Trial & re-trial : the evolution of irrigation modernisation in NWFP, Pakistan

    Research output: Thesisinternal PhD, WU

    Abstract

     

    Keywords: irrigation modernisation, systems theory, design processes, operational management, water management, performance assessment, institutional reform, Pakistan, Indus-basin, Lower Swat Canal, Upper Swat Canal, Pehur High Level Canal, Chasma Right Bank Canal, National Drainage Project, protective irrigation, productive irrigation, design concepts, Mardan- and Swabi-SCARP.

     

    "Trial & Re-Trial" reviews four irrigation modernisation projects in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan, which had as aim to transform the traditional "protective" irrigation systems into "productive" 'crop-based' irrigation systems. The framework of systems analysis is used to analyse how concepts of modern irrigation are construed. Specific attention is given to how (operational) management issues are integrated in the designed concepts of modern "productive" irrigation, and how the different conceptions on management and 'modernity' by designers, operation agencies and water users shape the post-implementation outcomes. To gain understanding of how the practices, conceptions and strategies of water management of water users and operation agencies have been shaped by past experiences and developments, an historical analysis is made of the establishment of the Indus basin and its "protective" irrigation systems, and its development up to the modernisation programme. The modernisation projects reviewed cover the different phases of design and construction, performance evaluation, and impact assessment. It is argued that the imposition of technical design concepts through externalised interventions hampers the process of change management. Finally, the institutional reform process started with the National Drainage Project is briefly reviewed as a new approach for handling the water management issues governing the Indus basin.

    Original languageEnglish
    QualificationDoctor of Philosophy
    Awarding Institution
    • Wageningen University
    Supervisors/Advisors
    • Vincent, L.F., Promotor
    • Murray-Rust, D.H., Promotor, External person
    Award date10 Sept 2002
    Place of PublicationS.l.
    Print ISBNs9789058086846
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 10 Sept 2002

    Keywords

    • irrigation
    • modernization
    • rural development
    • water management
    • north-west frontier (pakistan)
    • pakistan

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Trial & re-trial : the evolution of irrigation modernisation in NWFP, Pakistan'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this