Water Auditing for Irrigation Projects
E. B. PATIL Principal Secretary (WR) Water Resources Department Govt. of Maharashtra, India
India Water Week Delhi 10 April 2013
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Average precipitation 4000 BCM per annum in India. Nearly 75% of total average annual rainfall occurs in 4 months of monsoon. Variation in rainfall with respect to time and space . Demand for water is increasing due to population growth, improvement in living standards, increased reliance on irrigated agriculture, urbanization, industrialization etc.
Water audit is an effective management tool for minimizing losses, optimizing water uses and thus enabling conservation of water.
Water audit gives a detailed profile of the distribution system, thereby facilitating easier and effective management of the resources with improved reliability. It helps to diagnose the problems in management. It is also an effective tool for realistic understanding and assessment of the present performance level.
Central Water Commission issued “General Guidelines for Water Audit” in 2005.
Irrigation is the major consumer of water, accounting for about 80 percent of the total water utilization. Even a marginal improvement in the efficiency of water use in irrigation sector will result in saving of substantial quantity of water. Record of rainfall, water received and drawn from the reservoir and its use, crops grown, area irrigated etc.
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The benefits of water audit include improved knowledge and documentation of the distribution system including problem and risk areas. Water auditing will lead to: a) an efficient use of available water resources, b) reduced water losses, c) transparency in overall process, d) accountability of field officers e) an enhanced knowledge of the distribution system, f) improved level of service to customers.
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Online submission of data & accounts is possible by using software designed for the purpose. Seasonal and Annual water accounts can be generated by compilation of the data. Publication of annual water audit reports will bring transparency in irrigation management.
WATER AUDITING IN MAHARASHTRA .
Comprehensive water accounting method devised, with water accounting at project level as well as at last manageable unit i.e. section office level.
The water use efficiency arrived is compared with the targeted one.
Water Audit Report published since 2003-04 which is first such attempt in the country.
Maharashtra is the first State in the country which is regularly publishing Report on BM and WA .
For effective implementation of WA and BM , an independent organisation is set up .
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State Governments may include the subject in their State Water Policies to have commitment towards improvement of performance of water resources projects. State may form Water Audit Cells in order to institutionalise the methodology. The Project Authorities will maintain the water accounts and water audit units can be given the responsibility of carrying out the water audit.
THANK YOU www.mahawrd.org
Improvement in Water Use Efficiency Sr.
Year
No
Designed water storage Mm3
Water % Water used availability available for on 15 Oct. storage with irrigation Mm3 designed Mm3
Irrigated area on canal Lakh Ha
Irrigated area on (Canal & Wells) Lakh Ha
Water use efficiency (canal) Ha/Mm3
1
2001-02
28062
17817
63
12346
12.50
17.08
101
2
2002-03
28715
18936
66
12965
13.18
18.42
102
3
2003-04
28840
16941
59
10569
12.44
16.85
118
4
2004-05
28889
18298
63
10603
12.59
16.99
119
5
2005-06
29110
24860
85
13689
16.17
22.14
118
6
2006-07
29531
27309
92
20192
18.35
26.81
110
7
2007-08
29115
25489
88
19445
18.97
27.64
98
8
2008-09
33071
24803
75
18486
18.25
27.32
99
9
2009-10
33211
19366
58
12113
16.59
25.43
137
10
2010-11
33385
27309
82
15447
18.41
29.55
119
Improvement in Financial Performance
Maharashtra has increased water charges to meet 100% O&M cost, with an in-built provision of 15% increase per year Impact of increase in water rates and recovery drive can be seen from following table
Sr. No.
Year
Total Irrigation Assessment
Total Recovery
% of Recovery with O&M Cost
4.54
O&M Cost (Establishment + M&R) 4.5
1
2001-02
2.52
56
2
2002-03
4.44
3.7
3.78
102
3
2003-04
4.53
3.33
3.79
114
4
2004-05
4.97
3.76
4.48
119
5
2005-06
4.18
4.53
4.13
91
6
2006-07
4.99
4.16
4.95
118
7
2007-08
6.74
4.66
6.27
134
8
2008-09
8.08
5.55
6.73
121
9
2009-10
8.11
7.09
8.03
113
10
2010-11
7.67
7.45
7.46
100
• O&M cost is fully recovered consistently through recovery of water charges, which is a step in the direction of sustainable development. • It is first such example in the country