Community Driven Decentralized Natural Resource Management

Modern Problems: Traditional Solutions Climate Change/ Water & Food Security

AN EXPERIENCE OF TARUN BHARAT SANGH

By: Rajendra Singh,TBS 14th June 2011

Traditional
THERE ARE VARIOUS METHODS OF WATER HARVESTING EXISTING IN INDIA. -

WATER HARVESTING SYSTEMS IN INDIA

THE MAIN COMMON PECULARITIES OF ALL SYSTEM ARE : USE OF LOCAL RESOURCES AND TECHNOLOGY COMMUNITY BASED OPERATION COMMUNITY DRIVEN DE-CENTRALISED WATER MANAGEMENT CONSERVATION AND DISCIPLINED USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES

..Since beginning

...

EAUTIFUL

& SUSTAINABLE

Why
       

THEY WENT OUT OF USE?

INCREASE IN HUMAN AND LIVESTOCK POPULATION WATER EXTRACTION TECHNOLOGY CHANGED PARADIGM OF DEVELOPMENT STATE TAKEOVER OF COMMUNITY FUNCTIONS CREATION OF DEPENDENCY SYNDROME DISINTEGRATION OF COMMUNITY INSTITUTIONS PEOPLE LOST INITIATIVES AND CREATIVITY NEGLECT OF TRADITIONAL SYSTEMS

REVIVAL OF SYSTEMS USING INDIGENIOUS KNOWLEDGE



INTERVENTIONS UNDERSTANDING TRADITIONAL SYSTEMS AND USE OF INDIGENIOUS KNOWLEDGE MOBILISATION OF COMMUNITY AROUND LAND, WATER, AND FOREST PARTICIPATION IN REJUVENATING OLD STRUCTURES AND CONSTRUCTION OF NEW STRUCTURES CREATION OF NEW VILLAGE LEVEL AND RIVER BASIN INSTITUTIONS

1985
Degraded and barren land in the catchment areas of Arvari river & extended drought had forced people to migrate out of their villages.

THE SITUATION IN

1985

Maximum possible use was made of peoples traditional technology and wisdom with the help and advice from engineers if needed.

Minimum 30% of total cost was to be contributed by community for each project the rest was to come from financial support agencies through TBS

WATER harvesting structures taking shape

Johads and dams are usually built on small tributaries uphill and they directly benefit the forests on the hill.

BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER

Success of the first Johad inspired people to take up the building of more such structures the connection between water and forests was made and this also led to the revival of traditional rules. In the past, forest ownership had been taken over by the Forest Department, leading to alienation of the people and loss of traditions of conservation making it difficult to bring people together again.

Types of RWH structures



ANICUTS are built on common land and dam the main reach of the rivulets. They are generally made of cement and stone or concrete. These structures have a very large impact on local groundwater tables. BANDHS are similar to anicuts. They are made up of concrete in the middle, but the outer edges are of earth, and some are entirely made of earth. The main purpose of a bandh is recharge. JOHADS are small earthen dams shaped like a crescent moon. The main purposes of johads are for livestock drinking and bathing water. TALABS are deep hole or pond-like structures that has high raised edges on 3 sides made of earth. Monsoon water is collected in the talabs for village use and livestock drinking. MEDHBANDHIS are constructed in cultivated fields. The lower sides of the fields are raised to retain runoff to increase soil moisture content and retaining moisture for agriculture. TANKAS are underground structure for collecting rain water for human drinking purpose.

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Types of RWH structures



ANICUTS are built on common land and dam the main reach of the rivulets. They are generally made of cement and stone or concrete. These structures have a very large impact on local groundwater tables. BANDHS are similar to anicuts. They are made up of concrete in the middle, but the outer edges are of earth, and some are entirely made of earth. The main purpose of a bandh is recharge. JOHADS are small earthen dams shaped like a crescent moon. The main purposes of johads are for livestock drinking and bathing water. TALABS are deep hole or pond-like structures that has high raised edges on 3 sides made of earth. Monsoon water is collected in the talabs for village use and livestock drinking. MEDHBANDHIS are constructed in cultivated fields. The lower sides of the fields are raised to retain runoff to increase soil moisture content and retaining moisture for agriculture. TANKAS are underground structure for collecting rain water for human drinking purpose.

