Participatory Irrigation Management: A Case Study of the Waghad Project, Maharashtra State, India
Ms. Shivani Sangle
Student, Master of Arts (Economics), Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune– 411004, M.S, India Email: 84shivanisangle@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
In this paper, an attempt has been made to study community participation in irrigation water management for sustainability of the farming business in the state of Maharashtra, India. Waghad irritation project has been selected for detailed investigation. Waghad irrigation project is located in the tribal area of Nashik district of Maharashtra, India. Waghad irrigation project is a unique case in which complete control of management, operation and maintenance has been transferred to the federation formed by 24 WUAs existing in this project. This federation is the apex organization called Waghad Project Level Water Users’ Association (WPLWUA). The study reveals that the cluster of WUAs of Waghad project is supplying equitable, judicious, timely and assured water to farming community which is the result of an innovative and sustainable irrigation management transfer. It builds up a sense of responsibility amongst the farming community. The assured water supply has an in built incentive to promote micro irrigation techniques, which has led to improvement in water use efficiency as well as crop productivity in the command area of the project. Waghad model of community participation in irrigation water management is very successful and have got several state and national level awards for participatory irrigation management, operation and maintenance of irrigation system in India.
Keywords: Participation irrigation management,Water Users’ Association, Waghad Irrigation Project
DOI link – https://doi.org/10.69758/GIMRJ/25040401V13P0006
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