Presentation on

Water Sector Reforms

in
Sindh - Pakistan
by
Nadir Akmal Leghari
Pakistan with Neighbors
 Pakistan-
Irrigation Perspective
• Country of over 141 million people.

• Federal system of government with

autonomous Provinces

• Four administrative Units: NWFP, Punjab,

Sindh and Balochistan

• Management of Irrigation System- a

predominantly provincial subject

• National coordination responsibility with the

Indus River System Authority (IRSA).
 Irrigation Inventory

• Commands an area of 36.2 million acres

(14.64 million hectares) .

• Three major reservoirs, 16 barrages, 44

canal systems and more than 107,000
water courses.
 Key Issues in Pakistan
Water Sector
• Deteriorating institutional capacities of key water sector
institutions,

• Low water efficiency, which is only about 30-35%

• Wasteful on-farm water use arising from over-watering, poorly

leveled fields and inefficient cultural practices

• Water logging and salinity in more than 30% of the area,

• water quality problems

• Low maintenance Budget, Poor maintenance and low water rates

• Absence of Farmer / user participation in the planning,

development & maintenance of the irrigation system.
 PIM Reform Agencies

• PIDAs: To maintain barrages and Trunk

Drains

• AWBs: To maintain Main & Branch Canals and

to maintain Drains

• FOs: To own, maintain tertiary (distributaries

/ minor) canals and On-Farm Drainage system
and collect water charges.

• Management transfer to Farmers.

 Irrigation Network in Sindh

• 3 barrages

• 14 main canals

• 1,446 distributaries

• 45,000 water courses

 Irrigation System Problems in Sindh
• Discharges above the designed values in
Canals

• Un-Planned De-silting

• Deferred Maintenance

• Lack of water resources planning and

management

• Direct outlets from Main Canals.

 Reform Process in Sindh

• SIDA established in 1998

• 1st AWB established in1999

• 2nd and 3rd AWB established in 2001

• Objective to establish SIDA: Transformation of

IPD.
Water Management
Ordinance 2002
SIDA Act 1997

Local Government
Ordinance 2001
Water Management
Ordinance 2002
 Principles for New Organizations

Sound Business Principles

Self-sustainable

Transparent
Independent
Accountable

From each other From Government

 What is SIDA?

How does its System

Work?
 Participation of Farmers in Water Management
Guddu Sukkur Kotri
Barrage Barrage Barrage

Indus River (SIDA)

Nabisar Branch Canal

Nara Main Canal
Kunri Distributary (FO)
103-RD
Area Water Board
•Watercourse Association is formed on each
18 W/Cs WCA-1
watercourse. Representation of 67% of khatedars is
essential
•FO is formed on minor/distry on the basis of
Watercourse Associations. Representation of 67% of
Watercourse
WCAs is essential. WCA-2 9 W/Cs
•As average there are more than 20 watercourses on
each minor/distry
Watercourse
•Average number of landholder/khatedars on FO
250-300
15 W/Cs
WCA-3
•Average Command Area of minor/distry 4-6000
acres
Watercourse
 Institutional Reforms – SWMO 2002
Regulatory Authority

FO
AWB
FO

FO
SIDA AWB
FO
Barrages &
Outfall Drains

FO
WATER
AWB
Charges Main &
FO
Branch Canals Distributaries
& Minors
Progress of Reforms
Total SIDA
Barrages 3 0
GCA 5.8 2.1 M ha
CCA 5.09 1.952 M ha
M Canals 14 4
Distr’ies 1446 365
WC’ses 45000 9500
Drains 5904 4321 km
Channels 18656 5776 km
Bunds 376 245 km
 How Reforms Implemented

• Continued Govt. commitment & support to reforms

• Un-interrupted management transfer from IPD to
autonomous entities (SIDA, AWBs, FOs)
• Ensured individual autonomy of each institution
through SWMO -2002
• Strengthening of SIDA through key staffing and
deployment of reforms and management consultants
• Enhanced representation of farmers in management
Boards of SIDA & AWB
• Contracting out Formation of FOs in all AWB areas
• Enhanced awareness and capacity building services
and Training to new born institutions, mainly FOs
Achievements through Reforms - I
Results of the Social Mob. Process (mainly Nara)

• Farmers empowerment

• Access to Policy and decision making

forums (SIDA Board)

• More than 100,000 farmers

mobilized/taken part in FO formation

17
Achievements through Reforms - II
Results of the Social Mob. Process (mainly Nara)

• Survey of Chairmen of 163 FOs shows

that:
– 43% FO Chairmen are from Tail
– 31% from Mid
– 26% from Head
– 7% hold land up to 7 ha
– 31% between 8 – 20 ha
– 19% between 21- 40 ha
– 41% above 40 ha
18
FUTURE STRATEGY FOR SIDA

Water Sector Improvement

Project. (WSIP)

World Bank to Fund

Transition Strategy
• Main Strategy

– Make IPD see reform as an opportunity

– Strengthen AWBs

– Make FOs succeed

 Main Strategy for AWBs - I
• Gradual transfer of Irrigation and Drainage
Circles and announcement of new AWBs over
7 – 10 year period (moderate scenario)

• Improving business processes in AWBs with

three year support programme

• Staff Transfer from IPD to AWBs.

• Promote staff adjustment through a voluntary

golden hand shake.
 Main Strategy for AWBs - II
• SIDA, AWBs and FOs to be fully empowered
to utilize and commercially exploit the assets
under their control

• Address all unauthorised withdrawls and

improve governance.

General:

• Awareness and information campaign directed

at IPD staff, staff in new AWBs and farmer
lobby groups.

22
 Main Strategy for FO’s
• Programme of establishing FOs through social contractors

• Give space to spontaneous development of FOs or FO

development by local organizations

• FOs to be established on all distributaries and minors,

while mergers may take place later

• Follow up Training and Support Facilities for FOs – the use

of well-functioning FOs as resource centres

• Strengthening FO Councils for service mediation and

advocacy

• Sanctioned DO’s to be managed by AWB initially, but to

subsequently move to the combination of several DO’s in
unified FOs, supported by development of new
distributaries and minors
 Estimated No of FOs
AWB (Canal Command) FOs
Nara Canal 166
Left Bank 105
Ghotki 94
Beghari Sindh 85
Dadu/ Rice Canal 183
Desert Pat Feeder 45
North West 127
Rohri 283
Kalri Baghar 110
Pinyari 113
Khairpur Feeder West 68
Khairpur Feeder East 55
Direct Outlet FOs 300
Total 1734