Issue-4  December, 2007

Editor’s Note

          This e-newsletter is fast becoming a forum for sharing our achievements and progress and an evidence of our effort to become more open, transparent and accessible to a larger audience.  It is heartening to see the impact of this endeavor through valuable feedback from our audience.

The current issue brings news of our field activities, inauguration of new projects, progress updates of ongoing activities and a lot more. IPD recently organized an orientation workshop for field staffs from all the 6 zones in the IPD Secretariat. A series of interactive dialogue with farmers was conducted by a team of experts from Strategic Planning/Reforms Unit to study the technical, environmental, and sociological aspects of groundwater management. The details of these events are covered in this issue. In addition to this, you will also read about PIDA activities and the positive impact of Command Area Development Project.

We have recently added the email addresses of a number of farmer bodies, national water and irrigation experts and development professionals to our mailing list. We welcome them all to this burgeoning community.

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MINISTER FOR IRRIGATION PUNJAB BRIEFED ABOUT IRRIGATION SYSTEM AND REFORM ACTIVITIES

               Minister for Irrigation Senator Dilawar Abbas was briefed about the Irrigation Sector Reform Programme and major development projects by Secretary Arif Nadeem. The minister appreciated the fact that the Irrigation sector in Punjab had made big strides in ensuring sustainability of the physical infrastructure, improving the equity in distribution and water supply at the tail end reaches.     

The minister was informed that the department was implementing a number of major projects to rehabilitate the system including Taunsa Barrage Emergency Rehabilitation and Modernization Project costing Rs 11 billion, Lower Chenab Canal System costing Rs 16 billion, and Lower Bari Doab Canal System costing Rs 17 billion. 

The secretary also briefed the Minister about various components of Irrigation Sector Reform Programme including computerized monitoring system to ensure equity and transparency in water distribution at the farm level and introduction of Participatory Irrigation Management System to transfer the management of distributaries and minors is being transferred to the farmers.  185 Farmers Organizations (FOs) have been established at the grassroots level and 100 more FOs will be established by the end of this year. The initiative of empowerment of farmers is resulting in significant improvement in irrigation management. The minister appreciated the reforms initiatives and advised to maintain the spirit of reforms programme. He also lauded the various steps taken by the Irrigation and Power Department to improve its service delivery, rehabilitate the system and transfer the management to the farmers.

MINSTER FOR IRRIGATION VISITS FOS & DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN LCC EAST PILOT AWB

               Minster for Irrigation alongwith Secretary Irrigation and Power Department Arif Nadeem and other senior officers conducted a field visit to Lower Chenab Canal East (AWB) on November 27, 2007 to oversee the functioning of FOs, review the progress of development activities and share the achievements of the reform initiatives with all the stakeholders. During the visit Chief Engineer Faisalabad briefed the Minister about the ongoing development activities in LCC East Circle including the major project of the remodelling of the entire LCC System in three parts.  On behalf of Punjab Irrigation & Drainage Authority  (PIDA), Director Vigilance gave a presentation on reform initiatives and the ongoing activities regarding formation of FOs and measures for improvement in abiana collection and overall performance.

The minister also inspected major hydraulic structures that have been constructed under the financing of JBIC on LCC System. Minister also inspected a farmer managed distributary of Qabarwala. He appreciated the efforts made to ensure equitable and transparent distribution of water and 100% abiana collection by the FOs.

The Minister also held a press conference to brief the media on various reform initiatives, development projects and the positive impacts of irrigation management transfer. Representatives of national print and electronic media, farmers of the area and IPD and PIDA officers attended the press conference. The press conference was widely covered by TV channels including APNA, AAJ and INDUS, and major national newspapers including Dawn, News, Nation, Daily Times, The Post, Nawa-e-Waqt and Express.

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IRRIGATION WATER REGULATORY ADVISORY BOARD APPROVES RABI PLAN

          A meeting of Irrigation Water Regulatory Advisory Board was held under the Chairmanship of Minister for Irrigation in November to discuss the Rabi Plan for 2007-08. The board comprised a farmer member, a representative of Agriculture Department and senior management of Irrigation & Power Department Punjab. During the meeting, it was observed that in October 2007 the river flows were far below the anticipations and a shortfall of 22% as against 17% of last year was expected. Keeping in view the water availability situation, the board approved Rabi Plan for 2007-08 and the following schedule was adopted for water distribution in consultation with Agriculture Department.

