The ‘Hill Water & Livelihoods- the Nilgiris Water Resources’ project was a study on the water resources and use situation in the Nilgiris conducted by the Keystone Foundation during the period between June 2001 and June 2002. The ‘Small Grants Program of the Ford Foundation – Winrock International India’, supported the project. The project culminated in a Stakeholders Workshop that brought out a range of issues that needed further investigation. From September 2002 to January 2003, a series of ‘Citizens Meetings’ were held in different taluks of the district to share the findings of the study and understand their perspectives on local management of water resources. The result of the feedback from the Citizens Meetings is the new proposal titled - The Nilgiris Water Resources Project – Keystone Foundation January 26, 2006. One serious concern was that in spite of water being a common property resource, there is no attempt at the participatory management of water. Furthermore, the erosion of the old water-sharing and management mechanisms of the indigenous hill communities is a ‘telling’ indication of the neglect of modern society of an age old, functional natural resource management system.
The Water Resources Project Area is being implemented in Sigur Plateau - an important zone for indigenous communities, wildlife and water resources. This plateau is adjacent to the Moyar gorge which is a landmark in the Nilgiris Water trajectory. Keystone had been working in this area since 2003 mainly on beekeeping training to tribals and starting up nurseries of useful food plants in a small way. There are 7 tribal villages in the Sigur plateau and we work in all of them.
One of the villages - Vazhaithottam is where the community has provided us a rented place to house our field station. In 2005 we renovated this place to add more space, build a small water testing lab. Today every 15 days - water samples are tested and results displayed and explained to villagers from this centre. This is a first time that this has happened. Connected to the water testing and understanding the linkage between water pollution and water-borne diseases - we organized a one day workshop to bring a qualified doctor to explain each parameter and the effects of coli form to organs.
Siriyur Water Meet - 10/3/2005
The water source for Siriyur people is from below the Ebbanad village area. For drinking the FD has constructed a check dam at Dhanakadavu in the Sigur RF area. The distance to the check dam is about 3 kms and GI pipelines are laid to bring water through gravity force.
The water is stored in the overhead tank (10,000 liters) of capacity and distributed to the settlement through one pipeline. Another pipeline is laid towards another GLR near the Temple which is again piped to a single house, from where the eight group houses people(Jennu Kurumba) draw water to their houses which is about 225 meters from their homes. There is another distribution to the FD quarters from the same GLR. From the same distribution another hosepipe is taken to irrigate a small field inside the village (belonging to Irula tribe Mr. Raman).
The source from Dhanakadavu is through out the year, but in the summer the water output is less. The villagers say, though there is plenty of water, the design and construction of the check dam with a filtration system is not complete and there is untapped flow of water.
The villagers complain about the distribution system inside the village, there has been lot of pipe breaking due to quarrels among the villagers. So, now only one pipe has been installed. The villagers wanted the distribution back in place without any problems.
When they don't have enough water during the summer they have to depend on the bore well for all water uses. The water is salty and earlier it had a kerosene pump and it is defunct. So the bore well has been installed with a hand pump. They say sometimes they get sick after drinking from the bore well. Due to scarcity of water, they used to get only one pot each from the Dhanakadavu source.
There are other sources inside the village area. There is a dug well of about 30 feet deep inside Saroja's field which is run by a single phase motor pump. The availability of water is more during the rainy season and the water is more in the water channel. Now, the motor pump is not functioning due to low voltage. They have hopes of converting the electric line from single phase to three phase line.
There are three SGHs formed in the village, of which two are registered and the other unregistered. Now they think they all can work united towards the water problems and forming of the Water Users Group.
Suggestions given by the villagers
The villagers wanted the pipeline from the check dam to be placed properly and bury the pipeline under the ground so there is no breakages by Bisons, Elephants etc. They say the pipelines placed in the check dam are washed away during the rainy seasons, so they recommend proper & permanent solution for the problem. They wanted each line with a separate distribution line with a tap within the village.
What steps to be taken
The eight houses of Jenu kurumbas have no drinking water, so the distance from the temple GLR to Indiranagar has been taken in GPS which is around 225 meters. A hose pipe can be given as of now for the shortcoming.
