AN ILLUSTRATIVE STORY OF THE REVIVAL OF SEVERAL RIVERS AND RIVULETS THROUGH AN APPROPRIATE & EFFECTIVE STRATEGY IN WATER HARVESTING IN THE TRIBAL REGIONS OF WESTERN INDIA :

River Kali - II is a local small river partly flowing through Dahod Tehsil and partly Jhalod Tehsil of District Dahod, Gujarat.   It is a predominantly tribal area.  Several tribal villages are situated along the banks of this river.  This river and the people around it have witnessed three sharp changes in the last half-century.  The elderly people telling us the story of this river being perennial before 50 years.  After that till recent times, suddenly the water disappears from this river for about 6 - 8 months in a year.  After monsoon, i.e. from October to December, the river flow would be nominal, and come January and there would be no flow with the entire river drying up.

But, in the recent and latest development, the entire river is almost full of water even during the driest summer months of April - May - June.  This is not due to any magic.  This amazing change has been brought in by the appropriate technological interventions in the form of series of small masonry water harvesting structures (small check dams) at the appropriate distance across the entire length of the river.  People on the two banks of this river have very interesting observations and equally interesting new demands.  They tell us that before this series of check dams, they were crossing the river at any point from October onwards to the monsoon season (from October to June).  But, now when they reach the river, they have to think from where to cross it.  They are infact, very happy with this development seeing their river full of water during the summer, but, they now want culverts / bridges along the river so that they can easily cross the river.  They have now placed their demand for such culverts on this river. Meanwhile, improvising the design of the check dams, the implementing NGO has provided cause-way on most of the check dams so that atleast people and cattles can cross the river easily.

The impact of this series of water harvesting structures on the river has been astonishing in the form of increased irrigation, availability of water round the year for people and cattle, increase in subsoil water level in the adjacent area and above all due to the availability of water and food self sufficiency, the seasonal migration rate which was around 70 % of the population of any village on this river has come down to below 10 %.  On this river, there are now 18 community lift irrigation systems installed, irrigating 3,100 acres of the land in Rabi alone.  This development took place because of series of water harvesting structures in such a small source, offering benefit to all the villages situated on this river. 

River Kali-II is not an isolated example of almost optimum water harvesting.  Khan, Kali-I, Dudhimati, Machhan, Hadaf, Panam, Walwa, Welwa, Wankdi, Ujol, Chandroi, etc. in Gujarat and Pat, Sangus, Ranek, Negdi, Hiren, Jiradhara, Telni, Pundiya, etc. in Banswara, Rajasthan, Kshipra, Chambal, Kalisindh, Ahu in Jhalawar, Rajasthan, totally about 62 local rivers, rivulets have been almost optimally harvested through the series of structures on these water sources mainly in about 75 kms radius (excepting Jhalawar region), cutting across the borders of 3 States, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.  These 62 local rivers and rivulets have been revived, making them perennial. More such sources (small rivers and rivulets) are being developed under this approach every year, and thus, the process of revival of rivers and rivulets has been going on continuously and effectively under Sadguru approach.

In the latest development, big rivers have been harvested with small water harvesting structures without affecting people or property.  Big rivers like Chambal and Kshipra have been recently harvested with small structures.  On river Kshipra a border river of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, five such water harvesting structures have been raised and as a result, in the driest of the summer months (March-June 2003) this river was full of water for more than 27 kilometers at a stretch, against the scenario that elsewhere in this river there was no water during above summer months.  This approach of small structures on big rivers has a special and significant message to the irrigation planners of our country and elsewhere.
 

UPSTREAM - DOWNSTREAM DEVELOPMENT

In the water resources development and management, the issue of upstream and downstream development has not been attended seriously by the irrigation planners and the government as a whole.  Particularly, when big system is created, it leaves upstream and downstream of the source high and dry.  Such big structure creates almost monopoly of the source at the cost of entire upstream and downstream region.  All principles of equity and riparian rights are thrown to the winds in not allowing the structures often small structures, in upstream.  This policy is utterly unjust, un-called for and technically also not desirable.  There are technical solutions to such unjust policy.  When it is utmost necessary, the state may go for big system.  No problem.  But, at the same time small structures in the upstream need to be permitted to meet the needs of upstream inhabitants.  Even if it amounts to somewhat less water going to big system, such small structures have to be offered for the upstream villages which have suffered due to the creation of big system.  There could be a practical formula that the entire monsoon flow will go to the big system and post monsoon flow could be harvested by small harvesting structures with gated structures.  The deficit in the command of big system could be as well compensated by the area irrigated from such small structures.  There is big advantage in such small structures that they would be managed by the farmers themselves or their organizations, unlike big systems.  This approach will also revive the river which has dried up because of big structures.  Also, when there are series of small structures upstream of big system, the base flow will improve.  The use of upstream structures would be invariably by lift irrigation systems, which would be much more efficient than the flow irrigation. 