SPRU HOLDS ORIENTATION WORKSHOP ON PISRP

          A one-day orientation workshop was organized at Irrigation and Power Department Secretariat on November 15, 2007 to provide a comprehensive orientation on Punjab Irrigation Sector Reform Programme to IPD staff.

The workshop was chaired by the Secretary IPD and was attended by the Chief PMIU, Chief SPRU, GM (TM) PIDA, GM (OP) PIDA, Director Vigilance, Director SEMU and SPRU Team. From field formations, Chief Engineer Lahore, Chief Engineer Bahawalpur, Chief Engineer DG Khan, two Superintending Engineers from each irrigation zone, three Executive Engineers from each zone and two Sub-divisional Officers from each zone attended the workshop.

The overall theme of the workshop was to provide a comprehensive overview alongwith implementation status of PISRP. Detailed discussions took place on the subject areas given below:

·        Introduction to PISRP, perspective to reforms, objectives, outcomes, indicators and way forward

·        Asset management plan & revised yardsticks

·        Third party monitoring

·        Departmental Accounts Committee (DAC) meetings and related issues

·        Canal water monitoring & management

·        New initiative of Irrigation Management Transfer: The emerging model of FOs, AWB & PIDA

·        Introduction to groundwater management initiatives, pilot areas, scope of interventions, cooperation required from field formations

·        IPD modernization and change management: Future perspective

·        Social & environmental considerations in irrigation projects

·        Communication strategy & implementation

The workshop provided a detailed orientation on PISRP through an detailed discussions on the way forward for reforms, different aspects of asset management planning, revision of yardsticks, the interface between IPD and FOs and institutional support to FOs in their management, internal capacity building and various other issues.

ARMED FORCES WAR COURSE VISITS NANDIPUR RESEARCH STATION: BRIEFED ON REFORMS INITIATIVES

               Armed Forces War Course of the National Defense University visited Hydraulic Research station at Nandipur on November 26, 2007. Chief SPRU gave a detailed briefing on major water sector challenges at national and provincial level and the strategies being adopted to address these challenges including Punjab Irrigation Sector Reform Programme. The members of the Course were also handed out sets of IPD and PIDA brochures. During the visit, the members of the Course studied various irrigation models including those of dams and barrages, and asked questions about various dimensions of water regulation, particularly from reforms point of view. They were also briefed about the Indus Water Treaty and regulation of Punjab canal system.

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PUNJAB POWER DEVELOPMENT BOARD APPROVES 11 LOIS

          A meeting of Punjab Power Development Board was held in October to consider the recommendations of the board committee regarding proposals of private sponsors for the development of small hydropower stations on canals/river falls. After deliberation on recommendation, the board decided to approve the recommendations and authorized Managing Director of the board to issue Letters of Interest to 11 private sponsors under the terms and conditions of the Policy 2006 for the development of hydropower projects at the following canals and barrages:

·        Qadirabad Balloki Link Canal (RD 304+985) 7.71 MW

·        Lower Bari Doab Canal (RD 542+168) 1.80 MW

·        Lower Bari Doab Canal (RD 461+ 550)  2.08 MW

·        Jhang Branch Canal (RD 68+830) 3.03 MW       

·        Chashma Jhelum Link Tail Canal Fall (RD 316+622) 40.00 MW

·        Taunsa Punjnad Link Canal (RD 182+000) 10 MW

·        Balloki Sidhnai Link 1 (Tail) (RD 266+000) 9.00 MW

·        Rasul (Jhelum) 20.00 MW

·        Punjnad (Chenab) 20.00 MW

·        BS Link–I Canal (RD 106+250) 10.00 MW

·        Marala Barrage (Chenab) 20.00 MW

The Secretary IPD also informed the board that in addition to these, 5 hydropower projects with total potential of 25 MW are being undertaken with the financial assistance of Asian Development Bank and installation of one pilot project namely Khokhra hydro project (3.2 MW) is also underway.

