Water resource is critical for
perennial irrigation and sustainable life
Why Water Resource Development ?
50% of the population in Palghar has zero or minimal water for irrigation in post monsoon season, thus leading to distressed migration. Long distance of walking for fetching drinking water makes life tough for women in rural areas.
Lift Irrigation is a type of irrigation where some water is lifted from a nearby lake, canal or river with an electric pump and transported through pipes to a water discharge point. This discharge point is strategically located so that it can irrigate three to four farmlands in the vicinity.
Unlike gravity-fed canal systems, lift irrigation does not transport water by its natural flow but with the help of an electric pump. Such a method is very useful for water starved agricultural lands that are on a higher ground than its nearest water body and when the natural contours of the land are not favorable for a gravitational flow to the point of irrigation or water discharge point.
- Meeting with farmers undergoing a water scarcity for irrigation – these farmers are those who are already associated with the rural development program and are on the path to sustainable farming practices.
- Draft a long term plan based on discussion at meeting.
- Decide on farmer’s monetary contribution - a nominal amount which is about 1% to 2% of the total cost for maintenance.
- Conduct a land survey with technicians.
- Land and contour mapping with experts.
- Earthworks for underground water pipelines.
- All of the above are done in line with the closest river or occasionally a well.
- A documented report is made and given to the respective farmers with complete financial details so that they are fully involved from the start and are accountable for the project.
- At this stage, there is greater accountability to run and maintain the lift irrigation system by the farmers.
- The Farmers co-operative (Shetkari Mandal) is of key significance with one elected representative and one President from amongst the farmer user group.
- The farmers pay an hourly usage fee after discussion with their committee.
- Our organization’s employee will monitor the smooth functioning and maintenance of Lift Irrigation project for one year.
Organization is also responsible for capacity building of the farmer group.
The Farmers co-operative maintains the accounts with a periodic report by a representative that is shared amongst the stakeholders. This report contains logs such as how much water was drawn, individual usage, and power failures.
Safe drinking water is a basic necessity, but in rural villages of Palghar district women walk long distances to collect drinking water. Daily walks through treacherous paths in extreme weather conditions exposes them to various health related issues.
- Based on the local situation we adopt a customised approach for drinking water facility like
- Exploring scope of developing water sources like borewells.
- Installing them at strategic locations through handpumps.
- Repairing/refurbishing or deepening of old borewells and handpumps in the villages, desalting wells, and fixing pulleys to pull water from well.
- Installing water storage tanks in villages for ease of access by community, and systems to pump water from its source.
A large section of our project area water resource programme falls in the rural village far away from any source of water, thus we have customized approach. Need analysis of such villages is done to identify seasonal sources of water such as natural springs that can be used as a resource for continuous water supply to farms for irrigation for more than one crop.
Farm ponds are made in farmland, especially for harvesting rain water and the nearest well or water body for irrigation is located at a distance from the farmland. In peak summer when water not available in farm pond then water is pumped up from the nearest water body, usually a well, to pond, where it can be stored. Once the water in it is replenished after a couple of days, water is once again pumped into it.Some of the various customised initiatives for water resources are:
Small wells are dug with a JCB with an underground spring as the source of water. These are useful in hilly terrains where lift irrigation is not feasible and the number of prospective beneficiaries is fewer.
Jal Kunds these are permanent structures that are 4 feet wide x 6 feet long and 3 feet deep. They are made with bricks and cement. The source of water is the nearest well which is about 100 to 200 metres away. A motor engine is used to pump up the water through a pipe to the Jalkunds.
Water wells require regular maintenance to ensure adequate water flow and continued drinking water safety. Well casing repair is commonly required following minor seismic activity or earthquakes or simply due to casing deterioration. This activity can cause cracks or splits in the well casing and allow sand or other material into the well. Well casing repair can fix the damage to the well and restore the water flow to its normal range. Due to the nature of damage in well casing repair cases, the most important thing is to accurately assess the damage to the well. The best way to inspect the well is to lower a camera down the shaft and get a visual inspection of the entire well casing. If well casing repair is really needed, it is highly recommended to perform the well casing repair.
Check dam is a small, often temporary, dam constructed across a swale, drainage ditch, or waterway to counteract erosion by reducing water flow velocity. Harvested rain water used for land irrigation and to increase underground recharge body.
Our Impact
Hamrapur, Wada, Palghar 421 303, India
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