Char Hazar (Charhajar) Irrigation System, Damauli Village, Tanahu District, Nepal

RESOURCE:

The resource appropriated from Char Hazar Irrigation System (Charhajar) is water for irrigation. This study focuses on an irrigation system that is comprised of a one main canal and seven branch canals that divert from Sange Khola, the tributary of Madi River, to the adjacent farmlands.

SCREENER:

Case: Char Hazar Irrigation System (Charhajar), Nepal

The information regarding the following common-pool resource system was taken from . Currently, there additional documents to cite which may provide further information about this common-pool resource.

These documents describe in detail. The primary resource is the Char Hazar Irrigation System (Charhajar), situated in Tanahu of Nepal. More generally, it is located in Middle East & South Asia. The system's sector is that of nA (article deleted from the bibliography and not relevant to the project).

The Char Hazar Irrigation System (Charhajar) covers no area.

CITATION(S):

Pradhan, Prachandra (1988) "Pattern of Irrigation Organizations in Nepal: Comparative Study of 21 Farmer-Managed Systems." Manuscript. Kathmandu, Nepal: International Irrigation Management Institute.*

Laitos, Robby, et al. (1986) RAPID APPRAISAL OF NEPAL IRRIGATION SYSTEMS. Water Management Synthesis Project Report No. 43. Fort Collins: Colorado State University.*

RESOURCE INFO:

The resource appropriated from Char Hazar Irrigation System (Charhajar) is water for irrigation. It is produced physically and is a renewable moving (fugitive) unit. This study focuses on an irrigation system that is comprised of a one main canal and seven branch canals that divert from Sange Khola, the tributary of Madi River, to the adjacent farmlands.

The boundary of this resource has natural/constructed attributes which do not limit entry. The boundaries of this resource are smaller than the location, and exist in one country, and are not divided among multiple general purpose local jurisdictions at a single level. The boundaries of this resource are independent of a development project designed by non-residents.

There are not distinct and stable micro-environmental or ecological zones within this resource (inferred).

There are strategic points within the resource where the main flow of the water for irrigation can be controlled (inferred). There is considerable, but unpredictable variation over space in the availability of water for irrigation within the resource (inferred). There is considerable, and mildly predictable variation in the flow of water for irrigation within a single year (inferred). There is not considerable variation in the flow of water for irrigation from year to year (educated guess).

The topography of the resource or the land immediately around the resource is moderately sloping (inferred).

The boundaries of the production resource do not coincide with the boundaries of the appropriation resource. The production resource is a facility connected to the appropriation resource (highly confident). The boundaries of the production resource are not equivalent to the boundaries of the location, but lie within the boundaries of the location (highly confident). The boundaries of the distribution resource are roughly equivalent to the boundaries of the appropriation resource (highly confident). The boundaries of the production resource are not equivalent to the boundaries of the distribution resource. The production resource is a facility connected to the distribution resource (highly confident).

The headworks (production resource) are operated by the same agency(s) (or the same group(s) of people) as the appropriation resource, and the agency(s) or the group(s) of people are the sole operator(s) of the headworks (highly confident). The distribution system is solely operated by the same agency(s) (or the same group(s) of people) as the appropriation resource (highly confident). The distribution system is solely operated by the same agency(s) (or the same group(s) of people) as the headworks of the system (highly confident).

LOCATION:

The appropriation resources are situated in Damauli Village Panchayat in Tanahu District. The boundaries of the location are the boundaries of the village, including Sange river. The appropriation resource present in this location consists of the Char Hazar Irrigation System (FMIS), coded. Also present is the Sange Patyani (AMIS). Regarding the use of the irrigation system, there were sometimes complementary effects, and sometimes conflictual effects in the relationships among appropriation processes.

The system is located within one country. Within this country, the system's location is not divided among several general purpose local jurisdictions at the same level. A permanent population lives year round in this location (highly confident). There is frequent contact and communication between people in this location and officials in a nearby administrative center (inferred). Additionally, the most common mode of transportation in this region is foot trail. This location is also characterized by an economy that is changing and relatively autonomous with respect to other economic networks during most of the time period (educated guess).