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Agricultural farms near a Rainwater harvesting structure : ANICUT 14

A Rainwater harvesting structure : BANDH 15

A Rainwater harvesting structure : JOHAD 16

A Rainwater harvesting structure : MEDHBANDHI 17

Woman fetching water from a Rainwater harvesting structure : TANKA 18

Ideas into reality

COMPLETED STRUCTURES ON Bhagani BASIN

River Goes Dry:

River is flowing:

-Increased Groundwater Recharge Excess withdrawal of Groundwater -Less Groundwater Extraction

BENEFITS

1. Sustainable & Reliable water availability for Human beings and livestock 2. Increase in agriculture and milk production ensuring food security 3. Restoration of ecology and bio-diversity in the area as an adaptation to climate change

SMALL INPUTS : GREAT RETURNS

Increasing investment on small water conservation works brings increasing economic returns. An investment of Rs.100 per capita on Johad raises the economic production in the village by as much as Rs.400 per capita per annum.

The River Basin Organization Water Demand side management

Rules are framed about issues of water conservation and utilization, and forest conservation.

11 ASPECTS OF The River Basin Org.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Framing of rules regarding direct irrigation from the Bhagani river and the wells. Framing of rules regarding crops and cattle feed. Rules to first fulfill local needs with crop production. No sale of water and conservation of fishes in the river. Restriction on the sale of land and the efforts to reduce the need to sell land. Making the whole river area green, ban mining and restrict extended grazing by nomadic grazers. Restrictions on hunting of animals and illegal cutting of trees. Revive traditional methods of water and forest conservation. Prevent over exploitation of water and promote water conservation work.

10. Establish an active system of the management of the river. 11. Define and redefine the role of the village communities.

BLUE brought GREEN

BLUE brought PROSPERITY

BLUE brought HAPPINESS

Catchment area RWH structure

RWH structures built by TBS in Alwar district of33 Rajasthan

Impact on recharge of groundwater in TBS project area

Item Rainfall Natural Recharge Artificial Recharge Evaporation and evapotranspiration from bare soil and plants Runoff (monsoon period) Runoff (non-monsoon period) Before 1990 100% 15% nil 50% After 1995 100% 15% 15% 60%

Change Nil Nil + 15% + 10% - 25% +20%

35% nil

10% 20%

There is a reduction in monsoon runoff by 25% due to water being arrested in the large number of RWH built with TBS assistance. This leads to greater recharge of ground water. Previously only 15% water was being recharged naturally. Now an additional 15% is recharged R e f e rartificially. yThe T B S s w o r k s u n waterk recharged N A t h a v a l e ,from r previous n t i s t , e n c e : A s t u d o n total ground d e r t o o b y D r . R increases E m e i t u s S c i e 34 National Geophysical Research Insitute, Hyderabad. 15% to present 30%.

Relation between RWH and ground-water table in TBS project area



Spearmans Rank Order Coefficient of Correlation (R) between the storage capacity created (due to RWH) in m3 /hectare and the rise in ground water table is 77%. The correlation might have been even higher, if it was not for the differences of geology, terrain, and water abstraction rates which do vary from village to village. For all practical purposes, the high value of R shows that the groundwater table rise is a direct impact of the water conservation efforts taken by TBS.

Reference: A study on TBSs works in 36 villages undertook by Dr. GD Agarwal, Emeritus Professor, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur.

