IDMT Agreement Ceremony Of FO LBC AWB @ Hyderabad

Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (SIDA) and Left Bank Canal Area Water Board (LBCAWB) jointly held Irrigation and Management Transfer (IDMT) Agreement signing ceremony of 31 FOs of LBCAWB on October 31, 2009 at Hotel Indus, Hyderabad. Syed Murad Ali Shah Chairman SIDA/ Minister Irrigation & Power gave time to chair the ceremony but due to emergency meeting called by the Chief Minister, Govt. of Sindh could not chair the ceremony. Mr. Muhammad Mithal Abbasi Managing Director chaired the ceremony. Mr. Khalil Bhurgri Chairman LBCAWB, Haji Khair M. Bhurgri Chairman NCAWB, Mr. Abdul Rab Pittafi Chairman GFCAWB, Mr. Manzoor A. Sheikh Chief Engineer Kotri Barrage, Mr. Moula Bux Talpur Member SIDA Board from Kotri Barrage, Syed Ali Gohar Shah Member SIDA Board from Sukkur Barrage, Mr. Salam Memon Project Coordinator PCMU WSIP, Mr. Ehsan Leghari Project Director WSIP, Mr. Nazeer A. Memon General Manager Transition, Mr. Moula Bux Mirbahar General Manager Operation, Mr. Anwar Memon General Manager Finance, Dr. Mumtaz A. Suhag General Manager R&D, Haji M. Khan Nizamani Director LBCAWB, Mr. Yili Dadja Team Leader PMCA, Mr. John Taylor Sociologist, Dr. Fateh M. Mari Director M&E PCMU WSIP, Mr. G. Mustafa Dahri Director NCAWB, Mr. Abdul Rasheed Khoso Director GFCAWB, Agha Zafarullah Durrani DG-AE&WM, IPD officials, SIDA officials, AWB officials and members, journalists, CSO members and large number of FO representatives participated in the ceremony. Mr. Mustafa Ujjan Social Development Specialist SIDA conducted the proceedings of the ceremony as stage secretary.

Mr. Nazir A. Memon General Manager SIDA welcomed Mr. Muhammad Mithal Abbasi, Mr. Khalil Bhurgri, Mr. Manzoor Sheikh, Mr. Moula Bux Talpur, Mr. Omar Farooq Ahmed Khan, Mr. Abdul Majeed Nizamani, Haji M. Khan Nizamani, distinguished guests and all the participants in the ceremony. He said in his opening remarks that irrigation reforms are carried out in the province of Sindh since 1997 under SIDA Act 1997. He said that the rural economy of Sindh is very much dependant and linked with the irrigation system. He said that the Govt. of Sindh is delegating powers to the farmers under IDMT agreements, the delegation of powers requires commitment and sincerity by the farmers in management of irrigation channels for efficiency and delivery to the farmers. He said that it is upon the Chairmen, if they serve better farmers will appreciate and follow them otherwise farmers will out them from the system.

 

He said that FOs have been formed on almost 98% of Distributaries and Minors and management of 80% channels have been handed over to FOs. He also gave detailed presentation about the IDMT status of FOs year and AWB wise.

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Mr. Omar Farooq Ahmed Khan in his speech said that we are very much proud for empowerment to farmers by the Govt. of Sindh. He said that almost 70% population is engaged in agriculture and it is a great opportunity given by the Govt. of Sindh by giving them ownership of channels. He also said that this also put responsibility and accountability on the Chairmen FOs in equitable water distribution, Abiana collection and conflict management. He said that top irrigation bureaucracy doesn’t accept new system, the lands and buildings of IPD are encroached by the people along the main and branch canals but no action is taken. He also said that the Inspection Paths of main and branch canals are encroached by the commercial users. He said that the staff of AWBs is non cooperative with the FO representatives. He said that the recovery of Abiana by the FOs is improved. He said that there is great disparity in water distribution to Kotri Barrage and its associated main canals, the farmers are unable to get due share of irrigation water in time i.e. May 2009. He said that there is less interaction of Minister IP/ Chairman SIDA with FOs and AWBs, it is requested that more time to be given by him to farmers. He also appreciated Minister IP/Chairman SIDA, SIDA officials and AWB officials for change management. He also said that there should be time limitations for implementation of reforms. At the end he assured cooperation of FOs to SIDA and AWBs for success of irrigation reforms in the province of Sindh.