The latitude of this location is 14.83' N, and its longitude is 58. E. The elevation of this location is 455 meters (inferred). The highest elevation is 470 (inferred). The lowest elevation of this location is 440 (inferred). The region's average annual rainfall is unknown. The region's average annual evapotranspiration is unknown. The distribution of rainfall and evapotranspiration per month is as follows:

January precipitation: unknown, evapotraspiration: unknown

February precipitation: unknown, evapotraspiration: unknown

March precipitation: unknown, evapotraspiration: unknown

April precipitation: unknown, evapotraspiration: unknown

May precipitation: unknown, evapotraspiration: unknown

June precipitation: unknown, evapotraspiration: unknown

July precipitation: unknown, evapotraspiration: unknown

August precipitation: unknown, evapotraspiration: unknown

September precipitation: unknown, evapotraspiration: unknown

October precipitation: unknown, evapotraspiration: unknown

November precipitation: unknown, evapotraspiration: unknown

December precipitation: unknown, evapotraspiration: unknown

RESOURCE:

The resource appropriated from Char Hazar Irrigation System (Charhajar) is water for irrigation. This study focuses on an irrigation system that is comprised of a one main canal and seven branch canals that divert from Sange Khola, the tributary of Madi River, to the adjacent farmlands.

OPERATIONAL LEVEL:

TYPE OF SITUATION

The processes described in the related documents are primarily related to appropriation, production, distribution and use. The formal owner(s) of the resource discussed in this study are local appropriators. The set of individuals who have rights to withdraw from this resource is well-defined. As of the beginning of this period, the owners are exercising (or attempting to exercise de jure) and effective in gaining closed access to this resource. Since the beginning of this period, the appropriators are exercising (or attempting to exercise de jure) effective closed access to this resource.

EVENTS MARKING THE BEGINNING ACTION SITUATION

It is estimated that the operational level coded on this form ended in 1985. The estimated duration of the patterns that are described in this form is 101 to 200 years. Throughout the duration there was change made primarily by the appropriators in operational, collective, or consititutional rules. There was no change in resource size or structure. There was no new technology introduced to the system over the duration of the patterns coded on this form. There was no substantial external change in the value of the units appropriated. The quantity of units available did not change due to a change in appropriation patterns of other appropriators' withdrawals from the same production or distribution resource. There were no new groups starting to withdraw units from the appropriation resource. There was no recorded change to one or more variables internal to the operational level. The variables that changed were -2. The author begins the description of this case at this point in history.

CONDITIONS AT THE BEGINNING AND END OF PERIOD COVERED BY THIS FORM*

For biological resources at the beginning of this period, the balance between the quantity of units withdrawn and the number of units available was apparently balanced (inferred). For biological resources at the end of this period, the balance between the quantity of units withdrawn and the number of units available was moderately abundant (confident). For physical resources at the beginning of this period, the balance between the quantity of units withdrawn and the quantity of units needed, given the usual patterns of use for these units was apparently balanced (inferred). For physical resources at the end of the period the balance between the quantity of units withdrawn and the quantity of units needed, given the usual patterns of use for these units, was moderately abundant (confident).

The following includes the available statistics on the use of this resource at the beginning of the time period, followed by the end of the time period:

Tons of fish harvested per year at the end of the period: 2000000

Square meters of fields irrigated at the end of the period: 2000000

*In fisheries and other biological systems, this is the maximum sustainable number of units. In irrigation, this refers to the optimal water requirements of the crops in the established fields served by this system.

At the beginning of the period, the units were predominantly used to produce other units.

At the end of the period, the units were predominantly used to produce other units.