Survey to the check dam Dhanakadavu to be taken immediately and date is fixed on Wednesday 16th of March 2005. with the villagers to inspect the sight and take necessary steps to get more water.
Data collection through questionnaire to be initiated in the coming week..
Water User Groups to be formed for water management.
Women
Men
Keystone
Aim
The main aims of the project are history & use of water, a water resources audit, to build up community institutions like water users groups, to ensure future needs & sustainability & finally to build a peoples' regional water management plan & setting up an e-portal for the Sigur region..
Objective
Develop a strategy for Sustainable Community-based Interventions through: Action-Research, Innovation & Enterprise for the Conservation & Development of Freshwater Resources.
Components of the Project
The first component in the proposed project is to trace the history and use of water and the reasons for the breakdown of community based water management systems. A proper field survey and data analysis will give us an intervention window as to how to revive the sharing mechanisms in a contemporary setting. Use of a proper mix of appropriate technologies, communications, media and culture will be tried to arrive at working solutions between communities, up-hill and downstream villages, Government water departments and villagers.
The second component is to arrive at a Water Resources Audit. This will consist of a resource analysis - causative factors of water crisis, typical patterns if any, and future scenarios under different management options, the conditions and variability across seasons and past trends. Data would be generated in this, which would identify freshwater budgets in hill areas, which are typically source zones. A menu of options would be available after the audit on “what to do & where by whom”.
The third aspect of the project would be to work at the grassroots level with community institutions and design interventions along with them. This would entail: “creation of water users group, monitoring water quality, sensitizing water department staff on local water sources, developing water managerial caliber in the villages and designing village water plans (sources, quality issues, management and distribution systems, conflicting issues)”. This component would be the implementation aspect spread through out the district.
The fourth component of the project is how to ensure future needs and sustainability - technically how to improve the resources, measure to counter over-exploitation. On the management, regulation and control mechanisms this will investigate possible village water funds and tariffs for financial sustainability.
The last component will be to build a peoples' regional water management plan. This will be in an electronic database at the block/district level. Each areas water issues and the mitigation measures will be highlighted with the budget necessary to undertake the work. This plan will facilitate the direct investment of Government funds into hill regions and make it more relevant and demand-driven. This component will be designed so as to be enterprise-oriented - results will be disseminated through a water-portal, which will be accessed by other interested parties in the Western Ghats region.
Water project - Minutes
Place: Anaikatty
Water sources:
The water source for the village is from the rivers originating from Ebannad, Kothumudi and Katcheri. These rivers unite together as the Sigur River flowing into the village as the main water source. The people have sufficient water when there is enough rainfall. During summer the river dries up and there is scarcity of water. The people say that the scarcity of water was only after the floods in 1978-79 which washed away the trees beside the stream banks and silting of springs in the area.
A bore well (150 ft) run by single phase motor was setup for pumping drinking water, but the water from this bore well is also used for other domestic purpose. The motor is run for two hours daily morning and evening. For the past 4-5 months the motor is not functioning due to some repairs. The villager has to carry water from the river. The president from Ebannad Panchayat had come to inspect the pump and said that the pump would be repaired but no action has been taken. The village headman said that if we could approach the FD or Panchayat, and get the pump repaired there are possibilities of getting sufficient water for the villagers.
There is also a well in Sankar's field which is about 20 f. At present there is no water as the river and water channel are dry. The well gets water only when there is rain and water gets filled in the irrigation channel. A well was built near the village community hall which is 50f deep and it is covered with all garbage. As it had been not used for the past 40 years it has to be cleaned for future storage and use of water.
Suggestion by the people:
Boothanatham Water meeting - 11-3-2005
Lingan says there is no cooperation among the villagers. The water pipe provided to them is leaking with no proper tap, the water goes waste when the stop cork is opened in the main GLR. Raju says the people do not know how to maintain the system. The children have removed the tap three months earlier. An elderly person says, the parents cannot solve the problems, so give the youngsters the responsibilities to maintain the system. People say, some person should take incharge for operating the system. Lingan says , a person cannot always sit simply for only that job, he has other jobs also to look after.
