Benchmarking for Water Users Associations to Enhance Performance of the Samrat Ashok Sagar Major Irrigation Scheme

Water is one of the most scarcely available natural resource on earth. Its effective utilisation is a major concern felt worldwide. Water crisis is a situation felt in every sector using it (domestic, power, industry and irrigation). Exploitation of water resources in an unplanned manner has resulted in deterioration of environmental and social conditions and has resulted in an alarming situation. The Samrat Ashok Sagar Major Irrigation Scheme of the Madhya Pradesh Water Resources Department, India, was selected as a study area for the benchmarking of irrigation performance assessment by the Water Users Associations for the years 2003–2004 to 2007–2008. The Indian National Committee for Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) and the Water Resources Department, Maharashtra, India, recommended selected indicators for benchmarking of the irrigation and drainage sector. The objective of this study was to implement internal benchmarking to improve the performance of the system by creating competition between water users associations working in a major irrigation scheme.