CDWP APPROVES FOUR PROJECTS

          In a recently held meeting, Central Development Working Party (CDWP) approved four major projects in water sector.

·        Optimizing Canal and Groundwater to Assist Water User Association in         Maximizing Crop Production and Managing Salinization with Australian                Assistance

This project will be implemented in collaboration with the University of Charles Sturt, Australia and will be aimed at evolving optimal cropping patterns, acceptable to farmers. It will also seek to improve equity of water distribution among the water users by utilizing spatial differentials in soil physiographic, groundwater dynamics, introducing conjunctive management of canal and groundwater and socio-economic parameters. The overall project cost is Rs 79.689 million and it will be implemented in Lower Chenab Canal command area in Pakistan and Coleambally, (Australia). Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) will compare project operations in Punjab and Australia (Coleambally).

·        Management of Hill Torrents in CRBC Area (Stage-III), Dera Gazi Khan

Some 200 hill torrents, including 13 major ones, originate from Suleiman Range and flow through D.G. Khan and Rajanpur Districts towards the River Indus. The catchment area of these hill torrents is 11,881 sq. miles. The area extends over a length of 360 Km from Ramak to Kishmore, while in width it varies from 25 Km to 40 Km. Historically flood water of the hill torrents is used for irrigation in piedmont area through a network of diversion and dispersion structures.  The proposed 21-month project, costing Rs 1065.65 million, will improve the protection of CRBC, mitigate hill torrent flood damages, maximize flood water uses for irrigation, control soil erosion and improve groundwater recharge.

·        Study for Irrigation & Power Department Modernization and IWRM                 

The main objective of the study is to acquire technical assistance from Asian Development Bank to develop and implement Integrated Water Resources Management  in Punjab (IWRM) strategies, strengthen the policy, regulatory and institutional framework for improved IWRM planning and implementation at national and local levels. The modernization program will identify institutional changes at various levels and it will be an important component of strengthening the water management capacity in Punjab needed to deal with both the existing and emerging water management challenges. 

The overall cost of the project is Rs 13.874 million and will be implemented all over Punjab.

·        Consultancy Services for Detailed Design of Kot Fateh Khan Dam Project

The proposed Kot Fateh Khan dam site is located on Dotal Kas, the tributary of Sil River at a distance of about 4 km from village Sihal of Tehsil Pindi Gheb, District Attock. The study is aimed at developing a detailed design of the project based on feasibility study and conducting a model study to test the efficiency of proposed design. During this stage detailed geotechnical, hydrological and material investigation will be carried out and subsequently detailed design of different components of the projects will be prepared. The overall cost of the project is Rs 10 million.

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SPRU ORGANIZES ORIENTATION WORKSHOPS ON GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT 

          Punjab Irrigation Department has started piloting groundwater management interventions. In this regard, interactive Groundwater Management Orientation Workshops were organized by GW management and monitoring teams of IPD with the stakeholders of the three pilot areas during  October and November 2007. The pilot areas include Kamalia Distributary Command (Faisalabad Irrigation Zone), 4L-Sardar Wah Distributary Command (Bahawalpur Irrigation Zone) and Qila Jawind Singh Minor Command (Lahore Irrigation Zone).

The objective of the workshops was to provide a comprehensive introduction and orientation to the stakeholders about groundwater management activities being launched in the pilot areas by the Irrigation and Power Department of Punjab. The workshops covered groundwater management issues, planned interventions, expected outcomes/outputs and role of different stakeholders in project implementation.

The professionals of PIDA, AWB (LCC East), Groundwater Management and Monitoring teams of SPRU, Social & Environmental Unit of SPRU, Social & Environmental Management Unit of PIDA, Communication & Outreach Unit of SPRU, Punjab Agriculture Deptt. (OFWM& Agri. Ext.) and representatives of WWF-Pakistan participated in the orientation workshops.

