Evaluation of Impacts of Rabi Irrigation in Ganga River sub-basins of Madhya Pradesh (PDS NO: NIH-1_2016_1)

Abstract

Madhya Pradesh has seen remarkable growth in the irrigation and agricultural sectors over the last decade. The state needs to keep the same pace of development more consistent and sustainable. Thus it is imperative to evaluate the irrigation schemes in terms of their impacts on hydrology, agricultural production, economy, and society. This can also be achieved through the formulation of strategies based on the performance evaluation of irrigation schemes. It involves the use of suitable comparative indicators, measuring its performance, and comparing with the best practices, identifying bottlenecks, constraints, managerial laps, and other grey areas in the system. It is an important management tool to improve water use efficiency and financial viability along with the adoption of best management practices and environmental sustainability of the irrigated agricultural system. It will help to formulate a direction for improvement in strategies to reap the full benefits of an irrigation system on a long-term basis. In the present Purpose Driven Study (PDS), the impact evaluation analysis of rabi irrigation has been carried out for a minor irrigation project Jajon and major irrigation projects Kotwal-Pilowa and Samrat Ashok Sagar in Madhya Pradesh. The performance evaluation analysis has been carried out for eight medium and minor irrigation projects namely Kotwal-Pilowa dam, Doraha dam, Naren Dam, Mala dam, Kaketo, Lilgi dam, Umrar, and Jajon dam. These dams are located in the major tributaries of the Ganga and Yamuna basins such as Betwa, Chambal, Dhasan, Ken, Son, tone, and Sindh. Nine comparative indicators classified into four groups, Agricultural, Economic, Water-use, and Physical performance as suggested by IWMI, Sri Lanka were used for the analysis. The main utility and outcome of this PDS is the development of a knowledge product that involves the development of a Web-based dynamic application and an android-based mobile application for the performance evaluation of an irrigation project. The present Purpose Driven study has been carried out by the National Institute of Hydrology, Central India Hydrology Regional Centre, Bhopal in collaboration with BODHI, Water Resources Department, Govt. of MP. The NIH team comprised PI, Dr. R. V. Galkate, Scientist-F, and Co PIs, Dr. R.K. Jaiswal, Scientist-F, Dr. T.R. Nayak, Scientist-G, Dr. T. Thomas, Scientist-F, Mrs. Shashi Indwar, Scientist-D, Sh. Vivek Morya, Project Associate. The MPWRD team comprised PI, Director, Hydrometeorology, and CO-PI Dy. Director and Data Base Administrator, State Data Centre, BODHI, Bhopal, and Dy. Director, Hydrometeorology, Div No. 3.