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WATER for drinking CASE STUDY- Village Buja

No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total depth of well (in feet) 1988 81 73 67 55.5 81 69 43 83 80.5 66.5 Water level before TBS intervention (in feet) Dry completely Dry completely 3 Dry completely 10 20 15 20 19 Dry completely Water After 1994 (in feet) 44.5 37 40.5 27 66 50 35 58 55 25

Change + 44.5 + 37 + 37.5 + 27 + 56 + 30 + 20 + 38 + 36 + 25

The water from wells is used for drinking purpose. Increase in water level of wells ensures the reliable availability of water for inhabitants (even in drought years). Increase in water level reduces the drudgery of women in fetching water. Rejuvenation of dried wells increase the no. of water resources in the area.
Reference: A study on TBSs works undertook by Mr. Ranjan Samant Ray, currently working with World Bank, India.

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WATER for drinking CASE STUDY- Village Binak

Name of Village Water Harvesting Structure Binak, Alwar Main Occupation Animal Husbandry & Agriculture IMPACTS There was only one well earlier catering to the village which used to get dry soon after rains. After rain water harvesting, water table has risen by 5 feet. Drinking water is available in well for 10 months for animals and human population or till water remains in johad. Since the construction of Med Bandhis, the soil erosion has stopped. Rather fresh soil is accumulated and soil moisture content has increased resulting in new crop Earlier there used to be only rain fed crops. Now second crops are taken in some areas due to increased soil moisture content. No. of trees in the village are gradually increasing. Before the construction of water harvesting structure the villagers used to migrate after 4 months of rain. Now they have work almost round the year and drinking water as well as fodder for the cattle and hence stopped migrating in search of jobs.

Drinking Water

Johad- 3 Anicut- 1 Med Bandhi- 3

Soil Erosion

Agriculture

Environment/ Migration

Reference: A study on TBSs works in 40 villages undertook by Dr. K.N Joshi, Institute of Development Studies, Jaipur

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WATER for food

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Impact on irrigation

Area Irrigated (hectare) PARTICULARS Area irrigated 1995 96.61 162.11 Area irrigated 2000 204.34 162.36

Change + 107.74 + 0.25

Project Villages Control Villages

The impact of RWH done by the help of TBS is dramatic. The increase in irrigated area in a TBS-intervention villages is 108 hectares against mere 0.25 hectare in control villages. More Irrigated Land = More Crop = More Production
Reference: A study on TBSs works in 54 villages undertook by Mr. Bharat Jhunjhunwala, an eminent economist of India.

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Decrease in wasteland
Wasteland category Barren land Degraded forest Land with or without scrub Ravinous land Salt affected land Area in 1993 (ha) 7382 38401 10711 1525 137 No. of RWH structures 30 61 45 4 Area in 2001 (ha) 5261 20129 17390 2075 4530 Net change in area (ha) - 2121 - 18272 + 6679 + 550 + 4393 % change in area - 29 - 47 + 62 + 36 + 32

Total

58156

140

44855

- 13301

-23

A study of remote sensing data of the Ruparel basin for 1993 and 2001 reports a positive impact on land use. This links a 23% reduction in the extent of wasteland to the construction of water harvesting structures in the area.
Reference: A study on TBSs works in 40 villages undertook by Dr. K.N Joshi, Institute of Development Studies, Jaipur

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Decrease in wasteland
Area under wasteland 1993 (ha) 337.5 1057.5 2912 80 No. of RWH structures 21 55 48 NIL NIL Area under wasteland 2001 (ha) NIL NIL 2125 559 666

Micro-watershed No. 2C 5D 2A 2C 5D 3A 2C 5D 3B 2C 5D 3C 2C 5D 3J

It is clear from table, the wasteland has been decreased in the area where rain-water harvesting has been done while the wasteland has increased where NO water harvesting has been done.
Reference: A study on TBSs works in 40 villages undertook by Dr. K.N Joshi, Institute of Development Studies, Jaipur

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Waste land in Ruparel River Basin Micro-watershed: 2C 5D 3a In 1993 Total wasteland: 1057.5 ha

