ABSTRACT
Participatory irrigation management (PIM) has emerged as a popular institutional approach worldwide for the efficient management of irrigation water and field structures of irrigation systems. These decentralized institutions emphasized the greater involvement of farmers and other stakeholders in the process of decision-making as well as management of irrigation water (Ostrom 1990; Vermillion 1997). Over the past few decades, the policy discourse in India too emphasized such decentralized management of water and promotion of PIM institutions. The National Water Policy 1987 for the first time advocated for the participation of users in the management of water resources. Subsequent policy changes in the centre as well as in the states have facilitated the emergence of water user associations (WUAs) as formal institutions for stakeholders involvement in addressing the problems related to operation and maintenance (O&M) of irrigation systems and low irrigation efficiency (Ghosh 2009; Marothia 2005; Parthasarathy 2000; Raju 2000). Several states have enacted legislations and as of 2008–9, there were 56,539 WUAs covering an area of 13.156 million hectares (GoI 2009). Under this participatory regime, a part of the management responsibilities such as water delivery, canal maintenance and fixing the water fee are delegated to the WUAs, while the authority of final approval of O&M plans and budgets lies with the government. The extent of delegation varies across the states depending upon the policy of the respective states.
