1. Department of Water Resources, Govt. of Odisha
Empowering and Strengthening Pani Panchayats for Community Based Water Management
Mr Pradeep Jena, IAS,
Principal Secretary, Department of Water Resources (DoWR), Government of Odisha
Conserving Now, Preserving Future

2. Water stress and climate change
Department of Water Resources, Govt. of Odisha
Water stress and climate change
High monsoon variability, reduced no. of rainy days, recurrent drought and flood. Almost 46.8 % BPL population are chronically food insecure.
Odisha has AAR of 1482 mm from which 47 % is available for usage.
Ground water pumping scenario is expected to increase by % per annum.
The number of families required to fetch drinking water has increased from 32.5 % (2001) to 38.5 % (2011) [Odisha Census Report].
By Mid Century: South Western Odisha Districts are likely to be highly water stressed/food insecure:
Nuapada, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Malkangiri, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Bolangir, Boudh, Sonepur, Nabrangpur,
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3. What is a Pani Panchayat
Department of Water Resources, Govt. of Odisha
What is a Pani Panchayat
Participatory irrigation management (PIM) was introduced in under the banner of Farmers Organization.
PIM activities success led to its extension to all commands.
In 2000 water user association has been renamed as Pani Panchayat.
It is a community of water users owning land within a hydrologically delineated portion of the Irrigation command area
Key objective is equitable distribution of irrigation water to all stakeholders
Key focus:
Equity
Efficiency
Sustainability
Self governance
Unified platform to reduce food and water sector vulnerability to build resilience
Agriculture and horticulture
Fishery
Animal Husbandry
Participatory Research
Development
Partners (local and INGOs, bi-multilateral agencies)
Co-management
Public-private community partnership
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4. Why farmers led water management?
Department of Water Resources, Govt. of Odisha
Why farmers led water management?
Before
Gap in IPC & IPU is large - about 20-24%
Irrigation System maintenance poor due to resource crunch/ manpower shortages in Government
Over use of water leading to water shortages for the tail end farmers
Lack of ownership of water resources both by Government Engineers & Farmers
Stakeholders involvement in other sectors significantly improved governance and management of resources & programmes
After
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5. Department of Water Resources, Govt. of Odisha
Objective
To create a feeling of unity and brotherhood among fellow farmers and also to visualize the created irrigation potentials as their own rather than that of Govt.
Diversified cropping programme in order to get better returns of their investments with reduced risks.
Higher cropping intensity by economical use of water.
Help members in getting credit, agriculture inputs like seeds, fertiliser, plant protection chemicals etc.
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6. Legal Framework Before 2002 2002 2003 2008
Department of Water Resources, Govt. of Odisha
Legal Framework
Now PPs are being formed by conducting election through a democratic process
Oct PPs formed in Major , Medium, Minor & Lift Irrigation projects.
Will start taking into account crop-water productivity and co management principles
Odisha PP act was promulgated in Nov 2002
Odisha PP Act has been amended to make it more inclusive
Before 2002
2002
2003
2008
PPs used to be registered under society registration act of 1860
Rules for the PP Act were framed and implemented in Apr 2003
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7. Structure of Farmer Organizations - Odisha
Medium PC PP
Minor
L.I
Major DC CC
STATE LEVEL COMMITTEE
CC : Chak Committee PP: Pani Panchayat DC: Distributary Committee PC: Project Committee
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8. All Women Pani Panchayat – Aunli Medium Scheme
Department of Water Resources, Govt. of Odisha
Key Guiding Principles
All farmers are members in PPs
Equal Voting Rights irrespective of holding sizes
Representation equally from upper, middle & lower (tail end) farming clusters
1/3rd women’s representation in PP Executive Body
Non- landed, Fishers also represented in the Executive Body
Government Engineers represented without Voting Right
Equitable distribution of water for maximizing irrigation coverage with a view to maximizing income to maximum number of farmers
All Women Pani Panchayat – Aunli Medium Scheme
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9. Key Empowering Principles
Department of Water Resources, Govt. of Odisha
Key Empowering Principles
No water intensive crops can be grown. Crops requiring too high quantity of water should not be grown.
Cropping patterns be decided by mutual consultation in the group & with Apex PP.
Water rights are not attached to land rights. They cannot be alienated. Fishers and other dependant stakeholders also have right including livestock for whom dead storage to be maintained.
Small lift irrigation schemes are built by joint efforts of farmers for common benefit.
Conjunctive use of surface & ground water to maximise irrigation efficiency.
PP to support Livelihoods of non-landed households as compensation/ trade off.
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10. Key empowering principles
Department of Water Resources, Govt. of Odisha
Key empowering principles
Water taxes to be paid by all members in 2 instalments each year by the dates fixed by consensus failing which water supply will be cut off.
All equipment connected with the project be kept with the "Pani Panchayat". Money obtained from the taxes be deposited in an account in the project's name and all claims on the project be paid by the "Pani Panchayat".
The "Pani Panchayat" has the right to appoint workers/staff for the maintenance of the project and to decide on an honorarium payable to them.