Reference: A study on TBSs works in 40 villages undertook by Dr. K.N.Joshi, Inst. of Development Studies, Jaipur

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Water Resource in Ruparel River Basin Micro-watershed: 2C5D3a After 1993 55 RWH structures have been built by TBS in the microwatershed: 2C5D3a RWH marked in the Picture.
Reference: A study on TBSs works in 40 villages undertook by Dr. K.N.Joshi, Inst. of Development Studies, Jaipur

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Land Use in Ruparel River Basin Micro-watershed: 2C 5D 3a In 2001 Total wasteland: Nil Most part of the land has been converted into agricultural land or seen as fallow land
Reference: A study on TBSs works in 40 villages undertook by Dr. K.N.Joshi, Inst. of Development Studies, Jaipur.

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Peoples Perception on benefits of RWH

72% of the people testifies a rise in water table 62% said that incomes have gone up 57% said that the area under irrigation has increased 50% perceive an increase in cultivated area, crop production, grass productivity, the number of trees in the vicinity of structures 27% perceive increase in milk yield
Reference: A study on TBSs works in 40 villages undertook by Dr. K.N Joshi, Institute of Development Studies, Jaipur

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WATER for prosperity CASE STUDY- Village Nimbi

INDICATOR Wheat production Income by wheat prod. Maize production Income by maize prod. Income by Milk Production Income by flower production Rent of land per year Total income of village of village per year Population of village

BEFORE TBSs intervention BEFORE 1998 5 quintal/beegha Rs 9,00,000/3 quintal/beegha Rs 4,80,000/Rs 21,60,000/nill Rs 3000/Rs 22,40,000/800

AFTER TBSs intervention AFTER 2001 8 quintal/beegha Rs 14,40,000/5 quintal/beegha Rs 8,00,000/Rs 14,40,000/Rs 3,96,000/Rs 12,000/Rs 59,96,000/800

Per capita income per year

Rs 2800/-

Rs 7495/-

Due to the increased level of farming and related activities, employment generation has taken place. Laborers from other parts of the country are now hired to work in the fields. This case study is mirror of the sustainable economic prosperity of many other hundreds of villages , in which TBS had built RWH structures with the active participation of local community, like wise ;Nimbi.

Reference: A study on TBSs works done by students of Indian Institute of Rural Managament, Anand in 2002.

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Enough water for irrigation from wells47

WATER for nature

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Antelope drinking water from a RWH structure built by TBS in Sariska National 49 Park

Dark Zone to FLOW



The impact of 25 years of tireless effort has turned the Thanagazi block of Alwar from dark zone to white zone. River based RWH has led to the rejuvenation of dried seasonal rivulets in the area. Now, these rivulets flow for almost 9 to 12 months of the year.

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The magic of Bhagani river over 12 years

The river had disappeared in 1940s, and was revived in 1997 through the efforts of Tarun Bharat Sangh

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Catchment Area of Rivulet Bhagani-Tildeh Catchment area: 208 sq. km Total length of Rivulet: 49 km Total RWH structures made by TBS in the catchment: 120

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Catchment Area of Rivulet Sarsa Catchment area: 278.8 sq. km Total length of Rivulet: 44.34 km Total RWH structures made by TBS in the catchment: 267

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Catchment Area of Rivulet Sarsa Catchment area: 89sq. km Total length of Rivulet: 20 km Total RWH structures made by TBS in the catchment: 122

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Concept of flowing
After RWH structures were built by TBS, there is an additional recharge of groundwater to the tune of 20 per cent. Though the base flow to the stream or river remained the same, there is an additional seepage (effluent seepage) of 17 per cent of rainfall to the river in non-monsoon months. Seasonal run-off has come down from 35 per cent of the rainwater to only 10 per cent. There has been an increase in soil moisture: an additional 5 per cent of the rainwater is retained in the soil. About 22 per cent of the run-off (excluding the 10 per cent seasonal run-off during the monsoon) is better regulated and spread out over the year. This has been crucial in reviving the dried rivulets. If this run-off had not been regulated, the river would not flow throughout the year. This shows how fragile the ecosystem is...

