Performance evaluation of the participatory water management of some selected small- Scale water resources projects of LGED

Abstract

During the period from April 1996 to December 2002, LGED implemented the Phase- I of the Small-Scale Water Resources Development Sector Project (SSWRDSP-I). The purpose was to rehabilitate and/or upgrade 280 small-scale water control systems, called sub-projects, in western part of Bangladesh with much emphasis on people's participation. The sub-projects comprised of flood control, drainage improvement, water conservation and command area development schemes. The Project was implemented with the aims of agricultural development, floodplain fisheries, environmental mitigation measures, stakeholder and beneficiaries' participation, poverty reduction and gender development as core elements. Based on its achievement, the second phase SSWRDSP-II has been undertaken for implementation in the period from November 2001 through 2009. The performance of existing FCD projects can be significantly improved by developing a participatory approach. This study deals with the evaluating performance of such participatory water management system. The SSWRDSP has developed an approach to ensure sustainable O&M by establishing Water Management Cooperative Associations (WMCA). WMCA was supposed to assume O&M responsibilities of all the successfully implemented sub-projects of the LGED. In addition they facilitated community development activities via micro-credit among the stakeholders and beneficiaries. The study was conducted on three selected sub-projects of SSWRDSP of LGED. Of the selected sub-projects, two are from Phase-I and one from Phase-II. Out of those two sub-projects from Phase-I, one was selected on the basis of performance rated above average (Brazamul-Bhitikhal Sub-project) and the other one was selected as performance rated below average (Fuleswari Sub-project). These performances are reported by LGED officials and previous field investigations of different researchers. The third one was selected as a new sub-project from Phase-II (Alarnkhali Subproject). The study was carried out with mainly three objectives: i) to analyze the preand post-project conditions of the selected sub-projects, ii) to determine the factors affecting the performance and (iii) to assess the performance of the WMCAs. Relevant literatures were studied and questionnaire survey through field investigation was conducted for this purpose. In course of investigating the performance of the management system, socio-institutional, financial and environmental aspects have been considered for evaluation. All three selected WMCAs were found registered duly under cooperative laws. The WMCA formation processes, meeting attendance, conflict resolution, etc Brazamul- Bhitikhal sub-project and Alamkhali sub-project were found to be appropriate. Crop production and cropping intensity have increased remarkably in those two subprojects. But those increases were nominal in Fuleswari sub-project. Due to lack of beneficiaries' participation and O&M of the infrastructure by WMCA, Fuleswari subproject was not functioning well. There was no appreciable environmental change related to water quality and natural vegetation for pre- to post-project conditions. Natural fish migration hampered due to construction of embankment and regulators. But culture fish production has increased after implementation of the sub-project and better training. In Fuleswari sub-project, navigation has been obstructed due to inadequate implementation of facility for boat-passage across the embankment. There ware four public-cuts found at that embankment. The financial viability as per beneficiaries' contribution collection for cooperatives in all the three sub-projects is good (above 100%) but as per O&M fund collection Fuleswari sub-project shows very poor performance. Lack of beneficiaries' participation and lack of proper infrastructure maintenance by WMCA ware found to be the main reasons behind lesser success of those water schemes. The performance can be improved by increasing beneficiaries' involvement in local levels. Executive members of WMCA should be formed with dedicated stakeholders of the sub-projects and their activities should be monitored regularly. Linkage with WMCA and LGED project level authority must be further improved.