As of the beginning of the period, the quality of the units being withdrawn from the resource was passable (educated guess). As of the end of the period, the quality of the units being withdrawn from the resource was passable (educated guess). At the beginning of the period of the study, there were no problems of pollution in this or other resources, due to the way units are being appropriated (inferred). At the end of the period of the study, there were no problems of pollution in this or other resources due to the way units are being appropriated (inferred). As of the beginning of the period, the extent of technical externalities resulting from the appropriation activities of participants from this resource was quite low (inferred). As of the end of the period, the extent of technical externalities resulting from the appropriation activities of participants from this resource was relatively low (inferred). At the beginning of this study, holding all inputs constant the same or greater amounts of resource units were not withdrawn with fewer appropriator teams and/or equipment, and there was no rent dissipation (educated guess). At the end of this study, holding all inputs constant the same or greater amounts of resource units were not withdrawn with fewer appropriator teams and/or equipment, and there was no rent dissipation (educated guess). At the beginning of this study the appropriation resource was moderately well maintained, and in good working order (highly confident). At the end of this study the appropriation resource was experiencing some deterioration due to insufficient maintenance (highly confident). At the beginning of this period the appropriators shared moderate to high levels of mutual trust (e.g. oral promises given high credence) (inferred). At the end of the period the appropriators shared modest levels of mutual trust (e.g. oral promises are used but appropriators may be uncertain about performance) (inferred). ## Unknown markup: Start ##By the end of this period no change had occurred in the property rights regime related to the appropriation resource (educated guess). At the end of this period the owners were exercising, or attempting to exercise, de jure and effective closed access to this resource (inferred). At the end of the period the appropriators were exercising, or attempting to exercise, de jure and effective closed access to this resource (inferred).

INFORMATION LEVELS

There is no information in the study to indicate the availability of maps or charts of the appropration resource for use by the appropriators. Maps and/or charts of the production and distribution resources are not documented as being available, or unavailable in this case study. The appropriators of this resource can be seen by each other while withdrawing and delivering units (confident). No documentation was included in the study regarding whether or not the appropriators of this resource are in radio communication with each other while appropriating from the resource. There are actions being taken, by appropriators or officials, to generate information about the condition of the resource (inferred). There are usually records of the withdrawals from this resource kept in a systematic way (educated guess). There are sometimes records of the physical factors which directly affected the resource kept in a systematic way (educated guess). There are sometimes records of the appropriators' contributions to monitoring of the resource kept in a systematic way (educated guess). There are always records of the appropriators' contribution to the maintenance of the resource kept in a systematic way (highly confident). Records are kept in a language accessible to most of the appropriators (inferred). The keepers of these records are officials at some level (inferred). These records are available for inspection by appropriators (inferred). There are arenas being used for the exchange of information about conditions of the resource (highly confident). Appropriators get together to discuss mutual problems of the resource weekly (highly confident). The appropriators have a moderate familiarity with the characteristics of this resource (educated guess).

POTENTIAL ACTIONS AND LEVELS OF CONTROL

There are appropriators and non-appropriators that made up a specialized staff or workers to undertake maintenance (confident). The quality or quantity of the units available to the appropriators are not adversely affected by the strategies of prior appropriators, because there are no prior appropriators (inferred). There are not problems of pollution resulting from activities of others who are not appropriators of this resource or inhabitants of this location (e.g. acid rain, sewage disposal) (educated guess). The study does not indicate whether or not there was an insurance mechanism available to the appropriators related to variability of income from the resource.

PATTERNS OF INTERACTION

The general manner in which appropriators related to one another during this study is a relatively positive, reciprocal manner -- the presumption was made that long-term relationships are involved and positive actions are undertaken without a specific expectation of return (educated guess). The documents present evidence that the appropriators have a general cultural pattern that stressed various types of cooperative activities besides the management of this resource (inferred). If someone violated the rules-in-use related to the appropriation process from this resource, it is likely that he/she would encounter social sanctions imposed by other appropriators (who are not filling posititions as official monitors) (educated guess). If someone violates the rules-in-use related to the appropriation process from this resource, it is likely that he/she would encounter physical sanctions by other appropriators (who are not filling posititions as official monitors) (highly confident). If someone violates the rules-in-use related to the appropriation process from this resource, it is very likely that an official monitor or guard would move to impose sanctions (highly confident). There is a moderate range of sanctions imposed depending on rule infractions and in regard to social, physical, and official sanctions (highly confident).

