Assessment of Current Operation and
Maintenance Practices: A Case Study of
Marchawar Lift Irrigation System, Rupandehi.
Student: Sunil Man Byanjankar
Supervisor: Er. Dinesh Rajouria
Submitted Date:
February, 2024
Abstract
The essence of operation and maintenance is a combination of general maintenance,
management, training, budgeting, and processes that are used collectively for the
proper functioning of a facility thus increasing the service life of a facility by
delaying deterioration, decay and failure. Operation and maintenance management
of lift irrigation system is strategic process that involves planning, directing,
controlling and organizing themaintenance services and development of operation
procedure for long run sustainable operation of the system.
Marchwar Lift Irrigation System has ten units of vertical turbine pumps which lifts
the water to the gross head up to 6 meters and provides irrigation to a total of 3500
hectares of agricultural land through canal networks.
The overall objective of the research was to identify and review the existing
practices of Marchawar Lift Irrigation System (MLIS) and to operation and to
develop and suggest the necessary operation and maintenance plan for various
components in order to enhance the overall maintenance practice so as to ensure the
long term sustainability and efficiency. In order to meet the said objectives, data
were collected through questionnaire survey, consultation, key informant interview,
field observation and secondary sources like manuals and publications of machine
manufactures. The data were analyzed and interpreted.
Through this study it can be inferred that the system operation and the maintenance
works are carried out at adhoc basis and there is no system specific operation and
maintenance procedure practiced.
The present practice of operation lacks protocol that should be followed by the
system which includes the use of sensitive electromechanical and hydro-mechanical
equipment. Based on close monitoring of physical condition of the facility and
extensive discussion with operation and maintenance personnel through review of
manuals and publication of equipment manufacturer, a gap is found between the
existing practice and the technically desired suitable best practices. In order to fill
the gap a comprehensive Operation and Maintenance manual was developed. The
manualnot only includes the safety precautions but also includes general instruction
of pump operation, inspection schedule, periodic maintenance chart, inventory of
spare parts and troubleshooting chart etc.
The implementation of developed Operation and Maintenance would not only be
helpful for short term benefit but also would serve the purpose for long term
sustainability of the lift system.
Keywords
Operation, maintenance, sustainable operation, Lift irrigation, manual,
Marchawar