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People and Resources in Nepal:Customary Resource Management Systems of the Upper Kali Gandaki |
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2437 | :
Water Management | :
CPRI Institutions |
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Reference
Messerschmidt,Donald A:"People and Resources in Nepal:Customary Resource Management Systems of the Upper Kali Gandaki"Proceedings of the conference on Common Property Resource: National academy Press,Washington D.C
Introduction of the Institution
This is a Thakali ethnic village where we find a sort of well organized cooperation and resource management. Marpha is a highly nucleated settlement situated in the rainshadow of Dhaulagiri Himal.It is subject to the cold, dry climate of the Tibetan Plateau.In the past irrigation management was closely tied to the Traditional form of Govt. by clan representatives, and was operated under local custom before the Panchayat system was introduced.
Rules for Management of the Institution
(a) Boundary Rules
Spatial: Social:
(b) Governance Rules
The management of all of Marpha's resources was under control of 10 workers, besides controlling the flow and distribution of irrigation water, the workers also maintained the public drinking water system and water powered grinding mills. The workers were appointed from the four clans of the village and were responsible to the headman and his executive and treasury committees. The headman was customarily selected for a three year period from among the four clans.His executive committee was composed of four men, one appointed from each clan for one year terms
(c) Resource Allocation
Marpha's cultivated fields are divided into two sectors-north and south.The communal workers are responsible only for the northern sector. In Marpha there are two agricultural seasons :barley and buckwheat.Each crop receives three major waterings during its growing season. For barley, the workmen were responsible only for the first two waterings, and for buckwheat, only the first. Thereafter, the individual farmer handled his own watering. For a equitable distribution to all farmers the barley crop was watered from the top of the north fields downwards so that the fields closest to the head received first water. Then, for buckwheat, the order was reversed so that the tail- end fields were watered first
Conflict Resolution Mechanism
Problems Faced by Institution
Changes in the Institution over time
Beginning about 1963, two events led to a reordering of Marpha's old form of management, economic life and overall resource management 1)Introduction of Panchayat where a new leader, the panchayat chairman replaced the old headman.The new chairman is assisted by a council representing the nine arbitrarily designated wards 2)Realization of economic opportunities outside of Mustang, that attracted the more entrepreneurial Thakali farmers away from Marpha.As they left gradually old system of irrigation was replaced by lottery.Nowadays, watering order is determined by lot and is publicly announced at periodic meetings quite independent of traditional social custom
Country
Nepal
Region
Mustang(Vill:Marpha)
Date Of Publication
RS-27/03/96
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