Inadequate management and declining infrastructure : the critical recurring cost problem facing irrigation in Asia

The paper first describes the conceptual water management model used in this analysis and the model"s application to O&M problems. Water fee collection policies for the four countries - Nepal, Sri Lanka, India, and the Philippines - are then summarized, and each country is evaluated according to its performance in dealing with recurring cost problems. (While the four country reports are of uneven quality, they do provide a basis for comparison. Also, the Nepal and Sri Lanka studies are quite limited by a lack of experience in these countries in irrigation fee collection, and the India study is limited in that it was restricted to government projects in Maharashtra state.) Next, options for increasing investment in O&M are reviewed in the context of the four countries. Finally, criteria for setting water fees are suggested and the problems associated with charging a uniform fee across all projects are highlighted. The conclusion identifies conditions necessary for a significant increase in collections. A 5-page bibliography (1959-86) is appended. (Author abstract, modified)