Indigenous Irrigation Organisation in South Bihar Presented by

Indigenous Irrigation Organisation in South Bihar. Presented by: Ranjan Kumar Mishra(36) Vivek Kumar(60)

Different methods of irrigation: § § § § Canal Pond Dams Wells Sprinkler Drip Others.

Ahar and Pynes Ahars: § Reservoir § Major embankment across the line of the drainage. § Two sides of embankments running backwards up to the line of the drainage gradually losing their heights because of the gradient of the surface.

Ahar and Pynes § Pyne is the local name for the diversion channels. § Pynes are artificial channels constructed to utilise river water in agricultural fields. § Most Pynes flow within 10 km of a river and their length is not more than 20 km.

Ahar and Pynes

Ahar and Pynes q. During first two decades in Bihar : § 35% of 2. 5 mha of cropped land was irrigated by this system. § 3% of 3 mha in north Bihar. o Now : v Today the area irrigated is 12% of all irrigated sources.

Reasons of decline § Abolition of the Zamindari system. § A large number of alternatives in the form of new canal schemes and tube wells.

Distribution of water. § Equitable distribution of water. § Water is first stored in the Ahars. § Excess of water which is available is equally distributed. § At the time of scarcity, water is distributed from the Ahars.

People’s Participation § In making the pynes before irrigating. § Maintaining the pynes during the irrigation. § Desilting the pynes and the ahar. § For operational works and vigilance.

Case of village SABATO.

Case of village SABATO. § Two land rights activists, Members of the Institute for Research and Action (IRA). Sarita and Mahesh Kant, were brutally killed on 24 January 2004 in Gaya, Bihar State. § Sarita and Mahesh mobilized the community of Fatehpur to revive an old 45 -km canal system on the Bihar-Jharkhand border.

Cost and Sustainability § Quiet low. § Rs 500 to Rs 1000 as compared to Rs 5000 for canal irrigation. § Local materials used in making the embankments. § Exists since centuries as it uses the excess water also. § Mode of storage helps in preventing the flood.

Advantages § Mobilisation of local resources. § Utilising human resources. § Cost is quiet low. § Utilises the rain water which would have otherwise gone waste. § Could be more advantageous if integrated with new diversion schemes.

References: § 1. Sengupta, N. 1991. “Traditional type of organization” in Managing Common Property, SAGE Publishers, New Delhi /Newbury Park/ London: 107 -109. § 2. Sengupta, N. 1993. "Storage Works" in User-Friendly Irrigation Designs, § SAGE Publishers, New Delhi /Newbury Park/ London: 46 -47, 88, 132. § 3. Sengupta, N. 1996. "The Indigenous Irrigation Organisation in South Bihar" in B. C. Barah (ed), Traditional Water Harvesting Systems - An Ecological Economic Survey, New Age International Publishers, New Delhi: 175.

Google References: § 1. Tanner, E. L. 1919. Final Report on the Survey and Settlement Operations in the District of Gaya, 1911 -1918. Bihar and Orissa Government, Patna. § 2. Water Harvesting Systems: Traditional Systems. www. rainwaterharvesting. org. § 3. www. indiawaterportal. org/arghyam/rainwaterhar vesting. htm. § 4. www. actionaid. org/asia/355_2_514. html -