Scarcity amongst Plenty :

With annual rainfall more than 2500 mm, Shahapur Taluka of Thane District receives plenty of rainfall during monsoon. Dams like Tansa, Bhatsa and Vaitarna situated in Shahapur Taluka quench thirst of millions of Mumbaites living more than 100 kilometers away. Ironically the residents of several villages in the vicinity of these dams go thirsty from February onwards. Many villages have to be supplied water by tankers in months of April & May. The tribal villages of Shahapur Taluka which are located in the Sahyadri mountain ranges fall into this category. Women from these villages have to walk long distances in the blazing sun on mountainous paths, at times exceeding four kilometers, to fetch water. Acute water scarcity not only gives rise to drudgery but it also causes incidence of water borne diseases due to consumption of contaminated water affecting quality of life of the villagers. Moreover, it results in total dependence on monsoon-fed agriculture. Lack of sustainable livelihood compels tribal population to migrate in search of work.

Most of these tribal villages are situated on the hill-tops. Due to topographical conditions the rainwater runs off quickly and only small amount of water gets absorbed in the ground. Any water that goes underground is in the process of continuous transit to the sea level. The impervious bedrock and poor water-holding capacity of the soil are the main factors, which are responsible for this phenomenon which ultimately results in low ground water level. Soil erosion caused by indiscriminate felling of trees and unrestrained grazing has further aggravated the situation. It is almost 61 years since independence but lack of effective application of appropriate techniques on the part of government planners and execution agencies has made certain that there is no improvement in the quality of life of poor tribal communities.

With financial assistance from Oil Industry Development Board (OIDB)-Drought Relief Trust, New Delhi through BPCL (Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited), Bridge Trust implemented series of Rain Water Harvesting (RWH) programs in tribal villages of Shahapur Taluka since March 2006. Many villagers from Shahapur Taluka approached Bridge Trust for intervention which will ensure year round availability of water near their villages. In order to mitigate acute scarcity of drinking water, Bridge Trust jointly with BPCL, decided to launch a project involving rainwater harvesting by stopping the run-off in some of these villages. The project was called ‘Boond’. The Bridge Trust obtained expert advice from Natural Solutions, a consultancy service pioneering in rural rain water harvesting projects. The Natural Solutions suggested appropriate techniques and best locations for various structures to mitigate water scarcity in 9 tribal villages and a social development centre supported by BPCL near Karjat.

Project ‘Boond’ is an attempt to conserve rainwater by implementing following RWH measures which result in ground water recharge.

• Building Gabions (stone walls strengthened with mesh and cement) on the monsoon streams.
• Constructing Concrete Bunds or Check Dams along the rivulets
• Cordoning off springs by way of Bandharas
• Construction of subsurface/underground bunds
• Undertaking repairs of existing structures e.g. open wells and bore wells, de-silting and seepage control of ponds and reinforcing of pond walls.

By adopting these measures we have so far completed three RWH programs in Tribal villages with majority of the families below poverty line as described below :

Boond I :

Location : Kothala, Charanwadi and Pingalaj
Duration : March 2006 to June 2006
Funding by : Oil Industry Development Board (OIDB) – Drought Relief Trust, New Delhi through Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd.
Total outlay : 25.00 lakhs

Aghanwadi and another tribal village Fugale are situated near an ancient lake dating back to 18th century. The lake has capacity to store nearly 60 million liters of water but due to silt formation and crumbling of the surrounding wall the water stored prior to implementation of this project was much less and unsuitable for human consumption. After February, wells near these villages used to dry up and the women had to walk long distances to fetch water. The project consisted of the following steps to ensure availability of water near the village year-around.

• Repairs of the lake well
• Laying of a pipe line to siphon water from the lake well
• Collection tank for the siphoned water near the village
• De-silting of the lake, constructing new stone masonry walls on the entire periphery of the lake. Due to silt and dilapidated condition of the surrounding walls the lake water could not be used for domestic applications by the local communities.

Repairs and de-silting of the lake was carried on with financial assistance from Vitrag Foundation which funded the budgeted cost of Rs. 3.70 lakhs.

After successful completion of series of three programs under project "Boond" - Bridge Trust has started a new Rain Water Harvesting program in 4 tribal villages of Shahapur Taluka namely Chindhyachi Wadi, Dhakne, Waghwadi and Jarandi. The implementation of the program is likely to be completed by May 2009. The total outlay of Rs. 30 lakhs is being funded by Oil Industry Development Board (OIDB) – Drought Relief Trust, New Delhi through Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd.

Boond 4 will ensure that there is enough drinking water within the village boundary year-around in the four water scarce villages mentioned above. This will result in reduction in the drudgery for women who currently have to walk long distances for fetching water.

In order to ensure sustainability, we have made certain that all our RWH programs mentioned above are demand driven and participatory. Due to isolation and lack of education, tribal communities in Shahapur Taluka are backward and lack awareness regarding rain water harvesting and its benefits. Hence our strategy is to implement a very intensive Information, Education and Communication (IEC) program for community mobilization and capacity building in each of the target villages prior to building the RWH structures. Focus of our IEC program is always on empowering villagers, especially women so that their participation is based on informed decision making.

For unconditional involvement of the local people in planning, execution and maintenance we form local level institutes such as water committees, self help groups of women, youth groups and farmers groups.

Once adequate water is available year-around, we motivate the villagers especially farmers’ groups formed during the implementation of RWH program to take up second cropping for sustainable livelihood. So far we have initiated agro-based activities in two villages where we have implemented our RWH program. The farmers groups in these villages are being guided by our agricultural expert Mr. Raju Bhat. The farmers have started cultivating vegetables as second crop. They have also started nurseries for cultivating saplings of papaya and drumsticks.

In June 2008, we distributed 10,000 saplings of fruit-bearing plants such as Mango, Amala, Tamarind, Cashew, Drumsticks, Custard Apple, Papaya etc. The saplings were given free of cost to members of SHGs and farmers groups in villages mentioned earlier by Mahindra & Mahindra Farm Equipment Ltd as a part of their CSR. Our field workers trained by our agricultural expert are monitoring the progress of all these agro based activities in order to ensure that the farmers do not have to migrate in search of livelihood after rainy season.

Well equipped with all this experience we have embarked up on a larger RWH project which covers 23 tribal villages from Shahapur Taluka. This project has been recommended by the National Committee for sanction under section 35 AC of Income Tax Act 1961. The approval is valid for three years starting 2008-2009 and the total outlay is Rs. 272 lakhs.