RAINWATER HARVESTING- Success in Chhatisgarh

RAINWATER HARVESTING UNDER JOINT FOREST MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME

(Implemented by Department of Forest)

1. BELARBAHRA VILLAGE (Block: Nagri, District: Dhamtari)

Belarbahra village is adjacent to a protected forest in Dhamtari District. In addition to other development activities like facilitating honey culture etc. providing better irrigation facilities were also the priorities of the joint forest management committee. To start with they deepened a village tank named Dhau talab. Risai Jharan, a spring flowing from the hills used to fall directly to the paddy fields there by destroying the crop and the field.

The villagers constructed a canal of 1 Km length and channeled the spring flow to Dhau talab. It solved two purposes, routing the stream through the canal saved the paddy fields from being degraded and the water thus transported to Dhau Talab was stored and used for irrigation. This resulted in 37% (to 150 ha) increase in total irrigated area (Kharif) and nearly 19% increase in total production.

2. ALEKHUNTA VILLAGE (Block: Nagri, District: Dhamtari)

In Alekhunta village of Dhamtari district, the Forest Management Committee has set an example in water resources Management. Alekhunta village, home to 64 families with a total population of 267 was almost entirely dependent on forest. Under JFM Programme, a stop dam of 10m width was constructed along Futhamuda stream. The stored water was then distributed to different parts of the village with construction of 2 canals, one of 4 Km length and the other of 3 Km length. There was 350 acres of arable land and there was no irrigation facility. This construction provided irrigation facilities to the entire 350 acres (during kharif only) of land and resulted in 80% increase in agricultural productivity in the village.

3. JHUNJHRAKASA VILLAGE (Block: Nagri, District: Dhamtari)

Jhunjhrakasa village is on Birgudi-Ghattasilli road in Dhamtari district. The village has a population of 503.

Paddy cultivation in the village used to be completely dependent on monsoon rain. Under the Joint Forest Management Programme, the Forest Management Committee has constructed a stop dam across Jhura Nala as a result of which 200 acres of land could be brought under assured irrigation. In addition to this the Forest management Committee has also constructed 18 sluice gates thereby facilitating irrigation in additional 90 acres. The villagers in Jhunjhrakasa are now started taking the second crop in 80 acres of land.