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SPRU HOLDS WORKSHOP ON GROUNDWATER MONITORING

               A one-day Groundwater Monitoring workshop was also held

 by the IPD Groundwater Monitoring and Management Organizations in the IPD Secretariat on 2nd November 2007. The main theme of the workshop was to deliberate on improved groundwater monitoring which is vital for effective groundwater management and regulation. The workshop discussed importance of groundwater monitoring, present status and requirements for improved and proactive monitoring of groundwater.

AWARENESS RAISING CAMPAIGN BY SOCIAL & ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT CELL

               The Social and Environmental Cell of SPRU synchronized their field activity with GWM and DLR teams in the selected pilot areas for Groundwater Management projects.

The purpose of these visits was to identify socio-environmental issues and propose mitigation and management measures for GWM projects, determine community's role in GWM projects to promote participatory management approach and seek community's viable role in development with special focus on gender. During the visits, community was consulted on various groundwater interventions through interviews and group discussions. Household surveys were also conducted to asses the perception of women about groundwater issues, pollution problems, etc.

During the orientation workshops, the key issues faced by the community due to the existing pattern of pumpage, pollution of surface and GW through point and non-point sources resulting from the agri-based industries, urban developments and agricultural run-off were discussed. The perceptions of the community were highlighted in the workshop and the need for developing policy, plans and management interventions owned and supported by the community. The farmers’ participation in the workshops was very promising.

The visits helped in improving the understanding of the socio-environmental issues of the pilot project area and community's perceptions about unregulated pumping of GW in sweet zone and associated quantity and quality issues, environmental resource base and anthropogenic sources of water pollution.

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INITIATIVE OF COMMAND AREA DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL DAMS PROGRESSING WELL

          In the recent years, Punjab Government undertook construction of 19 small dams in Potohar area. As many as 10 of these have been completed and the rest are nearing completion. In the next fiscal year, the Government is planning to initiate work on another 9 small dams. Until recently, there has hardly been any effort to develop the command area of these small dams. The farmers of these areas needed intensive training and education so that they could make judicious use of the available water for production of vegetable, orchards, cut flowers and the cash crops. Keeping in view these facts, the Government has started a pilot project for command area development at 4 small dams namely Dungi, Qibla Bandi, Jamergal and Dhoke Tahllian. Under this project, following major interventions are being implemented:

1.       Provision of  Hybrid Maize and Hybrid Fodder seed on 80% subsidy.(400Acre)

2.       Provision of Hybrid/ Quality seed of summer and winter vegetables on 80% subsidy. (400 Acres)

3.        Provision of Pesticide for vegetables (400 Acres) and weedicide for wheat on 800 acres on 80% subsidy.

4.       Provision of Fruit Plants on 50% subsidy (2200 plants)

5.       Training of staff and farmers through farmer field school. This training is being imparted By Cab International.

6.       Formation of Co-operative Societies at each dam and advancement of interest free loan for seed and fertilizer.

The project kick started in November 2006 and within a year the benefits of the interventions have started accruing to the farmers of the area. The cropping intensity has risen from 101% to 158% and farmers have started growing vegetables, fruit plants, hybrid maize and hybrid fodder in Kharif season, something which was never possible before the project. The department has not only delivered good quality seed on subsidized rates but it has also delivered technology packages which enabled the farmers to grow crops using latest technologies like balanced fertilizer application, use of weedicide and integrated pest management, etc. It has been estimated that farmers of all four dams have significantly increased their yield of wheat, summer vegetables and fodder. Introduction of spring maize has further increased their income.

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LCC PART-B LAUNCHED 

          The Department has commenced work on LCC Part-B project in Faisalabad Irrigation Zone. Costing Rs. 9 billion, the project is aimed at rehabilitating Lower Gugera, Rakh, Burala and Mian Ali Branch Canal Systems. The components of the projects include civil works and technical and institutional support. The project will rehabilitate 381 Km branch canals, 1501 Km distys and minors, line 411 Km distys & minors, replace or construct 231 bridges, construct 251 cattle ghats. On the whole, a total of 1882 Km of canals will be covered in the project. The farmers of Hafizabad, Sheikhupura, Nankana, Faisalabad and Toba Tek Singh with 1.7 million acres cultureable land area will benefit from this project.     

