Though the proposal to transfer power has been approved in principle (see box: Government notification ), the July 2002 deadline is as yet tentative, says Shukla. "The government is looking at logistics and imparting training to farmers to raise awareness levels," he adds. For this purpose, the services of Aurangabad-based Water and Land Management Institute (walmi) are being utilised. soppecom secretary K L Joy says, " walmi calls us for lectures, but that is not enough."
According to Shukla, the government will initially help local bodies in decision-making and gradually withdraw from active participation. Farmers would be in charge of future maintenance through a consolidated fund created with contributions. Under the programme, the cooperative and the irrigation department will have a joint fixed deposit bank account. Ninety per cent of the contribution will be made by the irrigation department, while the cooperative would put in 10 per cent of the funds. The interest generated will be used for maintenance and administrative works. The cash-strapped administration is holding informal discussions with the World Bank (wb) for assistance to meet its share of the financial commitment. "This suggests it's a wb-driven project, not a government one," says economist R K Patil, who is also working with soppecom.
Equitable allocation of water is a prerequisite for optimising usage. To ensure this, cooperatives hold a meeting of the beneficiaries where issues such as the quantity and price of water are decided. About 15 to 16 cooperatives under a farmers' association discuss the requirements from a single project. After the proposal is passed it goes to the irrigation department, which releases the required water.
The government is planning to adopt the command area management development subsidy scheme for the state. As efficiency increases, subsidies and incentives are introduced. "If a cooperative pays the bill on time, it will get a subsidy of 5 per cent," reveals Shukla. Elaborating on the format, Joy says, "Apart from the 5 per cent discount that the government offers, cooperatives have a provision for a 20 per cent reduction in the wholesale rate subject to wise use of water." About 15 per cent of water goes to women's groups and landless labourers who can take tracts on lease. For non-members, the society can charge up to 30 per cent extra to sell water.
Water is given for a period of eight months. Its supply can, however, be staggered over the whole season. It is distributed first to tail-end farmers (those whose fields are located farthest from the feeder source).
The question of water getting diverted during a lean season is a major cause for concern. Bharat Kavale, a pioneer of the Nasik-Ozhar works, takes government officials' assurance on judicious supply of water with a pinch of salt. "During a drought, there is large-scale channelling of water for industrial and drinking water purposes at the cost of irrigation," he laments.
To manage the overall distribution, laws are being framed. The Irrigation Act will be modified within the next couple of months, reveal official sources. Certain rules are already in place. The society is vested with the power to impose and collect fines.
But Patil says that the government has rejected by-laws suggested on the basis of experiments. For now, there is also no proper monitoring of the cooperatives' activities.
Maharashtra is on the threshold of a new era where power is percolating down to the grassroots. If successful, the model could be emulated nationwide. And the faucet turned on to end farmers' water woes.