The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Wednesday, June 14, 2000,
Chandigarh, India

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Farmers to pay more for water
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 13 — Farmers in Haryana will have to pay more for the canal water they use to irrigate their fields. The increase in the irrigation charges will be effective from the next crop season.

The decision to raise the irrigation charges was taken by the State Cabinet at its meeting held here on June 8.

The average increase for various categories is believed to be about 30 per cent, though for certain crops, which consume comparatively less water the increase will be marginal.

Official sources describe the increase as “peanuts” but the government seems to feel shy in making its decision to increase the irrigation charges public, obviously because of its possible political fallout. It is clear from the fact that no mention about the increase in the irrigation charges was made in the press note released after the Cabinet meeting.

The increase in water rates will cover bulk consumers like industrial users and the Public Health Department also which treats the canal water for pumping in the drinking water system.

The Haryana Government is committed to increase the water charges by about 10 per cent every year under an agreement with the World Bank which advanced a loan of about Rs 800 crore to the State for strengthening and modernising its irrigation system.

The agreement with the World Bank was signed in the early nineties by the Bhajan Lal Government. The rates were increased in 1995, 1996 and then in 1998 when Mr Bansi Lal was the Chief Minister.

However, the rates were not revised in 1997 and 1999. In 1998 the rates were raised by about 20 per cent.

The official sources say the irrigation rates in Haryana, even after revision, will be no where near what they are in States like Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. For example, while in Uttar Pradesh the irrigation charges for sugarcane are about Rs 190 per acre, in Haryana these will be Rs 80 per acre in the Yamuna Command Area and Rs 70 per acre in the Bhakra Command Area. For paddy and wheat, the two main crops in Haryana, the charges will be Rs 60 per acre per crop season.

A leader of the ruling INLD said his party did not object when the irrigation rates were raised in 1998 because it appreciated the necessity of the revision. He said while the canal water charges in Haryana were much cheaper particularly when seen in the context that a farmer had to spend over Rs 400 per acre if he irrigated his fields through a tubewell. He said the thrust of the government was to ensure adequate supply of water even at the tail-end of the water sources.