Punjab Government has committed to a process and framework for multi stakeholder discussions to review water sector institutions for management of the water resources and service delivery by 30 April 2007.
Assessing sector concerns including resource management for surface and groundwater, irrigation and drainage service delivery, flood control, water quality, hydropower, and water supply & sanitation among others; and development of an overall water sector road map and action plan with time-bound milestones and action plan in place by 30 April 2009.
According to official sources, reforms in the irrigated agriculture sector in Punjab are moving forward. The irrigation sector vision set forth in Punjab's Vision 2020 (from the Midterm Development Framework) is to "provide adequate, equitable and reliable irrigation supplies to the cultivable lands of Punjab.
The Government of Punjab has initiated the Punjab Irrigation Sector Reform Program (PISRP), which is supported by the World Bank's Punjab Irrigation Sector Development Policy loan and a corresponding policy matrix with comprehensive policy actions.
The PISRP is based on four pillars: (i) institutional and policy reforms to improve irrigation system management and O&M to ensure long-term physical and financial sustainability; (ii) water resource management reforms to make water allocation and distribution more transparent and improve groundwater management; (iii) reforms to improve irrigation service quality, efficiency, and accountability through greater participation of farmers and institutional reforms; and (iv) reforms to encourage introduction of technology to improve water use efficiency and on-farm productivity. Adoption of these reforms requires capacity development and effective implementation strategies at the system level.
Furthermore, sources stated that the Punjab Irrigation and Drainage Authority (PIDA) Act (July 1997) established as a separate entity from PIPD for decentralised irrigation management; and provided for farmer organisations to manage the distributary and minor canals, and collect and retain a share of abiana for O&M, and area water boards (AWBs) to manage main canal irrigation systems and be governed by a board of directors with farmer members.
The formation of PIDA and associated institutional changes were part of reforms associated with the National Drainage Program (NDP), a multi-provincial project funded by ADB, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), and World Bank. Initial progress of the NDP reforms was limited; no farmer organisations or AWBs were established.
PIPD has also committed to establish 100 more farmer organisations and two additional AWBs in 2006/07 as part of the PISRP. Notification to form farmer organisations and establish an AWB in the Lower Bari Doab Canal (LBDC) was issued on 11 July 2006, specifying the PIPD superintending engineer for the LBDC Circle as its chief executive officer. As of 2006, the experience of farmer organisations in the LCC has been positive, with higher collections for abiana and improved management and O&M of the distributory and minor canal. However, the AWB in the LCC plays an advisory role with no farmer representation yet, and PIPD still maintains management of the rest of the system.
According to official sources, Punjab Government also committed to development of a strengthened irrigation management transfer agreement and amended rules for farmer organisations and AWBs for the Government of Punjab's consideration by 30 June 2008, and development of options for sources of legal authority for farmer organisations independent of PIDA or the PIDA Act to be submitted for consideration to the Provincial Assembly by 31 December 2008.