POSITIONS AND PARTICIPANTS

At the end of the period studied the position of non-appropriator (individuals prevented from using the resource) did not exist (inferred). At the beginning of the period there was a general estimate of 25-50 appropriators (educated guess). There was a general estimate of 201-500 appropriators at the end of the period. A general estimate of the number of participants in the team appropriation process was not included in the case study, at the beginning of the period. A general estimate of the number of participants in the team appropriation process was not included in the case study, at the end of the period. The "official" position of monitor (apart from the willingness of all appropriators to monitor) does exist, and appropriators are selected by one another for this position (inferred). This position monitors rules devised by local collective choice processes (column 3 of the rules form) and rules-in-use.

The appropriators monitor the appropriation activities of each other apart from the monitoring of any "official" guards (inferred). Official monitors are paid in money. Most of the monitors were full-time (educated guess).

NUMBER AND RELATIONSHIPS AMONG SUBGROUPS

There will be 1 subgroup form(s) completed in relation to this operational level form. The ID number(s) of the subgroup(s) coded are as follows: 107.1 - -2 - -2 - -2

EVALUATION OF RESULTS

There are appropriators who were consistently disadvantaged in this period. The relatively worst off appropriators have not been cut out of their benefits from this resource or substantially harmed (educated guess). By the end of the period studied the distance between those who were the least advantaged and those who were the most advantaged could be characterized as remaining relatively constant over time (educated guess).

AUTHOR'S EVALUATION AND CAUSAL ASSUMPTIONS

In this coding form the author focuses on the readers' concept of results and the evaluation of results (highly confident).

The revitalization of existing organizational structure could enable this system to be more efficient. No pucca structures and no permanent intake. Comments recorded regarding evidence that is presented concerning the nature and level of transaction costs are as follows: The only evidence presented regarding the nature and/or level of transaction costs is the time spent of weekly meetings for maintenance and walking through a foot trail from villages to command area due to no motorable roads. The yield level is expected to be higher in Char Hazar than in Sange Paryani. There is a necessity for increase of labor mobilization for maintenance, as well as revitalization of farmers' irrigaition organization.. The author discusses withdrawals per unit of effort based on -1

SUBGROUP:

Participants:

All are irrigators rely on the irrigation for the source of income. They're classified into absentee landlords, owners-cum-tenants, landless farmers, and laborers, living in Damuli and other villages. The criteria for who is a member is well defined (inferred). At the start of this group the membership was estimated to be 25-50. This group ended with a membership of 215 (highly confident). An estimated 91%-100% of this group is literate in a language that records or publications about this resource and/or location (or other similar resources) is kept (educated guess).

The following statements characterize the composition of this subgroup's population with respect to variables that may affect the capacity to communicate effectively:

The difference in composition with regard to gender identification does not affect communication (educated guess). The clan identification for most of this subgroup is -2. The difference in composition of the group with regard to caste does not affect communication (highly confident). Most members of this subgroup are of the cast Brahmins. The difference in composition with regard to religious identification does not affect communication (educated guess). Most members of this subgroup are religiously identified as Hindu. The difference in composition with regard to the languages spoken does not affect communication (inferred). The language spoken by most members of the subgroup is Nepali. Problems within this group that are also mentioned by the author stem from the cost of production being the responsibility of the cultivator and land from the Brahmins.

.

Legal Rights:

Members of this subgroup have de jure rights of access (inferred). The right to withdraw is held by this subgroup de jure (inferred). Rights to participate in management of this resource is held de jure (highly confident). Exclusion from use of the entire resource is exercised de jure (inferred). Members of this subgroup cannot exercise the right to decide who can be excluded from particular zones within the resource either de facto nor de jure. (educated guess). The separable right of transfer to the flow of units from this resource is not held either by de jure nor de facto. The separable rights to exercise transfer to shares of this appropriation resource, or closely related production and/or distribution resources are neither held de jure nor de facto (educated guess). Transferring shares of major appropriation equipment which are necessary to engage in appropriation is not exercised either je jure nor de facto## Unknown column: EQUIPSHAR ##.

