PROJECT PROPOSAL
“WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT IN THE
AREA OF PAURI GARHWAL”
SUBMITTED BY
ASHOKA NGO CONSULTANCY
Head Office
ASHOKA NGO CONSULTANCY
VILLAGE KANDA, SITONSYUN,
BLOCK-KOT
P.O. - DHARAMPETH
NAGPUR
PHONE NO. - 9730005911
Watershed development Project
Background
A watershed is synonymous to catchment area and it is an independent
Hydrological unit. It can be defined as the drainage basin or catchment area of a
particular stream or river. Simply stated it refers to the area from where the water
to a particular drainage system, like a river or stream, comes from. A watershed
may be small, consisting of a few hectares or huge, covering several thousands of
hectares.
Over a period of time, watershed development evolved as mitigation measure for
drought management. Basically it aims at minimizing the drought implications
through soil conservation, water conservation, and rain water harvesting. Initially it
started as technocratic projects by the government but soon the participation of
people was identified as crucial. Thus, people participation became an inseparable
part of this project.
This project also has evolved as a best technique for soil and water conservation.
Because under this project plantation becomes the key activity which helps in
increase in vegetative coverage increase, as result it directly impact on the soil
holding and ultimately soil conservation.
The area where the project is proposed to implement is prone to hazards like
landslides and forest fire. Thus watershed development activities would help to
mitigate the hazards like landslides.
Need of Project
Man and his environment are interdependent. The changes in the environment
directly affect the lives of the people depending on it. The district of Nagpur is
prone natural hazards like land slide and floods. The deteriorating conditions of
natural resources and physicality of the area have directly and indirectly affected
agriculture. On the other hand agriculture is the main occupation in the district;
ironically the deteriorating agricultural conditions have resulted in increase in
migration.
A degraded environment means a degraded quality of life of the people. Because
the socio-economic life of the people is depend on environment. The changing
physical attributes are contributing to the problems. The increasing frequency of
natural hazards has contributed an increase of percentage of migration. The
disturbance in the occupation, are increasing socio-economic problems, like
unemployment, migration, and disturbance in family structure.
Environmental degradation can be tackled effectively through the holistic
development of the watershed. A watershed provides a natural geo-hydrological
unit for planning any developmental initiative. The integrated watershed
development with participative approach would enhance the income generation
activity, and will ensure socio-economic development of the area.
The consequences of environmental degradation are all too well known. Activities
of man like deforestation, wrong farming techniques, livestock over-grazing and
faulty land use lead to the destruction of plant and tree cover exposing the earth to
the natural forces like heavy rains, direct sunshine and high velocity winds. These
in turn lead to environmental problems such as soil erosion, floods or water
scarcity. Agricultural yield is lowered and this results in decline in the income
levels of the community resulting in poverty and eventually leading to migration of
labor from rural to urban areas in search of livelihood.
Watershed development, therefore, involves not only regeneration of the
environment, but also the management of needs of the human community in such a
way that their demands match the resources via land, water and vegetation
available within that particular watershed. This equilibrium between need and
availability of resources will lead to a better and increased resistance to drought
and increased agricultural production augmenting food supply, fodder, fuel and,
timber. Thus standard of living improves leading to reduction in poverty-induced
migration.
Watershed Development
Watershed development refers to the conservation, regeneration, and the judicious
use of human and natural (like land, water, plants, animals) resources within a
particular watershed. Watershed development attempts to bring about the best
possible balance in the environment between natural resources on one side and
man and grazing animals on the other. It requires people’s participation because
conservation is possible only through the whole hearted involvement of the entire
community.
Human Resource Development (Community Development)
• Soil and Land Management
• Water Management
• Crop Management
• Afforestation
• Pasture/Fodder Development
• Livestock Management
• Rural Energy Management
• Farm and non-farm value addition activities
Broad Objectives
The broad objective was the promotion of the overall economic development
and improvement of the socio-economic conditions of the resource poor
sections of people inhabiting the programme areas.
Employment generation, poverty alleviation, community empowerment and
development of human and other economic resources of the rural area.
Encouraging village community towards sustained community action
for the operation and maintenance of assets created and further
development of the potential of the natural resources in the watershed.
Objectives
Developing 200 hector area under watershed development project.
To provide employment opportunity through the project.
To encourage women empowerment through participation in project
implementation.
To mitigate the natural hazards through water and soil conservation
To minimize the rate of migration by providing economic opportunities.
To restore the agricultural ecosystem in the project area.
Project Implementation Strategy
The project emphasizes on a participative approach for implementation. The
community participation would enhance the sustainability of the project with the
effective outcomes. The project proposes following strategies for implementation-
Community Participation- Community can participate in each step of the
project implementation right from planning to evaluation. To ensure
community participation various PRA (Participatory Rural Appraisal) tools
could be used.
Involvement of PRIs- the local Panchayat bodies would act as one of the
important stakeholders. They would play important role in planning and
monitoring.
