
		*PERSPECTIVE*
		National water policy A futile exercise
		*IN FOCUS*
		Water riots breakout in Gujarat Bustards under threat Disappearing lakes and ponds
		*INITIATIVE*
		Delhi prepares to catch rain Watering schools Ready to take action Gokak goes green Journalist's meet
		*TECHNOLOGY*
		Easy steps to catch rain
		*CSE'S LATEST DESIGNS*
		Sankat Mochan Mandir A role model in the making
		CHENNAI PAGE
		Water suficient Municipal water bonds Active campaigner
		*PROFILE*
		Water crusader
		*TRADITION*
		Kata system
		NEWS FROM ABROAD
		A water conscious city Ghana's privatisation woes
		OBITUARY
		Vilasrao Salunke
		BOOK / DOCUMENTS
		Glimpses of book
		EVENTS
		Conference call
		NOTICE BOARD

		WEB INFO

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Vol. 4 No. 2 April 2001

Water crusader

Pawan Garg, a hydrogeologist turned indutrialist, is promoting rooftop rainwater harvesting to control the depleting groundwater tables in and around Raipur, Madhya Pradesh. In 1997 he set up a non-governmental organisation - ‘Rooftop water harvesting and water management society’, comprising of four hydrogeologists and ten skilled as well as unskilled workers, who have successfully implemented the technique in about 2,000 houses.

When he started working in the area the status of water crisis was grim. He narrates, "About 60 per cent of the population in Raipur is dependent of ground water. Almost every house has a borewell. Continued large extraction of water has aggrevated the problem, forcing people to go in for deeper borewells."

With the assistance of pamphlets and street shows he started the campaign to generate awareness among the people. The initial response was poor but sings of hope started emerging and strengthening with the increase in people’s level of awareness. "It all started from Dr Sudarshan’s residence," he fondly remembers, "Although the rainwater harvesting system was installed in 1998, however the yield and the quality of water from his borewell improved only in 2001." He uses simple techniques. The rainwater from the roof is diverted through pipes into the filtration pit and then to the borewell for groundwater recharging. For every 1,200 sq ft one filter is used. This success story snowballed - with more and more people coming forward to harvest rain.

For further information:
Pawan Garg, Rooftop water harvesting and water management society Main Road, Shankar Nagar, Raipur 492 001
Website: www.roofwaterharvesting.com

Kata system

Kata system, a community-based traditional water harvesting technique used by the local communities in the Sambalpur tract of Orissa has proved to be a strong shield against drought. This simple indigenous practice was rediscovered by five students of Delhi Public School (DPS), Rourkela, while they prepared a case study in Bargarh district of Orissa.

The kata system is an ordinary tank, constructed by making a strong, slightly curved earthen embankment, at both ends of the drainage line. (see sketch: A profile view of kata system) The Gond rulers, who ruled the region till 1947, had evolved an effective social and administrative system to sustain these systems for agricultural purposes. They provided revenue free land to the village headmen for the construction of kata’s. As a result, even during the severe bouts of famines in 1890 – 1900, the cultivators of Sambhalpur remained unscathed.

The DPS team studied the ‘Rani sagar’ kata of Bijepur village of Bargarh district. It is one of the region’s existing and functioning kata, covering an area of about 150 acres. It irrigates 1,784 acres of land during kharif and about 204 acres during rabi crops. Villagers proudly informed the students that irrespective of irregular rainfall, water level in wells has never receded beyond 15 feet. Only in 1999 and 2000 it reached 18 feet due to a prolonged dry spell. The people are not only able to grow crops regularly, but have never faced scarcity of drinking water, unlike other villages in the same region, where the water is provided by the Hirakund dam.

Rani sagar: A source of life for many

In 2001, Rani sagar was cleaned of the weeds and now it is completely functional. The villagers are not in favour of removing all the weeds as it may kill the fish. They are also successfully growing groundnuts on the edges of the kata. The villagers are using the protected bandhas for drinking purposes. Villagers stressed that if any attempt is made to interfere with the system, "There will be nothing left of the tradition. Let the kata be as it is."

Source: Anindya Aparajita et al 2001, Kata system: A practical traditional approach to fight drought, Delhi Public School, Rourkela.