential resulting in bringing more un-irrigated land under production, increasing the flow, facilitating better irrigation and judicious utilization of irrigation water even to the remote tail ends. In the perspective of enquired beneficiaries, all these parameters have undergone a positive change to their best satisfaction. 9. All the 21 sample works were found existing on ground. The works executed were of average quality. During the course of field enquiry, the evaluation team found that the works executed in Hapatnar village were of poor quality and no work stands executed in Khayar sample village during the reference period. 10. The CAD authorities seem to have confined their activities to the management of irrigation water alone. The other activities regarding crops, fertilizers etc. spelt –out in the guidelines were not taken care of. The CAD authorities must either implement the programme in totality in a balanced manner or should strive for modifying the programme and restrict it to the management of irrigation alone. 11. A proper mechanism needs to be evolved to maintain the assets created under CAD project, so that utilization of funds does not go waste. The Water User Associations(WUAs) provided for the purpose have proved not effective in the prevailing situations. In five of the sample villages, no WUA was formed. Further, as per the Departmental view the proper functioning of WUAs need a separate legislative Act and till date no such Act could be passed by the State Legislative Assembly. The funds, as such, could not be released in favour of the WUAs under the component of maintenance and hence the activity could not taken up. 12. The field enquiry revealed that the Water User Associations were formed in 7 sample villages during the year 2007-08. Two WUA members from each Association aggregating to 14 were contacted and it was revealed by all the 14 members that they were taken on board in respect of Plan Formulation and selection of sites. They also admitted to had supervised over the execution of works programme in their area. The practical role entrusted to the Water User Associations as envisaged in the modalities of the programme also underline the need for formation of such Associations in other left-out villages also. 13. All 50 sample beneficiaries suggested that the scheme needs to be augmented and implemented in totality as per the provisions prescribed under the scheme. The assets created under the project were stressed to be looked after to make the programme result oriented and long-lasting for large interest of the targeted population. Contents Chapter No Description of Chapter Page No’s I Introduction 1 – 3 II Financial/Physical Progress 4 – 13 III Field Findings 14 – 37 IV Response of Implementing Deptt, 38 - 39 V Summary of Main Findings 40 - 43 Suggestions & Bottlenecks 44 – 45 Photographs 46 - 47 ____________ ____________________________________ _________ Chapter - I Introduction:- Agriculture is the key sector of J&K economy. 70% of the State’s population depends upon it directly or indirectly. Agriculture thus being a priority sector, various developmental schemes/programmes are presently in force at National/State level through different departments for development of agriculture land and increasing of agriculture production & productivity. Command Area Development Programme is also one of such programmes under implementation in the State. The Command Area Development Programme (CAD) was initiated in 1974-75 throughout the country as a Centrally Sponsored Programme with the objective to bridge the gap between the irrigation potential created & that utilized through micro level infrastructure development & efficient farm water management. The ultimate objective of the programme is to enhance agriculture production & productivity through an integrated coordinated approach with other line departments like Agriculture, Horticulture etc. in the irrigated commands, which would naturally lead to improvement in the socio-economic status of the farmers. There has been still noticed a gap of around 10 million hectares (Mha) between the irrigation potential created & that utilized in the country. The programme stands re-structured in April, 2004 with deletion of a few components & addition of some new components, renamed as Command Area Development & Water Management (CAD&WM) programme. It takes into consideration almost all aspects of the water resource management including development & management of irrigation system up stream of the outlets & below the outlets for scientific utilization of irrigation water through various developmental & management works. The Martand canal located in Anantnag District of J&K State is also one of the CAD projects taken up under centrally sponsored Command Area Development and Water Management Programme. The Martand Canal irrigation project also known as “Shah khul” is taking off from Lidder Nallah on the left side near village Ganeshpora at distance of 30 kms from Anantnag town. The canal is designed to discharge 13 cusec of water and is the only source of irrigation for the entire project area. The canal has a gross command area of 6882 hectares which includes 4337 hectares of cultivable command area having cropping pattern paddy, maize etc. as kharief crops