Madhya Pradesh - Reforms

Madhya Pradesh Adopts PIM Reforms

The state of Madhya Pradesh in India has embarked on an ambitious program of irrigation management transfer. In many respects, the reform in Madhya Pradesh (M.P.) is an adaptation of the successful reform that has been going on in the state of Andhra Pradesh since 1996.

With a view to empower farmers, the Government of Madhya Pradesh has enacted legislation called the M.P. PIM Act of 1999. Detailed rules have been framed for the functioning of Water User Associations (WUAs) and the Irrigation Department.  On April 18, 2000, democratic elections were held to form WUAs.  A total of 2,416 WUAs were constituted, covering an area of 270,000 hectares. WUAs have been delineated on a hydraulic basis and subdivided into territorial constituencies (TCs).  A territorial constituency is a part of the command area of a WUA. It may contain 5 to 6 outlets, each irrigating an area of about 100 ha.

Table 1. WUAs created in Madhya Pradesh

Each WUA may have four or more territorial constituencies to ensure equity in distribution of water and taking up maintenance works.

Of the 2,371 presidents elected, 579 were elected unopposed. Out of the 14,356 territorial constituency members, 11,252 were elected unopposed. A detailed training programme for WUA presidents and TC members has been organized and is being contemplated as a continuous program.

The State has tripled the water charges to farmers growing paddy (rice) as follows (Indian Rupees, 50 Rs./US $):

Table 2. Increase in water charge following reform

An ad-hoc O&M grant of Rs. 50 per hectare has been sanctioned by the government to take up maintenance works for FY 2000-2001.

Madhya Pradesh is the largest state in India, with an area of 44.3 million hectares (ha).  Its irrigable area is estimated at 10.1 million ha.  The state has created an irrigation potential of 3.3 million ha, of which 1.9 million ha is being utilized. Irrigation reform is one of a number of ambitious reforms launched by the government under the dynamic leadership of the Chief Minister Mr. Dig Vijay Singh.