Nigussie, Taye(PhD)Zeleke, Tesfaye2022-07-262023-11-042022-07-262023-11-042007-08http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/32367'Ihough wat r rights ar ' at the . re oj exploitillg wat ' r resollrcesjor irrtg tlOlI/llrpo "', trivial ' II I'll.' W I'e ifjef"d I Ihe ' I 'e oj Illdris irrig Ilioll s 'heme ill 7ok' Kilt di Iri I in Wesl 'hewa. Th hislori 'af backgroulld I/(j d ' ve fopmelll oj Ih ' . h me ha beell pre 'enled ill I 'olllellliolls mallller. Th , augm ' nlillg IIIImb 'r oj compelilors 100 paved Ihe way jar conflicts thaI recllrrently erupt Ollt alld illevilabl lead to a .~·u ce 'sion oj lIeg tiatioll proces ·es. Wilh the inception oj '/lch mi 'Si1l 7 guljs, this re . 'arch aimed /0 scrutinize waler rights and the processes oj negotiations among irrigalors along Indri modem scheme, ill Toke Kutaye district. To mailllaill Ihis objective, qualitative anthropological methods' were predominantly utilized CLS' the main data generating research lools in the field The findings oj the research depicted that Indris scheme marked three sigllificant phases ill its historical development. In these phases, explorations pertaining to water rights and processes of negotiations were jOlll1d to he at their immature ground. While the elements of the riparian doctrine qf waler rights preponderated during its initial phase, the componenls of appropriative doclrine pronounced more at its middle age. A mix of ingredients from both doctrines interwoven with certain extra requirements determined the water right access of users since the conversion of the scheme illto a modem style. Multiple water right rules emanating both from the customary and formal water acts have co-existed to direct the actions of users. In this regard, the theoretical orientations of legal pluralism in water right paradigms proved to coincide with the pragmatic contexts of water users from the scheme. Conflicts in connection to irrigation water use and righls, that have escalated over years, have been altribllted to the decline in the voillme ofwaler resources, institutionalfailllres to address the causes adeqllately, week observance 0 11 governing water right rules and increaSing demand of lIsers. As a result, negotiation processes aiming to settle dispules were repeatedly initiated either by users, committee members (elders) or courts. The procedures pursed to narrow the contrasting interests around the scheme verified the pragmatic applicability of the central arguments of hoth cyclical alld developmental models of negotiation processes discussed thoroughly by Gulliver. Thus, in the face of growing demand~' on a declining water resource, the findings of this research revealed out that concerned individuals or relevant instillltiollS need to exert fllrther endeavor on the formulation oj water poliCies that clearly stiplliate specific irrigation waleI' entitlements oj 1Isers in a turmoil environment. Enforcemellts 0 11 the jrame oj references set on the water manila I need to be rigorously checked on practical implementations. Consciousness hllildings 0 11 irrigatiol1 waler right claims, promotion of negotiated approaches in disputes alld particular accentuation on customary rules of resource use constituted the dimensions seeking meticulous considerations il1 prospect.en-USIrrigators in West Shew a ZoneThesis