Effectiveness of maintenance works of land reclamation equipment in the ″Rowy″ programme

The objective of the presented work was the analysis of the effectiveness of conservation works in water courses and in basic melioration canals, in the years 2006-2010 within the "Rowy" (ditches) program realized on the example of the Leszno district. Subject of analyses were: the size of the material and financial outlauys, the range of the performed works and also the social aspects resulting from the realization of the program. The main objective of the program was the professional activation of unemployed persons from rural areas with a high danger of unemployment in a situation of an increased range of the necessary conservation works. The amount of financial means designed for the maintenance of water courses and melioration canals in the realization period did not ensure an adequate material range and the required frequency of conservation work performance, according to the technical requirements referring to the maintenance of water courses and canals. In the years 2006-2010, on the area of Leszno district, every year, the annual conservation covered from 59,8 to 107,1 km of water courses and canals making from 32 to 57% of the total evidenced length. Statistically, in the studied period, the conservation works were performed on the average, on less than one half of the length requiring such repair (41,4%) of the used water courses and melioration canals. The average real costs of the works amounted for the "Rowy" program 198 thous. PLN, and in the tender mode - 157 thous. PLN making 88% and 71% of the mean cost calculation value, respectively. The conservation works carried out in the tender mode were, from the economic point of view, more effective than in the "Rowy" program, and the mean unitary cost of the conservation of one kilometer of water course, or canal was 4115 PLN and 5030 PLN, respectively, to the advantage of the tender procedure.. The highest share in the cost, on the intermediate level of 77%, was covered by the Provincial Labour Office which financed the costs of the basic renumeration and the premium for social insurance, as well as the travel costs of the workers to the working place. The Regional Division of the Great Poland Management of Melioration and Water Installations in Leszno covered the cost of the purchase of protection clothes for workers and the necessary equipment, as well as the technical supervision of the works. So, the share in the costs amounted on the average to 9% of the total costs, The offices of towns and communes which co-financed the program on the average level of 14%, they paid the costs of the work fund the costs of medical examinations and the social expenses (for industrial safety purposes). The number of employed persons within the program agreed with the selfgovernments included in the particular years from 26 to 37 persons (on the average 31 physical workers) and the realization time was from 3 to 6 months in the year (on the average 4,8 month). In the "Rowy" program, in the years 2006-2010, persons from the group of professional risk (those who were without any job for more than 12 months and in the majority, they originated from the rural areas). Taking into consideration the range of the performed conservation works, it must be stated that the works which were planned for 5 years, have been carried out in 4 years, but not in 100%. The reasons for this result included among others, the absence of the workers because of sick leave, which made from 11 to 17% of the nominal time of work. The calculated cost of the employment of one worker in the "Rowy" program amounted in the analysed period from 1170 PLN to 1481 PLN per month and the mean value was 1324 PLN. The mean annual employment of 31 unemployed workers exerted a positive effect on their socio-economical situation by giving them a source of support and contributed to the counter-action against social exclusion by shortening the period of unemployment