Maharashtra irrigation technology and management

PES covers the period 4/82-11/83 and is based on document review, site visits, and interviews with GOM officials. The project is behind schedule. Due to new Government of India design criteria as well as additional GOM/USAID/Central Water Committee approval criteria, only two irrigation subprojects (SP"s) have been approved to date. Moreover, late arrival of the U.S. project coordinator has set both training and the planned special field studies back one year. Regarding the former, 2 irrigation/drainage workshops have been held for 41 persons, and 3 persons have completed U.S. training in on-farm water management. Baseline socioeconomic studies have been completed for 4 SP"s, Soil studies have been completed for all 13 SP"s, and some of the data required for detailed soil surveys have been collected. Both topographic surveying and detailed distribution system planning are behind schedule: 8,400 and 1,770 ha, respectively, have been surveyed/planned vs. targets of 38,000 and 15,000 ha to be met by 3/84. Although 42 GOM subdivisions have been deployed as planned, 49 are needed to keep pace with targets. As funds and staffing do not meet the GOM"s revised construction priorities, additional inputs should be provided by the GOM. Key recommendations are to give priority to SP appraisal/approval and to the completion of detailed soil and topographic surveys.