Warabandi in 's Canal Irrigation Systems Widening Gap between Theory and Practice

D.J. Bandaragoda and Saeed ur Rehman

INTERNATIONAL IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE IIMI Country Paper, Pakistan No.7

Warabandi in Pakistan's Canal Irrigation Systems

I' I! Bandaragoda, OJ.; Saeed ur Rehman. 1995. Warabandi in Pakistan's canal irrigation systems: Widening gap between theory and practice. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Irrigation Management Institute. pp. xx, 89. (IIMI Country Paper, Pakistan No.7)

/ irrigation scheduling / irrigation systems / irrigation canals / water rights / social aspects / economic aspects / watercourses / water supply / equity / water distribution / water users' associations / Pakistan / /

DOC: 631.7 ISBN: 92-9090-169-1

IIMI's Country Papers comprise a series of papers for each country where IIMI maintains a collaborating field operations activity. These papers record the results ofresearch conducted by IIMI's Country Programs in consultation with their National Consultative Committees. Country Papers are intended principally for national rather than international audiences.

IIMI welcomes comments on this paper, which should be sent either to IIMI or to the authors at the foIlowing address:

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Responsibility for the contents of this paper rests with the authors. All rights reserved.

Cover photograph by D.J. Bandaragoda: Farmer diverting water from the watercourse at the beginning of his warabandi turn.

I! ] Contents

Figures VII

Tables ix

Foreword XI

Acknowledgements xiii

Glossary . xv

Executive Summary XIX

Chapter 1. Introduction .1

Chapter 2. Study Description .7 Rationale of the Study .7 Description of Field Studies .9

Chapter 3. Warabandi in Theory. .. 17 Meaning of Warabandi ... 17 Kachcha Warabandi and Pucca Warabandi 19 Objectives ofWarabandi ...... 20 Calculation ofWarabandi Schedules. . 22 Warabandi as Part of the Legal System 22 Warabandi as Part of the Local Culture 24

Chapter 4. Changes in the Warabandi Environment 29 Variability in Design-Related Water Allowances 29 Flow Variability at Distributary Head .. 32 Flow Variability at Watercourse Head. . 35 Flow Variability within the Watercourse 44

Chapter 5. Warabandi in Practice ...... 47 Official, Agreed and Actual Warabandi . 47 Official Warabandi Representing Water Rights 48 Agreed Warabandi Representing Group Consensus 50

v vi Contents

Actual Warabandi Representing Reality on Ground . 51 Variability in Water Allocations .... 52 Khal BharailNikal Allowances ..... 55 Deviations from Warabandi Schedules. 56 Deviations from Warabandi Traditions 58

Chapter 6. Discussion: The Myth and Reality of Warabandi 65 Supply Variability and Demand Responses ... " 65 Changed Socioeconomic Conditions ...... " 68 Major Reasons for Deviations from Official Warabandi 69

Chapter 7. Conclusions and Recommendations 71

References 73

Annexes 77 Figures

Figure 1. Availability of Indus Basin water for canals .2 Figure 2. Map of Pakistan indicating study sites ... 10 Figure 3. Location map of the Lower Chenab Canal System 11 Figure 4. Location map of the FordwahlEastern Sadiqia System 12 Figure 5. Average actual discharge as percentage ofdesign discharge, kharif 1993, ( and Karkan Minor) ...... 34 Figure 6. Average actual discharge as percentage ofdesign discharge, kharif 1993, (Pir Mahal and Junejwala Minor) .. 35 Figure 7. Daily discharge in 24R of Mananwala . 40 Figure 8. Daily discharge in 7lR of Mananwala . 40 Figure 9. Daily discharge in 121R of Mananwala 41 Figure 10. Daily discharge in 43R of Mananwala . 41 Figure 11. Daily discharge in 87R of Mananwala 42 Figure 12. Daily discharge in 70R of Pir Mahal . 42 Figure 13. Daily di