The week long pani panchayat programme which has started since 16 January to create awareness among farmers appeared to be a meaningless exercise as farmers are completely disinterested. Pani Panchayat is a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 consisting of all the farmers within the command of a minor or sub-minor canal, or of a Lift Irrigation Point.
The rights and responsibilities of the PP have been governed by an agreement between the PP and the Department of Water resources. There are 131 numbers of PPs in Jagatsinghpur district including 75 under Machgaon Canal system of Jagatsinghpur irrigation division and 56 under Taladanda canal system.
Election of executive body of 49 PPs have not been completed due to lack of willingness of farmers, political party leader’s interference, negligence of officials and lack of knowledge about PP. Efficient use of available water has become extremely important so the Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) has an important role to play. Under PP programme, it has been decided to hand over a part of the network of the canal system/irrigation system for its operation and maintenance (O&M) to the farmers or the beneficiaries through the “Pani Panchayats” (Water User Associations) or WUAs.
President of WUA of Balikuda block Mr Prakash Ray said “the formation of PP is only on pen and paper, everyone knows this and though the PP has powers to ensure construction and repair etc, work orders are given to contractors chosen by the administration or the political leader”. Narrating the ground reality, Ray said since the year WUA was formed, responsibilities fixed etc ,nothing has been handed over as far as operation, maintenance of canals, removal of silt, repair etc. We exist only on pen and paper, he added.
There is also provision to provide Rs 100 every year per hector towards grant-in aid for repairing and renovation of irrigation system but this grant in aid has not been given to WUA from last three years. Hundreds of PPs are working but they have not been involved in paddy procurement, collection of water rates from the members/nonmembers of the association as per the rate prescribed by the Government and not to hand other responsibilities as per the guidelines of Pani Panchyat Act 2002.
Both government and district administration have failed in implementing Pani Panchayats. Local farmers said pani panchayats were to involve us in better water management practices but the government continues to call the shots through hand picked contractors. Executive Engineer, Jagatsinghpur irrigation division Mr Umakant Mohanty said ‘election of 23 out of 75 PPs have not yet been completed for various reason and corrective measures for effective maangement of irrigation systems have been initiated”.