Dynamics of Water Institutions and Agriculture under a South Indian Canal Irrigation System

The paper is about the water insecurity situation in an irrigation system, factors contributing to the scarcity condition, the role of institutions in reducing water insecurity and its impact of agriculture and livelihoods of poor. The paper also analyses the dynamics of these institutions over a period and their impact on agriculture and livelihoods. These observations are based on a study of a canal irrigation system in South India in 1980s and a re survey of it after a period of 15 years. The study rests on the premise that irrigation institutions and their role in management are significantly conditioned by the agricultural and socio-economic environment especially caste and class of the region. Maintenance of irrigation structures and regulation of water supply to tanks under large-scale irrigation system is fully the responsibility of the State. However the State is not able to undertake these functions efficiently due to its own constraints. Hence local level irrigation organisations undertake maintenance like cleaning and de silting of channels, which bring water to their tanks. Though the State is not able to regulate water to the tanks properly, local institutions themselves undertake such tasks. Collective action both in the appropriation of water from the main canal and allocation of water at the local / tank level is quite significant. These organizations called panchayat have well defined structures, rules and functionaries. The members of the panchayat are generally farmers with relatively larger land holdings and community influence in the village. They are assisted by professional watermen and watchmen, appointed during every irrigation season and paid through the farmers' contribution. Thus collective action as regards functions of water management is quite significant and brought substantial benefits to farmers including small in terms of access to water and productivity gains from irrigation. Had there not been such institutional arrangements there would have been substantial losses to farmers (especially poor) because of overall reduction in the quantum of water in the system due to the inter-state river water dispute and the increased problems due to encroachment and alkalinity of soils.Though there has been a significant change in the land control, the villagers continue to show interest in collective action as majority of their livelihood depends upon agriculture for which irrigation is the basis. Not only irrigation but also the very life of villagers depends upon cooperation among themselves for the fear of subordination by the dominant castes. The continued presence of irrigation institutions and their role in water management and other village affairs point to the fact that pessimism expressed on collective action by theorists of `tragedy of commons' like Hardin, and Gordon is exaggerated.The resurvey shows that irrigation systems do not exist as blue prints but continue to undergo changes in which institutions are important. Though there are many changes in irrigation and agriculture, caste as an institution continues to play an important role in irrigation and other village affairs.