Reference: A study on TBSs works undertook by Dr. R N Athavale, Emeritus Scientist, National Geophysical Research Insitute, Hyderabad.

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Water Management
After conservation, the main issue surfaces up is the management of water. To encounter this, TBS has made community-based river-basin organization which works on the demand-side water management. TWO MAIN POLICIES ARE:


Compensatory Agricultural Crop Pattern: Under this system, a farmer can devote 25% of his land under water intensive crop but the rest of landholding should be under less water intensive crops. Another triumphant policy is to prevent the sale of agricultural land to industries or big private companies interested in water based enterprises such as brewery, soft-drinks, mineral-water etc.

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Adaptation to climate change

The climate change is affecting various aspects of the human lives and ecology. Water resources is among the most vulnerable sectors to be affected by the climate change. Change in rain-fall pattern is believed to exacerbate the scenario. The TBS experiences reveal that promotion of traditional water harvesting structures through appropriate institutional mechanisms and financial arrangements would be the best intervention or adaptive mechanism to reduce the adverse impact of climate change on groundwater resources as well as farm economy based livelihood.

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Reasons for Success



Traditional and simple water harvesting structures have been built requiring little capacity building of village people. Community has been involved in every stage of decision making. TBS has ensured involvement of all sections of the population. The dedicated local workers of TBS has ensured that the problems at community level get sorted amicably. Quick & visual demonstration effect of TBS' work in terms of availability of water for drinking and agriculture. Financial operations of TBS have been very transparent and clean. In comparison with structures built under Government programmes, TBS has built better quality structures at a significantly lower cost in much lesser time.

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USE OF INDIGENEOUS KNOWLEDGE IN TBS WORK

AWARENESS IN THE COMMUNITY Awareness of various aspects of water management Respect for culture, traditions and historical practices Will to work together for communitys common interest WORKING STRATEGY Constitution of Village Councils Monthly meetings of all grown ups Maximum possible use of traditional technology with advice from engineers if needed All decisions including technical (siting, materials, design etc.) by Gram Sabha All decisions by consensus, and not majority Role of women in helping reach consensus Min. 30% of total cost contribution by community rest from support agencies thru TBS

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE Total responsibility assumed by the community WATER ABSTRACTION AND USE MANAGEMENT River Based Organzation Responsible for planning & enforcing sustainable use of water, particularly in agriculture

Future Way of Tarun Bharat Sangh

Key Issues to be addressed
Governance: Good water governance requires effective and accountable socio-political and administrative systems adopting an Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) approach with transparent and participatory processes that address ecological and human needs. Capacity Building: The need for capacity building, education and access to information for enhanced effectiveness in water management is unquestioned. These critical elements of the water development process are often treated as an add-on to programs, with scant regard to local capacity-building institutions, gender mainstreaming, cultural diversity and traditional knowledge or to long-term commitment. Participation: Now it has been realized that water is a multi-stakeholder issue. There is a need for a closer examination of participation based on race, ethnicity, economic status, age, and religion to ensure inclusiveness.

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Cont
Recommended actions for future
1. Institutionalize policy advocacy  Facilitate thinking outside the "water box" to mitigate Climate Change Impacts  Creating National Awareness and political support for water conservation  Review and revise national laws and policies to reflect the principles of the right to water and sanitation 2. Strengthen water governance  Strengthen Local Action to Improve Water Governance 3. River basin management through IWRM approach  Promote IWRM approach to address adaptation to climate change.  Scale-up the rainwater harvesting systems.  Increase the number of river and lake basin and groundwater organizations, their strength and capacity.  Build on existing local knowledge.  Integrate social and ecological sustainability.

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63

That
is how

BLUE
brought

CHANGE

info@tarunbharatsangh.org watermantbs@yahoo.com
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