Mr. Mohammed Nawaz Memon in his speech said that today’s ceremony is reflection of Holy Prophet’s (P.B.U.H) consultation process (Mushawarat). He said that the FO Chairmen should be from the tail end portion of Minors/Distributaries. He said that the comparison analysis may be conducted between the progress of FOs and IPD for assessment of success of irrigation reforms. He also said that a series of dialogues among the FOs may be conducted on issues and progress, also competitions among FOs on progress may be launched and awards/appreciation certificates may be given to best performing FOs for encouragement to other FOs. He said that FO representatives should jointly think about the elimination of water course tempering and water theft. He said that the tail end farmers may also build local pressures against water course tempering and water theft. He said that the AWB officials/lower staff members are non-cooperative with FOs because they find any incentives in participatory irrigation management (PIM), therefore, incentives may be given to the AWB officials/lower staff for being part of irrigation reforms so that they work hard and cooperate with FOs

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Mr. Zahid Hussain Bhurgri in his speech said that Akuto Distry is one of the 24 Distributaries who signed IDMT agreement in 2001. He said that farmers are owners of the irrigation system while the AWB officials don’t own system because they are doing jobs only. He said that almost 1.6 million farmers are participating in new reforms system in irrigation sector. He said that the AWB officials were not accepting the farmers initially but later on they realized the ownership of farmers in new system. He said that AWB is not established on Rohri Canal because the there are influential farmers on Rohri Canal who are resisting the formation of AWB. He also said that there are 374 illegal lift machines installed in upper Nara Canal, also Direct Outlets (DOs) are responsible for shortage of irrigation water in tail end sub-divisions, therefore they should be a ban on sanction of new DOs.

Mr. Abdul Rab Pittafi in his speech said that IPD did not transform irrigation system fully to the AWBs and farmers yet and cooperation of IPD staff with farmers is only tool for success of irrigation reforms.

Mr. Imtiaz Khawaja Secretary Jamali Minor in his speech said that farmers are satisfied with new reforms system and farmers are the only owners of irrigation system. He said that IPD officials have destroyed the irrigation system in Sindh province. He said that SIDA should make reforms system functional and powers should be delegated to farmers.

Syed Ali Gohar Shah said in his speech congratulated the FOs for signing the IDMT agreement today. He said that conventions of FOs should be held at each AWB and Minister IP /Chairman SIDA should chair these conventions to discuss the issues of farmers. He said that there should be a regular interaction among SIDA, AWB and FOs and we expect same from WSIP-I. He said that Distributaries/Minors should be lined. He said that sanction of new DOs and channels should be stopped by the Govt. He also said that Minister IP /Chairman SIDA should address the issues of farmers.

Mr. Moula Bux Talpur said that LBCAWB is situated in south and tail end area of canal command area, the crops are sown earlier than other parts of province so it requires early water for crop cultivation. He said that rice requires irrigation water 10th-209th April every year, which is the right season but the farmers are getting late irrigation supplies, which caused reduce in crop produce. He also said that IPD may not be accused for all the issues. He said that due to last supply of irrigation water, the crop produce decreases, also the farmers don’t get right prices for late crops.

Mr. Abdul Majeed Nizamani in his speech said that Minister IP /Chairman SIDA did not come to chair the today’s ceremony. He said that irrigation water is the main input for the agriculture, Allah said in Holy Quran “Every thing get life from water”. He said that the water resources are diminishing but there is mismanagement. He said that IPD officials are powerless so are the AWB members. He said that there is no justice in Pakistan, Chief Justice of Pakistan has been approached many times for issues of agriculture and irrigation in Sindh but he is not taking any interest. He said that analysis should be made for PIM experience vs. investments made for it. He said that I have always opposed PIM concept since its inception. He said that IPD officials should be strengthened rather than farmers. He also said that the irrigation and drainage network in Sindh is suffering badly.

