５６：エネルギーと灌漑との連携（IWMI政策ペーパー第２弾）

前回に引き続きIWMIのwater policy briefingである。現在まで４０論文あるが、今回は第１０号。それぞれタイトルだけでも興味を持つ。何というかインドの現場からの生々しい事実が報告されており一般論的なものではないからだ。まずは要旨を読んでいただこう。

The Energy-Irrigation Nexus

Electricity subsidies for farmers are an expensive legacy of past development policies. The result is overuse of both energy and water in groundwater-irrigated agriculture—threatening the financial viability of the power sector and the future of the groundwater resource itself, along with the livelihoods of the millions who depend on it.

The most popular solution is the metered tariff, promoted by international donors and many of India’s state governments. But metering is the ideal solution only if the cost of metering and billing 14 million scattered, small users in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh is ignored. Easier, more feasible and more beneficial in the short run in many parts of South Asia would be the use of a rational flat tariff, which avoids the transaction costs and strong farmer opposition associated with metering.

The flat-tariff option has been ignored because, in its current incarnation, it has proved a complete failure. However, combined with intelligent power supply rationing, it is a logical, viable alternative which could cut wasteful groundwater use by 12-18 km3 per year in Western and Peninsular India alone.

The approach would involve (1) gradually raising tariffs to cut power utility losses; (2) supplying farms with fewer hours of power per year, but ensuring a quality power supply during periods of moisture stress; and (3) metering at the feeder level to measure and monitor farm power use, to allow good management.

以前比国のビコール川流域のIWRM計画を担当したが、あちこちにポンプ灌漑の廃墟がある。電力を利用を想定した施設だったが料金が払えず、結果ディーゼルエンジン利用に変えたが、それも不可能になって廃墟だ。７０年代、USAIDによる支援の成果がこれだ。

nexusというとやや高尚なイメージだが、この論文が示すエネルギー利用と灌漑の水効率向上は実務的な課題である。IWRMもこうした具体的で現場の取り組みの積み重ねが勝負ではないのか？インド人の発想も中々すばらしい。国際的な常識に囚われていない。