6.5.1.5.Operation below Outlets Operation downstream of outlets is the responsibility of individual farmers. However, for small farms, it is common practice to deliver water in bulk to water user groups which could be organised in either formal or informal way. The organisation and responsibility of each such groups and the rights and obligations of each member of the group should be clearly stated.
MANAGEMENT OF CANAL IRRIGATION IN INDIA
245
6.5.1.6.Typical Example of Operating Rules The operating rules to be included, but not limited to, for a canal irrigation system are as follows (29):
The control of the system upto outlets lies with the irrigation department.
Maximum water permissible, within the allocation, made by the State will be stored and diverted for irrigation.
Water will be supplied to all farmers in the command equitably, proportionate to their holding, as per availability.
Water will be delivered as per rotational water supply and schedules communicated to all concerned in advance.
Water will not be delivered to, nor will be supplied to any land not included in the project, by the project authorities.
Unexpected interruptions in service may occur due to breaches in canals etc., for which the users will not have any recourse for compensation.
During normal years of water availability, the water will be supplied generally at 14 days frequency to the farmers.
During scarcity years, the quantity of water supplied will be proportionate to availability. This will be done either by less number of turns or by reducing quantity supplied per turn or both. However, all beneficiaries in commissioned command area will be supplied with water.
The distributaries will run on 7-8 days ‘on’ and 7-8 days ‘off’ basis, to ensure that all farmers get at least one turn of irrigation during one ‘on’ period.
The farmers will take the water as per Warabandi schedules prepared on outlet basis. The period of water supply below outlet will be in proportion to the area of the holding bears to the total area under the outlet. The effective period of 168 hours will be apportioned to each holding in the same ratio. These timings and the order of getting water will remain fixed during the year and will be changed by 12 hours in the following year, in order to rotate the day and night irrigation supplies among farmers. The irrigation will have to be done round the clock.
When the water runs through the outlets, the farmers having their turn on that date and at that time will start irrigation in the sequential order. Otherwise, the defaulting farmer will lose the particular turn.
The schedules for water delivery will be prepared taking into account the general cropping pattern, sowing times and crop water requirements, and will not consider the crops grown by individual farmers and the area irrigated.
The schedules thus prepared at the beginning of the season will be rigidly followed and nobody from the operating staff, nor the farmers will be authorised to change, modify or alter the same, except that in times of heavy rainfall the supplies may be suitably reduced during the ‘on’ period for which no additional supply will be made during the following ‘off’ period and further that in special circumstances with prior consultation of standing sub-committee of the ICC/CADA board, the schedules may have to be changed.
In case of long dry spells in the command, efforts will be made by the management to supply more turns, if water is available in the reservoir and these will be communicated to the farmers at least 48 hours in advance.
246 IRRIGATION AND WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING
The farmers will be free to grow any crops (except those that are prohibited by the project authorities) and extend the irrigation to part or full area of their land within the water allocated to them.
Taking water unauthorizedly, out of turn and more in quantity by heading up the distributary, lateral, etc. will be considered as legal offence. No farmer will be authorized to tamper with the flows in distributaries/laterals/field channels.
Additional outlets will be permitted only upon the written orders of the Chief Engineer (O and M).
Irrigation supplies will generally begin from 1st June and will continue upto 7th March; with Kharif season from 1 June to 15 October and Rabi season from 6 October to 28/29 February.
During normal year, efforts will be made to provide 19 to 21 turns to all the farmers.
Every watering will provide 17 mm/ha of water for the CCA of each farm.
