Welcome to Andhra Pradesh Water Reforms

Vision

Optimal and integrated management of water resources for enabling irrigation take the agricultural production in the state to enviable heights. Our developmental vision is harnessing of ultimate irrigation potential, enabling generation of food security, eradication of rural poverty and establishing conditions for sustainable rural livelihoods and lay foundations of a strong and balanced economy.

Mission

Our key mission is establishing efficient structures and processes of irrigation management capable of addressing emerging challenges and gaps in water management that water scarce conditions are poised to unleash. This includes a commitment to a targeted improvement in Water Use Efficiency, addressing issues related to institutional capacity and norms arising out of Basin Closure, Multi-Sectoral Planning, and establishment of Farmer Managed Efficient Style Cropping Patterns. Our focus is on incorporation of stakeholder participation, integration of new management tools, and development of modern and effective decision support system to build an enabling environment for making the irrigation service effective, efficient, and sustainable.

Objectives

Ensuring of water security
Improving water management and efficiency by coordinated efforts, user participation, effective use of modern, tools, technology and approaches
Efficient and optimal utilization of water resources through involvement of primary stakeholders progressive re-engineering and reorientation of institutions, practices and processes
Improving the productivity of the State's water resources to achieve economic, social, and environmental objectives through an outcome-orientated approach for institutional and investment activities
Maintaining and sustaining ecological balance by conserving and protecting water bodies and wetlands, through regulation and enforcement of standards for water infrastructure, usage and waste disposal

Who are We

Irrigation systems are the lifeline of developing countries supporting agriculture and feeding the increasing population of the country. Irrigation sector has stabilized agricultural productivity, ensured food security, and contributed substantially towards overall economic development of the country. Efficient and assured irrigation becomes a pre-requisite for sustaining the agricultural system which forms the backbone of an agricultural country like India. The Irrigation & Command Area Development (I&CAD) is carrying out the construction as well as maintenance of irrigation projects in Andhra Pradesh since its inception in. The Irrigation &Command Area Development Department is responsible for the construction, operation and maintenance of all irrigation works (surface flow systems), at the cost of the Government, from the head works to the outlet (pipe outlets). The I&CAD separates the engineering focus of the department from the command area development for a clearer demarcation of responsibilities. The Irrigation Projects division consisting of - Projects Coastal; Projects Rayalseema and Projects Telangana are exclusively focused on the creation of the irrigation infrastructure across the state. The CAD division on the other hand was created with the more specific responsibility of distributing and managing available irrigation waters and issues related to development of the command areas.

Profile

Command Area Development:
The CAD was established through the enactment of an Act called the Andhra Pradesh Irrigation Utilisation and Command Area Development Act, 1984 which provided for an accelerated increase in agriculture and allied production in the State of Andhra Pradesh through a programme of comprehensive and systematic development. It was created to bring in a scientific and modern focus on command area development activities, comprising measures, for optimum use of land and water, prevention of land erosion and water logging, improvement of soil fertility, regulation of cropping pattern, and for proper maintenance and upkeep of irrigation systems in the State for ensuring maximum benefits to the cultivators under the command areas and for the matters connected therewith. The Command Area Development Authority was entrusted with the following functions:

Formulation and implementation of schemes for comprehensive development of the command area/areas
Ensuring of integrated utilisation of water flows
Co-ordination of work relating to command area development
Arranging of systematic land development, including planning, construction and maintenance of field channels, field drains, farm roads and ayacut roads;
Ensuring propagation, demonstration and implementation of improved water management techniques and the education and training of farmers in irrigated agriculture
Enforcing of a proper system of rotational water supply as specified in warabandi and fair distribution of water to individual fields
Formulation of conjunctive use of surface and ground water: to prevent land erosion and water logging; to select and introduce a suitable cropping pattern; to strengthen agricultural extension activities;
Arranging of agricultural credit facilities for systematic land development and agricultural production in the select command areas
Improving the supply of other agricultural inputs
Ensuring creation and development of marketing, processing and warehousing facilities
Diversify agriculture and to develop activities, like animal husbandry and protein production
Laying out schemes for town-planning and development of growth centres
Receiving, borrowing and lending moneys by or on behalf of it, which are necessary for the due discharge

The scope and range of activities of CAD increased enormously in the past two decades as the State and the country attempts to come to terms with the changed water management scenario and growing water scarcity. The range of activities have become technical and professional as water management and efficient water allocations assumes an important space as a driver of development targets in the state.

The Command Area Development wing of I&CAD department is headed by Commissioner & Principal Secretary ( Irrigation) to Government of Andhra Pradesh assisted by, the Special Commissioner, (I&CAD), Special Commissioner, (CA&WM), Executive Engineer (CAD), Accounts Officer, Assistant Director (Stat), 6 Deputy Executive Engineers, supported by regular staff, Consultants, NGOs, and professionals from open market. Work Areas of CAD, include Implementation of Command Area Development & Water Management (CADWM) of the GOI, Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM), Irrigated Livelihoods, Restoration, Repairs and Renewal (RRR) of tanks directly linked to Agriculture, Geographical Management Information Systems (GMIS), Water Sector Reforms, State Water Policy, Water Use Efficiency (WUE), Water Management, Capacity Building and Training, Elections to Farmer's Organizations, Water Audit and Bench Marking, Water Tax reforms, Micro-plans of irrigation projects, Participatory Resources Analysis, Participatory Situation Analysis, Rapid Assessment Survey, Water Sector reforms portal and Documentation.
While the range of activities and operations of CAD are varied and many, these are not dealt with under this website. The current apwaterreforms website elaborates and discusses only the issues, experiences, institutions, processes, reforms, problems and related aspects of the water reforms that CAD has initiated in the last decade. The two ongoing government projects - Andhra Pradesh Irrigation Livelihood Improvement Project (APILIP) and the Andhra Pradesh Community Based Tank Management Project (APCBTMP) that come under CAD also find elaboration in this site. While every effort has been made to verify and provide authentic and up to date information to the user, discrepancies if any can be brought to the attention of the department for timely correction.

Command Area Development Organogram

Click here Command Area Development: Personnel Details

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