A meeting of all the members be held twice a month. At these meeting problems faced by members in getting water be resolved by all the members in accordance with the rules also disciplinary issues to be discussed and conflicts will be resolved.
The operation and management of the project and distribution of water and monitoring of crops is the joint responsibility of the members.
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11. Department of Water Resources, Govt. of Odisha
How Was it Achieved?
Paradigm Shift from Handing Over of Irrigation Assets to Pani Panchayats to Taking over of assets by Pani Panchayats
Involving Pani Panchayats in all components - Tank System improvement, Institutional Strengthening, Agri-Horti- Fishery-Agri Marketing Support services and Project Management.
Engineering Saturation of structural works to minimize burden on Pani Panchayats in initial years ( Corpus is low)
Participatory Walk Through & Visioning workshops
Tank Level Trainings to Pani Panchayat representatives & farmers, multi disciplinary district and cluster teams, to hand hold Pani Panchayats in initial years
Capacity Building for Engineers for change in attitudes
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12. Support to Pani Panchayats
Department of Water Resources, Govt. of Odisha
Support to Pani Panchayats
Construction of PP office building - Govt. is providing assistance of Rs.3.00 lakhs per PP for construction of office building to the best performing PPs annually.
Procurement of paddy - As per decision of Govt. PPs are involved in procurement of paddy & selling it to FCI
Training & Workshop - Training programmes for capacity building of PPs & Departmental officials have been conducted by WALMI for skill development on different aspects like: Water Management, PP Office Management , Conflict resolution & Record keeping.
Training-cum-Exposure visit - Training-cum-Exposure visits for office bearers & farmers to outside state have been organized to gather first hand information & observe best practices adopted by farmers/ farmer organisations of other states on different aspects.
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13. Support to Pani Panchayats
Department of Water Resources, Govt. of Odisha
Support to Pani Panchayats
Training programme on climate change - Training programme on Climate Change have been organized through RKVY, PPSU for creating awareness of Pani Panchayat.
Pani Panchayat Fortnight Celebration in all Divisions, Districts & State Level every year from 15th January to 30th January.
Mass Awareness through Information, Education & Communication (IEC) Activities –
In order to operationalise different concepts/ themes with a view to create mass awareness among the general public and farming community the following IEC activities have been taken up :
Advertisement & public message through News paper , Magazine & wall painting
Telecasting of panel discussion of Experts through Door Darshan
Broadcasting of Pani Panchayat Katha through All India Radio
Street play/Pala
Organization of Essay competition among the school & college students on water issue
Gramsat Programme
Publication of Pani Panchayat Samachar on quarterly basis & distributed to PPs
Publication of IEC material (leaflets, broachers, news letters )
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14. `
Department of Water Resources, Govt. of Odisha
Rabi Sunei
Tail end irrigation first – decision taken by the Project committee
No Paddy cultivation only cash crops like pulses, oilseeds and vegetables
Drought like situation – saved water in last Kharif and achieved about 2500 ha
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15. Example of Change: Collective Marketing of Rabi Crops, Sunei
Department of Water Resources, Govt. of Odisha
Example of Change: Collective Marketing of Rabi Crops, Sunei
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16. Present Status of Pani Panchayats in Odisha
Department of Water Resources, Govt. of Odisha
Present Status of Pani Panchayats in Odisha
Sl. No.
Category of the Project
Number of PPs (Programmed)
Area in ha. (Programmed)
No. of PPs (Formed)
Area in ha. (Formed PP)
No. of PPs (Handed over)
Area in ha. (Handed over) 1
Major & Medium
2632
2448
1863
786302 2
Minor
2877
384437
1883
325831 3
Lift Irrigation
20871
460132
20127
444930
Total
26380
24458
23873
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17. Department of Water Resources, Govt. of Odisha
Learnings
Recognise PPs as Co-Owners of Irrigation Assets for planning, management & operation
Account Support Organization to train PP functionaries in accounts management
Exposure visit to Auroville / other projects/ states
Standardized PP operators training on O&M
314 PP delegated powers to collect and retain water tax
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18. Future Direction Elections through Independent Election Commission
Department of Water Resources, Govt. of Odisha
Future Direction
Elections through Independent Election Commission
Refining PP Act towards further empowerment of Pani Panchayats
Capacity building of PPs (50,000 farmers training, Apex PP Learning Centers, Strengthening WALMI, KVK, Continuous Coordination between PPs & Water Resources and Agriculture departments at field level)
Development of PPs as self reliant , Multi functional Business entities
De- mystifying and enforcing Water Use Efficiency ( Water Management Game)
Resilience to Climate Change
Basin Management
Social Engineering skill for Engineers
Decentralised Management of all Irrigation Assets through PPs
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19. Thank You Mr. Pradeep Kumar Jena Principal Secretary
Department of Water Resources, Govt. of Odisha `
Thank You
Mr. Pradeep Kumar Jena
Principal Secretary
Department of Water Resources
Government of Odisha
Conserving Now, Preserving Future