irrigation projects lying unused in Maharashtra - near 88 %

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According to Maharashtra's Economic Survey for 2014-15,out of the 70,000 small irrigation projects constructed in the state, only 12% have been utilised.The projects, worth Rs. 4,500 crore, have fallen into disrepair, as there is lack of expert staff to monitor them.

That is a pity, we have experts, do we lack political support?

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10 Answers

  1. Thanks everyone for your inputs and view..

  2. In my personal opinion, Most structures of Minor Irrigation schemes (e.g. small check dams of stone RR masonry, kuchha channels etc.), by the very nature of their design, can not last long. Their maintenance is as good as executing a new scheme. Designers must boldly state that this type of design shall last for, say 2 year or even 1 year. Instead of brushing things under carpet lets make a conscious decision.

  3. The things can not be generalised. Every project has to be examined and ways to bring it in proper order are to be find out. I have prepare guidelines that how to design and prepare minor irrigation projects is available at Government of Rajasthan web site http://waterresources.rajasthan.gov.in/6guidelines_index.asp . The problem is that the natural drainage channel lands are being used for construction , so that little water is available for storage. Local authorities do not have technical know how and funds to maintain dams and canals. In Karnataka also more than one thousand minor irriagtion dams have disaapeared due to construction activities.

  4. French English Hello Je pense que ce que dis Shrikant comme d'ailleurs Shankar n'est qu'un constat. Ces projets ont été élaborés par des experts et ils ont été approuvés. Ces experts ont élaborés ces projets dans leur généralité bien loin des problématiques de terrain. Au premier obstacle important, au premier imprévu, les projets étaient stoppés et bien vite abandonnés. Il s'est passé la même chose en Afrique sur de multiples projets qui à ce jour sont totalement abandonnés. Je pense que les seuls experts qui peuvent s'attribuer ce titre de noblesse sont les hommes de terrain que personne n'écoute plus depuis très longtemps. Ces gens de terrain sont l'intelligence économique d'un pays mais l'intelligentia s'est accaparé ce titre mais pas la fonction. L'intelligentia dit: qui quoi comment faire, mais ne sait pas faire. Nous sommes entré dans l'ÊRE des experts qui nous conduisent inévitablement vers la faillite des projets, de tous les projets. Quand une personne de terrain étudie un projet fais par ces experts, il se rend vite compte que ce projet est élaboré dans les grandes lignes et que l'accumulation d'imprévu vont rendre le projet inapplicable. L'expert ne saura pas répondre à l'imprévu qu'il ne connait pas, qu'il n'arrive pas à identifier et bien entendu à ne pas trouver de solution. Neha dit : nous avons des experts, devons nous avoir l'aide de la politique. Mais la politique n'est que le bras armé des experts. Aucun poltique n'abusera de son autorité contre l'homme de terrain qui lui dira que le projet ne peut aboutir faute de moyens. Par contre il n'ira pas non plus contre l'expert du projet qui finira par être abandonné par les deux parties, chacune pour ses raisons. Durant tout ce temps l'argent se dissipera car dans les livres de compte officiel il doit disparaître pour montrer que le projet à bien été lancé. Un mécanisme infernal English Hello I think that saying Shrikant Shankar as indeed is just a fact. These projects have been developed by experts and they have been approved. These experts have developed these projects in their generality far field problems. The first major obstacle, the first unexpected, projects were stopped and soon abandoned. It happened the same thing in Africa on multiple projects to date are totally abandoned. I think the only experts who can assign the title of nobility are the field workers that no longer listening for a long time. These field people are economic intelligence of a country but the intelligentsia has captured the title but not the function. The intelligentia said that what how to do, but does not know how. We are entering the era of the experts who will inevitably lead us to bankruptcy of projects, all projects. When a person studying a course project by doing these experts, he soon realizes that this project is developed in outline and the unexpected accumulation will make the project unworkable. The expert will not respond to the unexpected he does not know, he did not identify, and of course not to find a solution. Neha says, we have experts, we must have the help of politics. But politics is only the armed wing of the experts. No politician will abuse his authority against the practical man who will tell him that the project can succeed for lack of resources. By cons it does not go against the project expert who will eventually be abandoned by both parties, each for its own reasons. During that time the money will disappear because in the books of account official must disappear to show that the project successfully launched. An infernal mechanism

  5. Hello I think that saying Shrikant Shankar as indeed is just a fact. These projects have been developed by experts and they have been approved. These experts have developed these projects in their generality far field problems. The first major obstacle, the first unexpected, projects were stopped and soon abandoned. It happened the same thing in Africa on multiple projects to date are totally abandoned. I think the only experts who can assign the title of nobility are the field workers that no longer listening for a long time. These field people are economic intelligence of a country but the intelligentsia has captured the title but not the function. The intelligentia said that what how to do, but does not know how. We are entering the era of the experts who will inevitably lead us to bankruptcy of projects, all projects. When a person studying a course project by doing these experts, he soon realizes that this project is developed in outline and the unexpected accumulation will make the project unworkable. The expert will not respond to the unexpected he does not know, he did not identify, and of course not to find a solution. Neha says, we have experts, we must have the help of politics. But politics is only the armed wing of the experts. No politician will abuse his authority against the practical man who will tell him that the project can succeed for lack of resources. By cons it does not go against the project expert who will eventually be abandoned by both parties, each for its own reasons. During that time the money will disappear because in the books of account official must disappear to show that the project successfully launched. An infernal mechanism

  6. It is mostly because of Power Problems in Lift Irrigation Schemes and lack of Canal Network. At many places the Irrigation is after some length, and the canal stops at that point only. The lack of maintenance also is one of the major issues. Generally there is no proper funding for maintenance.

    1 Comment

    1. I have done work on canal improvements under Action Research Programme assisted by USAID. I have prepared a paper on this topic, which was also approved for poster presentation in 17th International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage,Granada, Spain 11-19 September 1999.  I have prepared the "Guidelines for Preparation of Project Estimates for Minor Irrigation Projects" This document  is available at Water Resources Department, Govt. of Rajasthan web site at web page http://waterresources.rajasthan.gov.in/6guidelines_index.asp  . The Minor Irrigation Projects and canal network can be improved using these two documents. If needed, I can help the Govt. of Maharastra in improving MIP and canal network.

  8. As a further observation after looking at the TOI report, the projects are mostly tiny ones involving check weirs, ponds to collect rainwater. Though Lift irrigation projects is also mentioned. For non-power use projects, either the designs were faulty or lack of maintenance or both. If the designs were right, maintenance cannot be complicated; such maintenance could be labour intensive and with availability of rural manpower with govt schemes meant to mitigate problems of rural unemployment could be utilised.

  9. Neha The figures you have mentioned is, to say the least shocking. Financial loss due to failed schemes is bad enough but what is worse is that thousands of acres of farm land For which the water was meant were deprived of irrigation. So much less agricultural output and so much more agony to the farmers. I presume the failed projects are lift irrigation projects using electric pump sets. Normally, irrigation projects using gravity flow from tanks, both minor and major do not fail. My business has been installation of pumping machinery for lift irrigation projects in Karnataka. I would be happy if you can provide the link/document where I can get more details. Shankar mallipatna Www.refurbindia.com

  10. The previous Gvernment in Maharshtra was famous for rampant corruption in irrigation sector. The projects are lying idle because of improper design, lack of maintenance, incomplete canal works, and lack of interest by the farmers. Actually the Projects were carried out not to give any positive results. The main purpose was to show expenses on paper and divert the funds to politicians and officers.