COLLECTIVE ACTION OF IRRIGATORS IN INDIAN CANAL IRRIGATION

Collective Action of Irrigators in Indian Canal Irrigation

Collective Action of Irrigators in Indian Canal Irrigation

Introduction

South India has an estimated 140,000 water distribution tanks which have been the basis of the irrigation system for centuries. Over time and modernization, most have fallen into disuse. Because of poor maintenance, the area irrigated by tanks has increased from 4.78 million hectares to 3.07 million between 1960 and 1990 even as new reservoirs were constructed during this period. The share of reservoirs in the net irrigated area increased from 18.5% in 1960-61 to only 7% in 1990-91 throughout India, and 38% to 23% in Tamil Nadu. In this state, some reservoirs are still functioning, others are rehabilitated. Most of these reservoirs that water distribution channels are dilapidated and have their capacity for collecting and carrying water reduced for several reasons: illegal occupations, land under contract, invasion of vegetation, agricultural activities in the reservoir area, siltation and breaches in the canal banks.

Discussion

Reservoir, natural or manmade, contains water and has banks (bund) in the ground.  Shells simple, with an area less than 40 hectares, is fed by rainfall and low storage capacity. Complex reservoirs are fed by river water and the flow of rainwater through diversion dams, canals and power flows on the surface. They can be connected to cascade where the water reservoir discharges into an upper reservoir below. Some of these chains of tanks now operate in isolation. They irrigate many ayacut (irrigated agricultural areas) spread over several villages and administrative areas. The region that lies at the end of a reservoir watershed is the next tank. A reservoir dam has a surplus that allows excess water to drain to prevent cracking of banks (bund). Locks bring water from the reservoir into the main irrigation canal. In an ayacut, water is supplied to the fields from the main channel via small secondary channels.

Other system components, which make it one of the oldest ecosystems, include bodies of water, the tank structure, the distribution lines, wells, wetlands, semi-humid lands fed by reservoirs, soils, plants, animals, birds and fish. Initially, these tanks cultural significance were maintained and managed by village institutions highly organized. Social activities of management and maintenance have survived for thousands of years before the colonial administration is required. Then the Government of independent India followed the colonial legacy with a central control. Local people have lost interest in the reservoirs and, the situation is becoming worrying. However, isolated efforts have been made to preserve them.

Problem of Water Distribution in Canal Irrigation

The irrigation and drainage systems manage water resources to promote agricultural production. The impacts depend on the type of irrigation, water distribution (surface or underground), its storage form, the transmission and distribution systems, and methods of delivery or field application. But irrigation has some drawbacks. Badly managed, water is wasted and can lead to exhaustion, the drying up of lakes and rivers, exacerbating the term desertification. Irrigation can also be harmful to the soil. If they are too dry, they are nearly impervious to water infiltration is wrong and if water is abundant, it may stagnate ...