Gender Equality- women participation is an important criteria for
implementation as they are at the end of the all consequences of all socio-
economic problems. This would in terms help in women empowerment.
Integrated Approach
The main focus of this approach is to develop a sustainable farming system on the
foundation of a sound soil and water conservation effort. This approach includes
the following elements.
a) A biomass based approach towards conservation of soil and water- popularizing
innovative, low cost treatment measures with strong vegetative components as
against a prescriptive approach towards engineering measures. More emphasis on
small water harvesting bodies in the recharge areas and special focus on ensuring
drinking water (both for human and animals) during scarce periods would be some
of the focus areas.
b) Regenerating open access resources like revenue ‘waste’ lands, tank beds etc.,
by institutionalizing norms for protection and management of these resources at the
community level and ensuring specific usufruct rights to the poor
c) Focused efforts to promote sustainable agriculture in the lands where soil and
water is conserved. The following can be the specific program areas
i) Promoting appropriate cropping systems – crop pat terns, moving against
water intensive crops, appropriate crop rotation etc.
ii) Reducing the need for external inputs
§ By making the User Groups self-sufficient in seed by promoting seed
production within the groups
§ By promoting organic practices in soil nutrient management (e.g.,
composting) and by encouraging community based natural / integrated pest
management practices.
iii) Exploring group based value addition and marketing opportunities
iv) Exploring options in tools and implements
d) Preparation of livestock action plans at the watershed level and comprehensively
addresses the issues of livestock as an element of natural resources management.
e) Promoting appropriate land use and biomass production as a part of watershed
treatment and also as an element of farming systems -–including trees for fruits
(dry land horticulture), fuel, fodder, and other needs like mulching, manure, small
timber for implements, thatching etc.
Target Group
Small, middle farmers-
Landless or agricultural labours
Women
Project Implementation Activities
Phases Phase I (6 months) Phase II (30 months)
Interim Phase Implementation
Component Mobilization Initial Activities Larger Activities
Activities a) Selection of watersheds a) Mapping and survey of a) Construction of
and personal. land. watershed structures.
b) Social mobilization- b) Planning for watershed b) Afforestation
groups formation (village structures. c) Soil and water
watershed committee/ c) Nursery preparation for conservation measures.
renewing forest committee/ plantation and plantation d) Livelihood measures
SHGs) d) Implementation of land e) Floriculture
c) Human resource treatment activities. f) Women’s promotion
development (training/ skill and participation
up-gradation/ on-going and activities
on-site accompaniment) g) Human resource
d) Initiation of women’s development
promotion and participation
activities.
e) Linking up with local
Govt. Department, resource
agencies and service
providers.
Responsible The implementing Community/ Target groups Community/ Target groups
Agency organization/ NGO and NGO and NGO
Outcomes of the Project
The increase in cropping intensity and agricultural productivity reflecting in
overall increase in agriculture production.
Increase in income of farmers/ landless labourers in the project area.
Increase in groundwater table due to enhanced recharge by watershed
interventions.
There would be decrease in migration of labourers
The plantation would enhance soil and water conservation.
This would ultimately mitigate the incidences of land sides and forest fires.
There would be awareness among the target groups their rights and women
would participate in development activities. Hence this would lead to gender
equality.
There would increase in economic opportunities through improvement in
agricultural practices. Like floriculture would be promoted as new income
generation activities.
There would be increase in vegetative coverage.
Monitoring and Evaluation
Formation of vigilance committee for monitoring of the implementation of
the project. This committee would provide reports in each month. The
committee would be comprises of elective members of community and
NGO.
The project proposes external evaluation after the completion of project. But
simultaneously, ongoing evaluation in every year of implementation.
Project Budget
Total Area proposed: 500 hectare
Rs.300/- per hectare for community mobilization.
Rs.300/- per hectare for capacity building.
Rs.300/- per hectare for salaries expenditure of PIA.
Rs. 200/-per hectare for nursery development.
Rs.180/- per hectare for administrative expenses at organizational level.
Rs.4800/- per hectare for works.
i) Rs. 3600/- will be used for work (land based activities, construction of
bunds, check dams for whole community)
ii) Rs. 1200/- will be used for common activities for the whole community
as well as activities for improving quality of life.
Sr. Particulates 1st year 2nd year 3rd year Total
No.
1 Community 70,000 40,000 40,000 1,50,000/-
Mobilization
2 Capacity Building 50,000 50,000 50,000 1,50,000/-
3 Salaries 50,000 50,000 50,000 1,50,000/-
4 Administrative 30,000 30,000 30,000 90,000/-
Expenses
5 Watershed construction 4,00,000 10,00,000 10,00,000 24,00,000/-
6 Nursery 50,000 25,000 25,000 1,00,000/-
7 Total 6,50,000 11,95,000 11,95,000 30,40,000
GRAND TOTAL 30,40,000/-