Stakes and Resources:

The length of time this subgroup has regularly appropriated from this resource is 101 through 200 years (highly confident). Around 76%-90% of members reside in or adjacent to this resource (educated guess). Most people in this subgroup are very dependent (i.e. most of the family income) on this resource (highly confident). Less than 10% of this subgroup work a substantial amount of time in activities not associated with appropriation from this resource (inferred). The proportion of this subgroup that currently appropriates similar units from other resources is 91%-100% (educated guess). Capital is owned by 10%-25% of this subgroup (educated guess). Low cost alternatives for the supply unit are available (inferred).

Potential Actions and Levels of Control:

A noticeable impact on the balance of the quantity of units withdrawn and the number of units available in this resource would not occur in a drastic reduction of this subgroup's appropriation activities (inferred). Keeping in mind the physically available levels of withdrawal that are possible from this resource, the following shows the extent to which rules concerning different aspects of withdrawal constrain appropriation: technological rules cause unknown contraints, time limits which limit the range of choice lightly constrain (inferred), quantity rules cause unknown contraints, marginal units or units obtained by increasing levels of appropriation have a moderate value immediate return (educated guess).

Technology:

The appropriative power of the technology used does not threaten the balance between units withdrawn and units available even if no new users are added (educated guess).

Strategies Adopted:

At the beginning of the period the rate of unit withdrawals was constant (educated guess). At the end of the period the rate of unit withdrawals was increasing (educated guess). In irrigation, appropriation resources (at the beginning of the period) produce mostly paddy rice, and also grains other than paddy rice, and a non-listed product. In irrigation, the appropriation resources (at the end of the period) produce mainly paddy rice, and also grains other than paddy rice, non-tree fruits and vegetables, and a non-listed product. During this time period members have invested resources, such as their own labor, in maintaining or improving the structure of the appropriation resource (highly confident). Investment into constructing or improving production or distribution works for maintaining or improving their resource has been made by members (highly confident). Resources have been expended (including time) to avoid actions that would harm the structure of the appropriation resource (inferred). The maintenance or improvement work is either dependent or contingent on the quantity of units appropriated (highly confident). Members have access to an alternative source of supply (highly confident). Members of this group have increased their use of alternative sources of supply of this unit (highly confident). At least one member has assumed entrepreneurial activity in trying to achieve coordinated strategies in relationship to both withdrawal and investment (highly confident). In characterizing the usual behavior of the members of this subgroup with respect to local operation level rules-in-use (other than in extreme shortage), it can be said that most of the members do not follow the rules (highly confident). The level of infraction of members who are not rule followers is generally medium (educated guess). No action has been proposed to alter the operational or collective-choice rules affecting the appropriation from this resource (inferred). Attempting to alter the behavior of appropriators, members of this group have threatened or actually used violence to enforce compliance with existing rules.

Subgroup Results:

This subgroup appropriates 91%-100% of its total appropriated units at the end of this period (highly confident). By the end of this time period the appropriates from this resource have remained approximately constant (inferred). The absolute quantity of appropriation units obtained by this group has remained constant (inferred).

RESOURCE:

The resource appropriated from Char Hazar Irrigation System (Charhajar) is water for irrigation. This study focuses on an irrigation system that is comprised of a one main canal and seven branch canals that divert from Sange Khola, the tributary of Madi River, to the adjacent farmlands.

OPERATIONAL RULES:

Concerning national collective choice relating to the resource, there is a national level of government, but it does not exercise jurisdiction in relation to the type of resource appropriated by this subgroup. Concerning regional collective choice, there is a regional level of government, but it does not exercise jurisdiction in relation to the type of resource appropriated by this subgroup.

With regard to local collective choice, a level of government or organization of appropriators exists at the location and the author provides a few detailed references about operational level rules as devised by collective choice mechanisms which have been coded below.

Boundary Rules

The following rules define the requirements that must be met before individuals are eligible to harvest or withdraw units from the appropriation resource.

The national and regional level(s) of government or organization had no jurisdiction over the resource.

A rule exists requiring ownership or leasing of land in the location of the resource. This rule is enforced at the local and rules-in-use level(s).