TAUNSA BARRAGE MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL WORKS IN FULL SWING

          Mechanical works on the left half of Taunsa Barrage are continuing in full swing. Out of 29 gates allocated to the Japanese contractor, 13 gates of the main weir have been completed and one gate of the undersluice also has been completed and the remaining works are expected to be completed by June 2008.

In the stage-II of mechanical works by the Chinese contractor on of the right half of the barrage, work on 13 gates have been completed and work on the remaining 23 gates is expected to commence in December, 2007 after the completion of coffer dam by WAPDA.

Construction of temporary head regulator of DG Khan Canal is nearing completion. This head regulator is being constructed to allow for the work on Khachhi Canal head regulator, which is likely to start in December 2007. With a capacity of 6000 Cusecs, Khachhi Canal would irrigate 7,13,000 acres of land of  Dera Bugti, Nasirabad, Bolan and Jhal Magsi districts in Balochistan.  All the underwater civil works of the barrage have already been completed.

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INTEGRATED SOFTWARE FOR IPD

          The Irrigation Department has initiated development of integrated software for Irrigation & Power Department. This software will provide automation for the operations of the department including Daily Operation Management, Rotational Planning, Groundwater Measurements, Abiana Collection, Maintenance & Repairs, Annual Development Plan Management, Litigation Cases Management, Drainage & Floods Management, Human Resource Management and Assets Managements. In this context, the services of Descon Engineering have been hired as consultant by Punjab Information Technology Board to help in developing this software.

The firm has started detailed system analysis and Mr. Habib Ullah Bodla Director Gauges is acting as an overall coordinator for this assignment on behalf of Irrigation & Power Department. It is expected that the assignment will be completed by June 2008.

MD AND SENIOR PIDA MANAGEMENT VISITS 10 FOS

          MD PIDA / Secretary Irrigation Arif Nadeem, GM (TM) PIDA Muhammad Aslam Qureshi, GM (OP) PIDA Muhammad Ashraf Khan Niazi and Director Vigilance Brig. (Retd) Ahmad Abbass visited 10 FOs in LCC Area Water Board on November 16, 2007. The purpose of the visit was to monitor the progress of FOs particularly regarding Abiana collection and water theft issues. The visiting team engaged the FO member in a dialogue to thrash out their problems and suggest possible solutions. The Secretary advised the FOs to improve the Abiana collection and take necessary actions to control water theft. The team visited the following FOs:

1.          Gajar Gola

2.          Gajiana

3.          Mataba

4.          Jalalana

5.          Rodi

6.          Khurianwala

7.          Shahkot

8.          Logar

9.          Ghourdour

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SPRU REVISES YARDSTICKS FOR LAHORE ZONE

          Strategic Planning Reform/Unit has developed O&M yardsticks for Lahore Zone and has submitted to Finance Department for approval.  O&M yardsticks are prepared on the basis of estimates of needed quantities to repair the deterioration that occurs during a year and it is a tool for preparing reasonably accurate annual M&R budget. Preparation of zone- specific realistic yardsticks is one major activity of Pillar-I of Institutional and Policy Reforms. This Pillar aims at improving management and maintenance of irrigation system to ensure its long term physical and financial sustainability.  O&M yardsticks for other irrigation zones will be developed by mid December 2007. 

MONITORING OF IMPLEMENTATION OF AMP BY SPRU

               Strategic Planning Reform/Unit has conducted the monitoring of implementation of Asset Management Plan (AMP) during the last two years. SPRU developed a 10- year AMP including rehabilitation as well as annual M&R plans, institutional arrangements and financing windows. The results of the first two years of implementation of AMP were evaluated on the basis of costs/targets at different levels, increases in reliability, equity, efficiency, employment, water productivity etc.  SPRU has also compiled a report to document this monitoring and its findings which is being shared with the stakeholders.

Useful Links

ACIAR l ADB l European Commission l FAO l Govt. of the Punjab l ICID l INPIM l IUCN  IWMI l UNDP l World Bank l Irrigation and Power Department Punjab l ICARDA