Ots 24 > Oac24025 > Exe

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS It is with a deep sense of gratitude that I would like to thank all the people who have given me opportunity, support, encouragement and inspiration, either directly or indirectly, while doing the study and aiding in the completion of this report. I wish to express my gratitude to my reporting officer Mr. Dharamvir Singh, Executive Director, Rural Centre for Human Interests (RUCHI), for giving me an opportunity to work on this project and extending his full support while doing the study. I am indebted to Mr. Nagender Chauhan, Co-ordinator (NRM), Rajgarh without whose guidance and support I would not have succeeded in carrying out this study. I am extremely thankful to my faculty guide, Prof. P. K. Singh of the Institute of Rural Management, Anand for his consistent guidance and encouragement. I would like to make special mention of Mr. Abhishek Kala and Ms. Suchismita Mukopadhyay, YP, CAPART who were always there to encourage me and ready to help. My special thanks go to fellow IRMAN Rajiv Ranjan, and Ajay Singh of G.B. Pant Social Sciences Institute whose support aided in the completion of this study. Finally I would like to express my thanks to all the staff of RUCHI and the people of Shilanji Panchayat for their hospitality, support and encouragement throughout the study. This study has been a magnificent learning experience and I am thankful to one and all for giving me this wonderful opportunity.

Rahul Krishna

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY I

Title:

Watershed management for environment friendly sustainable development

II

Organisation:

Rural Centre for Human Interests (RUCHI)

III

Reporting Officer:

Mr. Dharamvir Singh

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Faculty Guide:

Prof. P. K. Singh

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Student’s Name:

Rahul Krishna

Objective and scope: The objective of the study was to examine the status of the natural resources in the three revenue villages of the Shilanji Panchayat of Rajgarh Tehsil in Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh comprising of 570 hectares of land and formulate a project proposal in conformance with the needs and priorities of the people in the area. Methodology: A household survey with the help of a structured questionnaire was conducted to assess the socio-economic status of the people, their needs and the state of the natural environment especially land and water in the project area. Village meetings and transects, focussed group discussions with the beneficiaries and RUCHI’s technical resource personnel and secondary data from village land records were used for devising a plan of action for sustainable management of the resources in the watershed. Findings: The key problems in the area relate to the scarcity of water for irrigation and livestock in summer coupled with soil erosion. Over 43 per cent of the beneficiaries are SCs. Majority of them are marginal farmers. RUCHI is planning for intervention with the following objectives.  Increasing the availability of water through adequate conservation measures.  Improved stability of soils and water holding capacity of the area.  Increased production of food, fodder fuel and income from grasslands and forests on a

sustainable basis and capacity building for managing this.  Increasing awareness among the farmers about soil and water conservation practices and the interrelatedness of soil, water and vegetation interaction. Recommendations: On the basis of household survey and field survey, the resources to be developed include the construction of 6 irrigation tanks, 3 check dams, plantation of 15000 trees, gully plugging and provision for innovative irrigation technology, besides other soil and water conservation engineering measures. The total cost of the project works out to be Rs. 31, 78,472 which is to be utilized over a period of one year. All the works to be implemented during the project duration shall involve a minimum contribution of 10 per cent of the cost from the beneficiaries either in cash or through provision of labour. This helps engender a sense of ownership among the beneficiaries that is imperative for future maintenance of the assets created, which shall accrue benefits over a period of 15-20 years. The project aims to create Watershed Users Groups from each village that shall together constitute a Watershed Association who shall design the detailed implementation of the proposed activities. Each Users Group shall appoint a representative to a Watershed Committee that shall be responsible for carrying out the activities under the project, as decided upon by the Watershed Association. iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.

INTRODUCTION

1

1.1

The Watershed approach

2

1.2

Need for watershed

2

1.3

Watershed management

3

1.4

Watershed development

3

2.

THE STUDY

7

2.1

Scope of study

7

2.2

Objectives of study

7

2.3

Limitations of study

7

2.4

Methodology

8

3.

2.4.1

Primary data

8

2.4.2

Secondary data

9

THE PROJECT

10

3.1

The Title

10

3.2

The location

10

3.2.1

The state

10

3.2.2

The district

11

3.2.3

The tehsil

12

3.2.4

The micro-watershed

12

3.3

Physiography

13

3.4

The climate

14

3.5

Geologic formation

15

3.6

Soil

15

3.7

Social profile

16

3.8

3.7.1

Demographic overview

16

3.7.2

Literacy and education

17

3.7.3

Role of women

17

3.7.4

Health and sanitation

18

Economic profile 3.8.1

3.9

18

Standard of living

19

Land usage pattern

21

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3.10

Cropping pattern

22

3.11

Livestock

24

3.12

Infrastructure

25

3.13

Objectives of the project

26

3.14

Need of the project

26

3.15

Approach to implementation

27

3.15.1 Community development

28

3.15.2 Community participation

28

3.15.3 Community organization

29

3.15.4 Institutional set-up

29

3.15.5 Self-help groups

31

3.15.6 Farmers organization

32

3.15.7 Local leadership

33

3.15.8 Participation

33

3.16

Action programme

33

3.17

Duration

34

3.18

Personnel required

35

3.19

Technology adoption

36

3.20

Marketing arrangements

36

3.21

Arrangements for maintenance

36

3.22

Benefits expected

37

3.23

Financial implication

38

REFERENCES

39

ANNEXURES

40

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LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Profile of Rajgarh

12

Table 2: Area covered

13

Table 3: Population details

16

Table 4: Educational status

17

Table 5: Land holding pattern

19

Table 6: Detail of assets

20

Table 7: Land use

21

Table 8: Major crops- sowing and harvesting period

23

Table 9: Yield of major crops

23

Table 10: Infrastructure status

25

Table 11: Problems and recommendations

34

Table 12: Physical targets and time schedule

35

Table 13: Full time personnel required

35

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LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Temperature variations

14

Figure 2: Rainfall

15

Figure 3: Social profile of beneficiaries

16

Figure 4: Economic profile of beneficiaries

18

Figure 5: Comparative profile of villages

19

Figure 8: Land usage pattern of the area

21

Figure 9: Livestock and their number

24

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