The structures on downstream of big systems should have no problem with the big system upstream.  The overflow of big system, the seepages of big system and more importantly the return flow of the canals of big system coming back to the river system, will ensure recharging of small structures downstream of big systems.  We all know that in big systems often the canals flow without use at night, and therefore, such wastage of water could be brought back to the river system to benefit the downstream villages not served by the canal system.  It may be possible at many places that canals length could be reduced if such small structures can serve part of the command of big system. 

The above approach of the development of water resources through small structures on upstream and downstream of big systems would be very helpful in the irrigation management as a whole, serving more needy in more efficient manner. 

Sadguru Foundation has adopted above approach on downstream and upstream of big and medium systems of the government and the approach has been proved very successful to the farmers. 
 

DROUGHT AND CHECK DAMS

Even during the consecutive four years of drought (1999 to 2002), an unusual phenomenon in hundred year’s history of the region, most of the check dams had adequate water supply for the people and cattle dependent on the river.  The consecutive drought of four years had its own adverse impact on check dams and water storage.  However, due to series of check dams on the same source, the sub-soil water has increased and as a result, large numbers of open dug wells have been recharged.  In new and innovative approach, open dug wells are constructed downstream of the check dams, so that even if there is no water in check dam, there is enough water in such open dug wells taking care of the drinking water requirement of the people. 

Large number of these water-harvesting structures, though small, have capacity to store water ranging from 10-26 mcft in most of the check dams and in recently constructed check dams on big rivers like Chambal and Kshipra, the storage capacity ranges from 40-90 mcft in each check dam.  This is sizeable storage.  Another very important aspect of our structures is that comparing the ultimate benefits in the form of storage capacity, their cost is one fifth of the similar structures constructed by the Government.  High degree of specialization and acumen acquired by our highly qualified and richly experienced engineers get reflected in such amazing cost effectiveness of our structures.  

Our structures are both useful and beautiful, reflecting the aesthetic sense of the engineers and organization. 

At the time of preparing this document in October 2005, the biggest check dam though small in technical definition is being constructed on river Mahi on the border of Banswara and Dungarpur district at Baneshwardham at the cost of Rs. 4.50 crores which will store water of about 310 mcft, a huge storage by the standard of small structure. 
 

ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECT

All these water-harvesting structures are harmless to anyone from any aspect and they are fully environment friendly.  Not a single human being is uprooted, not an inch of land has been submerged, no damage or loss of property, tree or forest under this approach.  The approach has, infact, expanded the natural resource base. 

So much is the positive impact of these check dams, along with the good watershed development programme that in our project area the ground water table has increased in recent years as acknowledged by the study by the Central Ground Water Board and other studies.  We are told this is the only sub-region in Gujarat, which has witnessed rise in the ground water, quite in contrast to the situation in the entire State where ground water has been alarmingly depleted. 
 

EQUITY

In these days lot of people talk on equity in any development programme, sometime just out of fashion and sometime genuinely.   The author believes that the perfect equity is perhaps utopian phenomenon, which is easier to talk than to achieve.  It is an ideal, which may not be possible to achieve in each and every field and at each and every place. Yet, by and large in the water harvesting approach of Sadguru Foundation, fair degree of equity is observed. When the entire river is harvested and each and every village situated along the river has got the benefit of water stored through the series of structures, the concept of equity to the extent achievable is ensured. 

Also, the villages where these check dams are constructed are not the part of any medium or major irrigation system.  Thus, these check dams meet the needs of people who are deprived of major and medium system. 

Another equity aspect of these check dams is that they are all benefiting the poorest of the people (our tribal people) and thereby these check dams not only benefit to the most dis-advantaged and deprived people, but also bridge the imbalance between the progressive regions and backward regions.
 

COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT

All these water harvesting structures, though technically small, each benefits at an average more than 100 families.  In many a cases, relatively bigger structures, though technically small, serves more than 500 families.  Local peoples initiative, participation and management are total in the entire process of such structures.  The structures are created at the initiative of the local community, the sites are selected according to peoples' opinion, subject to the technical feasibility.  Their involvement in the construction and the post construction management is total.  Under the technical guidance of NGO, local non-technical supervisors are trained to accomplish these structures.  Two persons selected by the community, one man and one woman, supervise the entire process of construction.  The post construction management is handed over to the local community.  The structures on which lift irrigation schemes are installed and managed by the lift irrigation co-operatives as the beneficiaries of the check dams and lift irrigation scheme are the same and where there is no lift irrigation scheme, the structures are managed by the community forming a group.  The post construction reparation, maintenance and management are fully looked after by the community. 
 

POTENTIAL

What has been done in the tribal region of Western India by one NGO in the field of water resources, particularly, in water harvesting is of great significance, but, much greater significance of this development lies in the tremendous potential of similar development in all the tribal regions of our country, particularly, the more vulnerable and extremely poor tribal regions in the Central - West part of our country. 

About 75 % of the total tribal population of our country is concentrated in 8 States, namely, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra, broadly located in the Central - West and forming almost contiguous tribal belt.

By any yardstick or indicators the tribal regions of these 8 States are among the most backward and poor.  Yet, paradoxically, all these regions are rich in natural resources, and therefore, these regions and the people should not have been so poor.  I am not going to deal with the minerals of these regions.  Its a different story by itself, in which the mining and the industrial development based on such minerals have not helped very much to the local tribals, which incidentally is a pointer to those who think that industrial development is the only solution for the removal of tribal poverty.

Talking on the potential for the water harvesting in these 8 States, particularly, in the tribal regions of these States, the potential lies in the average rainfall, which is about 1,000 mm, with minimum being 800 mm and maximum touching 1,600 mm.  Combining this rainfall with the topography and network of drainage systems, it offers a great scope for water harvesting through the structures, mainly small structures. 

There are 47 Districts in above 8 Central - West States, which have either the predominance of tribal population or sizeable tribal population in part of some Districts.  Considering the rainfall, rivers, rivulets and entire drainage systems in these regions, presumably, there could be potential for approximately 45,000 small water harvesting structures.  Based on the experience in the region, at an average about 100 families may benefit from one water harvesting structure. Thus, on full exploitation of the potential, about 46,00,000 (4.6 million) families and about 2,50,00,000 (25 million) people could benefit.  This single programme of water harvesting on such a large scale could benefit sizeable tribal population of the regions.  If the big rivers are tapped with series of Bandharas and the entire programme is integrated with watershed development, emphasizing on tree plantation on the suitable land, majority of the tribal population of the entire region could be immensely benefited.  Water and trees put together could benefit more than 5 crores (50 million) of people, mostly tribals, in the region through the environmental friendly programme, enriching the environment and people.  

On the potential for the small scale water harvesting structures at the macro level of nation as a whole, adding remaining more than 300 non-tribal districts, there could be scope for about 2,00,000 (0.2 million) small scale water harvesting structures on rivers, rivulets and nallas.  Considering 25 % over estimation, then also the potential is enormous.  

The question is how to transform this potential into concrete development.  Who will do it and how ?  It is also imperative that the planners and the Governments acknowledge the potential for the small-scale water harvesting structures and give highest priority in the State and National planning.  We cannot survive without water and we just cannot ignore the potential for the small-scale water harvesting structures.  

In India for any farmer and community, the irrigation is number one priority.  Hence, wherever there is potential for irrigation, it has to be accorded the highest priority.  In our enthusiasm for new ideas, new approaches, the basic need of people should not be forgotten by the donors and the planners.

We are at the fringe of peril in the water sector and have already reached an alarming situation.  The four successive drought years (1999 to 2002) have exposed our planning and implementation of water resources development.  Our cities and villages are just not in a position to withstand the onslaught of water scarcity.  The present is dark and the future will create unimaginable and unprecedented situation, unless appropriate and speedy measures are taken in water harvesting and water management. Any technology, traditional or modern, any method of harvesting, relevant to the specific region and capable of bringing in effective and sustainable results, has to be adopted for the future of this country vis-à-vis the water requirements.  Any bias for or against any size, system or technology in water harvesting field will not do good to the country, where large parts face recurring and often chronic shortage of water.  It is a challenging situation, but not hopeless if we muster our resources and plan and implement sound programmes, based on several successful experiences. 

30.11.2007