Charging Farmers for Lift Irrigation Schemes

ved · Telugu Veera Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Posts: 2024

The recent news about giving the charge of distribution of water from LIS to private enterprise is very interesting. All this stems from the decision, or should I say the need, to charge the farmer Rs 600/acre as annual fee. I see the rational for charging the farmer in an ideal world. However, it is not ideal. There will be numerous cases where the lift is not working properly or water not reaching the far away lands and yet the farmer gets charged Rs 600.

If one understands how the water from canals come to hundreds of acres , one would realize how difficult it is to administer. One farmer in the middle of a huge parcel can opt out, but the farmer at the far end can opt in. How do you ensure the middle farmer is not stealing the water going by his land. I do understand this issue exists already under water associations. But this is different scale. This is where the private admin will come in. At least that is what Govt thinks. What do you think? Will it work? Is it unfair to the farmers?

statesman · Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 6:21 pm Post subject:

I was stunned to hear news in TV's stating that AP governments decision to ask farmers to install ISI pump sets as the asembled pumps which they are usinmg are faulty and consuming more power. TV 's are terming it is great irrecoverable burden on farming community and government should immmediately withdraw it looks silly and these news agencies must be banned first other wise the state is going to be uncivilised for another century.
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STATESMAN