A rule exists requiring an appropriator to obtain a license for entry or for equipment in order to appropriate. This rule is enforced at the local and rules-in-use level(s).

Entry rights may be transmitted to anyone designated by the original owner.

Within one generation of potential resource appropriators, entry rights can be given, leased, rented, sold or transferred to others.

When transfer on a temporary or permanent basis is allowed, the person who makes the transfer determines to whom such rights can be transferred.

-1

Authority and Scope Rules

The default conditions for both authority and scope rules do not apply.

The following paragraphs include information on rules of 1 cycle(s).

Authority Rules:

The national and regional level(s) of government or organization had no jurisdiction over the resource.

There is a rule requiring withdrawal in a fixed order, based on location. This rule is enforced at the rules-in-use level(s), and is part of the most restrictive, regularly adopted/used set of rules.

The authority and scope rules do not apply to whether or not certain subgroups received substantially unequal privileges, because there is only one subgroup.

Scope Rules:

The national and regional level(s) of government or organization had no jurisdiction over the resource.

There is a rule requiring regular maintanence labor input based on the amount of land held. This rule is enforced at the local and rules-in-use level(s), and is part of the most restrictive, regularly adopted/used set of rules.

There is a rule requiring emergency repair labor based on equal division among all appropriators or teams of appropriators. This rule is enforced at the local and rules-in-use level(s), and is part of the most restrictive, regularly adopted/used set of rules.

If labor input for maintenance is required, the input can be substituted by some payment (e.g. money, materials). Most of the time, labor force is organized in relatively small teams.

Information Rules

There exists a rule requiring recording of the condition of the resource. This rule is enforced at the local and rules-in-use level(s).

This information was recorded by an AGO.

There exists a rule requiring recording appropriators' claims to the flow of units from the resource. This rule is enforced at the local and rules-in-use level(s).

This information was recorded by no one.

There exists a rule requiring recording of maintenance work done by appropriators. This rule is enforced at the local and rules-in-use level(s).

This information was recorded by an AGO.

This information was recorded by no one.

There exists a rule requiring recording of physical factors affecting the resource. This rule is enforced at the local and rules-in-use level(s).

This information was recorded by no one.

There exists a rule requiring recording of the rights and duties of the appropriators. This rule is enforced at the local and rules-in-use level(s).

This information was recorded by an AGO.

There exists a rule requiring recording the quantity of assets in use. This rule is enforced at the local and rules-in-use level(s).

This information was recorded by an AGO.

Payoff Rules

The default condition, that all appropriators can retain whatever they can physically keep hold of and no external rewards, taxes, or sanctions are imposed is not imposed in this case. The authors have the following confidence level for the results of this section: confident. Incarceration is not imposed as penalty on appropriators for breaking rules related to the appropriation of this resource. Moderate fines can be imposed on appropriators for breaking rules related to the appropriation of this resource. Appropriators may not lose their entry or appropriation rights for breaking rules related to the appropriation of the resource. Severe community shunning is used for an unstated duration of time as a sanction that is consciously imposed on appropriators who break rules related to the appropriation of this resource. Appropriators can obtain aid from a local (private or public) agency(s) to develop technologies for using the resource units. Appropriators are not party to price support contracts or guaranteed purchase agreements for the selling of resource units or commodities produced by resource units.

The following percentages indicate the percentages assigned to individual positions. If more than one percentage is listed per position, the individual percentages refer to the different arrangements existing within the operational rules.

Aggregation Rules

The default condition, that no rules specify contraints or requirements on the process to be used in deciding which actions will be taken, and that appropriators can have as much independence in deciding upon actions as they are physically able to exert, is not imposed in this case. The authors have the following confidence level for the results of this section: educated guess. The tail farmers' rule for labor contribution: "...starts the maintenance and is joined by other farmers as he works toward the head of the channel. In the last before the turnout, all the farmers on the field channel SHOULD be working together." (p.57)

Overall Questions About Rules Configuration

The general framework of the rules-in-use has governed the activities of this subgroup for 101 to 199 years.