Mr. Muhammad Ehsan Leghari in his speech said that justice is the base for all the issues in society. He said that there is a space for improvement always and we should take combined efforts for improvement. He said that PIM concept gives ownership to farmers and brings efficiency. He said briefed the participants about the WSIP-I, which is funded by the World Bank and Govt. of Sindh having total cost US$ 150.2 million. The WSIP-I addresses strengthening of irrigation reforms in the province of Sindh mainly SIDA, AWBs and FOs. The WSIP-I is comprised of five components, which are as follows:

A. Community Development and Capacity Building
B. Rehabilitation and Improvement of Irrigation and Drainage System
C. Management Plan for Major Irrigation and Drainage (I & D) Infrastructure
D. Monitoring and Evaluation of the Project Impacts and Environmental Management Plan
E. Project Coordination, Monitoring, Technical Assistance and Training

He said that AWBs and FOs will be strengthened under component: A based on their requirements and needs. Rehabilitation/Improvement works will be carried out on 173 Minors/Distributaries, Branch and Main Canals under component: B. The priorities and identification for WSIP-I activities in the command of AWBs will be set by the AWB Members.

Mr. Manzoor Ahmed Shiekh said that today’s program gave me information of issues related to FOs and farmers. He said that the IPD officers are powerless and there is a great political interference and IPD officials are unable to perform their duties. He said that if the farmers are happy and satisfied with new system, I am happy to deliver all the main canals to new system. He also said that he has tried to equitably distribute irrigation water among all the canals in the command of Kotri Barrage. The canals under LBCAWB are getting their due share. He also said that we need to resolve the farmers’ issues in coordination to each other.

Mr. Khalil Bhurgri in his speech said that there many issues of AWB, SIDA and IPD, Chairman LBCAWB is not taken in confidence and considered in any decision taken by the AWB officials. The officials of LBCAWB don’t obey the Chairman LBCAWB. He said that even the Assistant Executive Engineers don’t consider my recommendations. He said that the system may be improved by giving authority to Chairman and members of AWBs.

IDMT Agreements Handing Over:

Mr. Muhammad Mithal Abbasi, Mr. Khalil Bhurgri, Mr. Manzoor A. Sheikh, Mr. Muhammad Ehsan Leghari, Mr. Nazir A. Memon and Haji Muhammad Khan Nizamani handed over the Irrigation and Drainage Management Transfer (IDMT) agreements to the representatives of 31 FOs of LBCAWB.

Mr. Muhammad Mithal Abbasi said that I apologize for not participation of Syed Murad Ali Shah Minister IP/ Chairman SIDA, although he wanted to participate in this program any how, he was called upon by the Hon. Chief Minister, Govt. of Sindh for emergency meeting so he could not participate. He said that soon farmers’ conventions will be held and Minister IP/ Chairman SIDA will chair these conventions to listen the farmers’ issues. He said that the transfer of management means responsibilities of water distribution, maintenance of channels and Abiana recovery.

He said that the FOs need to improve water management and save water. He said that consultation meetings with all the stakeholders may be arranged with the farmers in the command of AWBs for crop requirements and availability of water at the tail ends. He also said that we need support from different forums for success of reforms and efficient management of irrigation water. He said that Minister IP/ Chairman SIDA is very much interested in implementation of irrigation reforms and he wants to strengthen SIDA and reforms. He said that the Minister IP/ Chairman SIDA has very clear vision of irrigation reforms. He said that the Abiana recovery of FOs is decreasing day by day, which is not a good signal, therefore, we have to take joint efforts for improvement of Abiana recovery. He said that SIDA, AWBs, FOs and all the stakeholders have to take joint efforts for success of irrigation reforms.

Haji Muhammad Khan Nizamani in vote of thanks said that I am very much thankful to Managing Director SIDA, Chairman LBCAWB, Chairman NCAWB, Chairman GFCAWB, Chief Engineer Kotri Barrage, distinguished guests and farmers for their participation in the ceremony. He said that I have always tried to address the issues of FOs and farmers in the command of LBCAWB since my joining and will strongly support in future.

The ceremony ended with lunch arranged for the participants.