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PREFICE

Meliorative region "Srem" stretches over the area from the mountain range Fruška Gora in the north to the river Sava in the south. The Danube bounds the area in the southeast, while on the west the project area is adjacent to the republic of Croatia. This territory gross area over 380 000 ha is divided by counties Šid, Sremska Mitrovica, Ruma, Pećinci, Irig, Indjija, Stara Pazova and Zemun. According to census from 1991 population of Srem stands at over 350 000 inhabitants settled in 110 communities (without Zemun).

The climate of this area is a steppe-pannonian modification of continental climate prevalent in whole Vojvodina with hot, frequently dry summers and hard winters. The average annual precipitation amounts 680 mm without uniform average monthly distribution over the year. The average sum precipitation figures decrease from the mountainous area in the west (780 mm) to the plain part in the south (580 mm - 650 mm). Moreover, during nonvegetational period, precipitation regime of Srem used to cause frequent floods and great damages (especially in the plain part). It was so until the construction of dikes, channels, pumping stations, reservoirs for torrent engineering and other structures for protection against adverse effects of excessive waters.

On the other side, during vegetational period, there is water deficiency as a limitation factor for regular production activities as well as for municipal water supply and other needs of the population. Therefore agriculture, as the most significant economy branch, suffers the losses. Worse yet they are increasing every year.

THE OBJECTIVE OF THE COMPLETION OF THE GENERAL PROJECT

The objective of the completion of the general project as a basis of Design Documentation, is to design the conception of solution of utilization of all natural and artificial potentials in accordance with a schedule and threshold of interest aimed at increase in food production and satisfaction of other needs regarding water, which is of great significance for further development of republic of Serbia.

The basis of completion of the General project of Srem water supply consisted of defined relevant factors: natural, social, needs for water, existing and planned drainage systems, possibilities of accumulating the water in Srem and needs of other water users. Gained results for analyzed facts were used as a basis and limitary conditions for completion of General project of irrigation.

NATURAL CONDITIONS - POTENTIALS FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

Natural conditions (soil, water, climate…) are the greatest natural wealth of Serbia, especially of Srem. They are incomparable to any other natural potential for economy development in close future. Particular value of natural potentials is a possibility of being restored (hydrological and biological cycle) and can be enhanced by human activity.
Agriculture is the most developed activity in Srem, which achieves the greatest income in the region. Gained results of the state of agricultural production, within existing conditions, represent relatively modest achievement comparing to potential soil capacity.

The vicinity of the Danube and the Sava provides irrigation water of appropriate quality. Geomorphologic properties and other natural agents provide possibilities of growing wide variety of cultures in plain parts of the region. Orchards, vineyards, and garden cultures yield the magnificent harvests.

CONDITIONS ACHIEVED BY HUMAN ACTIVITY

Due to human activity during previous period were put up:

	Significant hydro technical objects: levees (130 km), perimeter canals, channel network of first and lower level (4860 km), pumping stations for drainage and irrigation (SQinst= 115 m3/s) and reservoirs (12). Gross value of these objects is estimated at round five billion diners. These objects should be put to another function - irrigation so as to take full effect.
	Traffic infrastructure (roads, railways and water ways)
	Towns and settlements
	Industrial facilities such as refinerys (dairies, slaughter houses, silos, mills, fruit and vegetable refineries, bakeries etc.)

TECHHNICAL SOLUTION OF IRRIGATION

For selected alternative hydromeliorative system Srem with its 225 000 ha for irrigation consists of five compound subsystems:

	West Srem - upper zone (WU) - 34 000 ha
	West Srem - lower zone (WL) - 38 100 ha
	East Srem - upper zone (EU) - 54 300 ha
	East Srem - middle zone (EM) - 32 600 ha
	East Srem - lower zone (EL) - 65 400 ha

The layout of the subsystems, as well as their relation to irrigation water sources is shown at the picture.

Main water intakes for mentioned subsystems are pumping stations situated on the rivers Sava and Danube. Locations and capacities of those pumping stations for irrigation are shown in the next table.

total: 59.4 m³/s

The solution to providing Srem agricultural area with water is based on the utilization of the reservoirs (Fruška Gora's reservoirs for upper zone and channel reservoirs as well as those on the Bodut for lower zone) for multydiurnal water impoundment, which significantly decrease capacities of outer pumping and other objects within the system. Total storage volume of the reservoirs on Fruška Gora, connected so as to form one system, amounts 25 . 106 m3, while total storage volume of the Bosut's and channel reservoirs amounts to 20 . 106 m3.

The concatenation of the reservoirs on Fruška Gora was carried out by inner pumping stations with magisterial pipelines as distribution apparatuses (EU) or combined with channels. Distribution of water inside the subsystems pertaining to the Sava is carried out through existing channel network by conveying water from one channel reservoir to another or by pumping from the lower zone to the upper zone. Land areas without channel network are supplied with water by high-pressure pumps and pipeline network. Distribution of water from the lower zone to the upper zone is carried out only by pipeline network.

Accepted technical solution of irrigation includes over 60 different gates, 11 exterior stations and 20 channel pumping stations, over 40 distribution channels for irrigation and numerous other types of objects.

Total investment value of the system, beside the investment for civil engineering works, contains the costs of the equipment purchased for irrigation.

Total investment and its configuration for 225 000 Srem irrigation system is shown in next table.

CONSTRUCTION AND INVESTMENT SCHEDULE

Due to size of the system and holder relations, anticipated conditions of capital acquisition as well as other economic-technical conditions, the project implementation will be carried out in several phases during the period of 50 years. Determination of the phases was stipulated by specific investments and total annual costs of the subsystems. Namely, first phase implies realization of the subsystems, which are costly most effective. Furthermore, care was taken that completed part of the system represents a technical and operational entity in regard to production organization and payment of debts. Each phase functions independently and has possibility of bringing into being as soon as the construction is finished.

INVESTMENT EFFECTS ON SREM IRRIGATION

	Constant increase in production scope is provided;
	Agricultural output value in the area of irrigation should increase three times;
	Total investment (with the interest rate) pays off in ten years;
	Farmers profit is ten times higher after the completion of the system.

Institute for the development of water resources "Jaroslav Černi", 2001.