Lessons Learnt and Process in the Formation of First Water Users Association or Pani Panchayat in Odisha by Wapcos-Limited

WAPCOS Limited is a “MINI RATNA Category- 1” and “ISO 9001:2008”accredited Public Sector Enterprise under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Water Resource, Government of India. WAPCOS has an in-built capability to provide multi-disciplinary project teams comprising of its own core group of professionals and specialists from various organizations of Government of India. WAPCOS provides consultancy services in all facets of Water Resources, Power and Infrastructure sectors in India and abroad. This paper describes the attempts of WAPCOS in the formation of Water Users Association (WUA) or Pani Panchayat (PP) during one of the consultancy projects implemented by WAPCOS. The lessons learnt were towards the intensive process during different stages in benefitting beneficiary farmers by establishing a WUA or PP. A country with large water resources with deficit investments requires effective implementation with people‟s participation for better efficient and effective sharing of responsibilities towards operation, management and maintenance. The paper also describes the changes in process towards formation of a WUA or PP over the years.