| Introductory In the Ninth
Five Year Plan, it has been stressed on completion of all on going,
major and medium irrigation schemes. Priority has also been accorded
on maintaining continuity of necessary alterations in the meaningful
consumption of available irrigation potential. For this, a
multi-faceted approach has been planned.
Irrigation Management and Maintenance services have
been developed for this purpose. The management works include,
estimate of water accumulation in the reservoir, planning of water
distribution, to receive applications for water, their scrutiny and
give sanction etc. Besides, inquiry and checking of unauthorized
irrigation, crop survey, and assessment of water rate are also
included.
In order to maintain equality in water distribution to
the irrigation, active water supply system has been adopted. This
System is also known as “Varabandhi”. For that minor structural change
is required in the present public system. For the effective
implementation of this system, quantity of water is measured on outlet
by volumetric system.
Concerned executive Engineer is the Chief Controller of
irrigation management. Generally one division include 60,000 hectare
area and this division included four to five sub-division covering
14000 to 16000 hectare area.
Along with the operationalization of irrigation scheme
for practical benefits, advisory committee is appointed in the
concerned area. Generally concerned Executive Engineer remains the
Chairman of that committee. But in case of major projects, the
superintendent Engineer has taken the chair.
Executive Engineer and Dy. Executive Engineer inspect
in command area in the scheduled time. Besides, surprise checking also
takes place. Irrigation rates are old for agriculture purpose and then
are since June 15, 1981. Group formed to study water rated has given
its formed to study water rates has given its report and
water rates
have been revised.
Water section of farmers, small farmers marginal
farmers etc. are not capable to construct field channel in their
farms. It has been started to this water supply center to 8 hectare
square area from present 40 hectare square center, which will help
small farmers to increase extension management expenditure up to 5 to
8 hectare square in the respective project expenditure. Irrigation
maintenance service include desilting canals, earthwork of canals and
lining work etc. Meshvo reservoir scheme and Sabarmati left bank canal
scheme reform works have been completed by the assistance of World
Bank under National Water Management.
Survey to crop, harvested by the benefit of irrigation
is undertaken in the season. Bills are prepared after survey. Before
1st August 1990, recovery procedure of irrigation department was with
the District Panchayat. Now, this recovery procedure has been taken up
by Water Resources Department.
By the end of June ` 99 irrigation potential was
generated for 36.43 lakh hectare by major and medium irrigation
schemes and maximum utilization was upto 30.95 lakh hectare.
In the completed irrigation projects, all the planned
area of Mahi, Ukai-Kakrapar command area is not available for
irrigation. These issues have been created due to grass land, fallow
land, fields without field channels and unleveled land. To redress
this issue, work have been entrusted to the concerned Area Development
Authority. Recently three Area Development Authority are working in
the state.
Barring these two projects, there is no remarkable
difference between available command area of irrigation project and
irrigation consumption. Never the less, in order to avail the maximum
benefit by achieving the consumption equal to available irrigation
potential, co-operative societies have been set up to be partner in
water consumption and irrigation management. 39 societies have been
set up in Ukai, Kakrapar area. Though recovery is due, series of steps
have been planned such as to accept application for water, to start
area development works, to inspect irrigation consumption, to seek the
service of high level committee.
Besides, important training oriented services have been
started at Vadod situated near Anand by Water and Land Management
Institution. This institute works to impart training scientifically
the employees engaged in the work of irrigation water distribution.
National Productivity Council had conferred first and
second best prizes for are state’s two schemes viz: Urban and Mahi
right bank canal scheme for the best working for irrigation field
development and irrigation schemes in the year 1990-1991. Even for the
year 1991-1992 state’s two irrigation schemes viz: Ukai Kakdapar and
Moj irrigation scheme were conferred second best prize and merit
certificate by National Productivity Council. For the year 1992-93,
Aj-2 irrigation scheme, Mahi right bank stage-1 and Dantiwada
reservoir scheme were conferred best, second best and maerit
certificates respectively. For the year 1993-94, Dantiwada reservoir
scheme was conferred the best award, weir 1 and 2 irrigation scheme
and Vatrak reservoir scheme the second best and Mahi Kadana stage-1
irrigation scheme the best merit certificate awards. For the year
1994-95. Ukai Kakrapar scheme has received award and Mahi statge-1 the
merit certificate. For the year 1995-96 Ukai Kakrapar scheme were
conferred the best award and Mahi stage-1, the merit certificate. In
the year 1996-97, Und-1 irrigation scheme was conferred the best award
and Bhadar irrigation scheme the second best award. In 1997-98,
Chhaparwadi-2 was conferred the best award and Karmal irrigation
scheme the merit certificate. For the year 1998-99, Chhaparwadi-1
scheme was conferred the best award, Khodiyar irrigation scheme the
second best award and Aji-2 irrigation scheme the merit certificate. | 
