QUESTION
Promoting rainwater harvesting structures in hilly terrain, Malkangiri in Orissa - Need examples and advice in designing

From Arnab Bhattacharjee, Social Activist, Malkangiri, Orissa
Posted 8 January 2009

I am a social activist working with tribal communities in the hilly terrain of the Malkangiri district, Orissa. I am also associated with various NGOs in Orissa.

The Malkangiri district is divided into two distinct physical divisions. The eastern part is covered with steep ghats, plateaus and valleys sparsely inhabited by tribal communities (Bondas, Koyas, Porajas and Didayis). The rest of the district is a relatively flat plain broken by a number of rocky wooded hills. The average annual rainfall in the Malkangiri district is about 1700mm. The major rock groups in the area are granite, shale, quartzite, sandstone, limestone and marble (please visit http://orissadiary.com/orissa_profile/district/Malkangiri.asp for more details regarding the district).

The district is backward in irrigation in comparison with other districts due to its high hills and dense forests. The tribal communities of the area have limited irrigation facilities due to constraints in water availability (please visit http://www.hindu.com/2008/10/20/stories/2008102056860300.htm for an article that appeared in the Hindu on the lack of rain threatening Kharif crops in Orissa). I have found a general lack of irrigation facilities in highlands, and on hilly slopes, especially in tribal areas. This lack of irrigation facilities limits the scope of agriculture in these areas that are usually inhabited by tribal communities. In addition to impoverishing them, it affects their diets and nutrient intake.

From my experience, and experiences of organizations working in the region, it seems harnessing rainwater is the most favourable solution to the problem of agricultural water shortages. However, people here have little knowledge about implementing rainwater-harvesting systems for supplying irrigation water, as the quantity of water required is large and entails construction of large structures. They are unaware of the appropriate structures required for this; lack the experience of constructing such structures and the financial wherewithal to do so. People here also lack the technical expertise required to site and design appropriate rainwater harvesting and management structures for irrigation.

I, therefore, request community members to provide information on the following:

  • What are the appropriate rainwater harvesting structures, suitable for hilly terrain that can be designed and made by local communities?
  • What are the sources of funding for implementing such structures? Please mention government, international and national organizations that support such activities?
  • How can tribal communities be mobilized and trained to design, build and manage these structures?

Your responses will help a network of seven NGOs (with which I am associated) working in the region to design a road map for providing irrigation water through appropriate rainwater harvesting technologies for the tribal communities living in the area.

Please see attachment below for the responses.

by
8 January 2009