One of them had cut the hose pipeline into three pieces, people wanted to know who has done it and for what. This source is the solar panel pump to the poly tank and from where this pipeline is laid for the houses and for irrigation. Siddan confessed that he has done it and explained why he has done this, he says the women do not know how to drag the hose pipes, it gets bent and gradually cut due to rough handling. So he had to cut into three pieces to rectify the bends. The village headman has rolled the pipe and locked it up inside the house, he has said, let people resolve the problem and come to him for the pipes then he will place it back.
The people feel the water is taken to only one area, so water should be taken to all areas equally.
Lingan says, let the people take responsibilities and the pipes can be placed back for water supply. During the meeting women were asked to come front to take responsibilities and to solve the tap problem. Five to six women came forward in front of the village headman Lingan, Lingan then assured them he will give back the pipes. The people were not willing to discuss the problem face to face. Some assurance was given if they needed any extra pipes.
Brought Raju along with Lingan to the town and bought them a new tap to be replaced in the pipeline.
The participants list:
Chokkanalli Water Meet - 10th March ' 2005.
Regarding the drinking water the Panchayat provides water through pumping from the water source to the tank daily for 2 hours (1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the evening). They say it is not enough though there is street distribution.
There is a dug well for the village, but the water storage capacity and the seepage of water is very less, but the dug well for the Gem Park hotel has more water percolation.
During the rainy season the stream water is not used and we have an old tank where the water is drawn from which has a spring source. So far there has been no reporting of diseases or sickness in the village. The stream water was perennial when until the Kamaraj Sagar dam was built at Thalaikundha which has blocked the stream, unless they open the water at the dam the don't get water.. This year they have not opened the water. During the rainy seasons there will be some amount of water flow.
The villagers have suggested water from the Sutton Estate area, but the government has refused due to long distance and many other reasons. They had talked to the Kadanadu panchayat president Mrs. Sumithra. They had written for free current to be supplied for the motor also. They say the filled pots with water get holes after two days of storing and the colour is not natural.
They say recently 11 bore wells have been done in the nearby private properties which are about 300 feet deep. There are other disputes regarding the area demarcation between the tribal lands and the private land holdings. Problems exists for upper areas in the village for water in terms of irrigation and drinking water. Water is available for drinking purposes during the dry seasons, but no water for irrigation.
Relief and drainage
Transport
Overall approach of the project
Collection of Secondary literature of the Sigur Plateau & Analysis
Collection of Socio Economic Data & Analysis
Collection of Physical data about drinking water & the Analysis
Data Reconciliation and Digitization for Maps.
Surveyed all existing drinking water supply situation in the Sigur plateau. Flow rate of streams were measured which are perennial as well as seasonal. Visited all the water structures made by the respective line departments like Forest Department, TWAD board, Panchayat board and check dams built by the FD or HADP. This was done to see all the amount of water which is flowing towards the Sigur plateau.
Collection of Secondary literature of the Sigur Plateau
Lots of secondary information was collected for the same from various line departments like from the forest department the actual structure building in terms of check dams & the money spend on the structure & the year which has been built from starting to ending through different schemes. Through the TWAD board we have information about the supply of water in terms of LPCD to various villages in the Sigur area. From the Union Panchayats & the respective panchayat boards we had information about their implementation work done in the region.
Collection of Socio Economic Data
All socio economic details of the working villages were surveyed to make appropriate intervention while working with drinking water components in these villages. Their occupation & their livelihoods is studied. From the analysis of this we find most of the people are dependant on other external resources to fend for them selves, they have to go far away for seeking work & wages. Say about 430 families live inside these seven villages & the total population here is around 1361 people, out of which the male composes of 497 & the female total is 473. The children below the age of 15 years are 391. Only few people are ntfp collectors and that too the forest department has stopped collection of these ntfps nine years back giving importance to the wildlife aspect of this part in the district. So people have to migrate outside in search of jobs or for daily wages instead of just confining to what ever they have inside their own village. The revenue villages like Vazhaithottam, Kurumbarpallam, Mavanhalla, & Masinagudi area well placed in terms of easy accessibility to the business community who will buy their cattle or the cow dung which fetches fairly good price & then transported to the nearby state. But that is not the case with the forest settlements which have their own limitations to sell their commodities.
Collection of Physical data about drinking water
The physical parameters like constructed tanks, GLRs, water distribution systems, overhead tanks through the different panchayats of this regions & other check dams or other structures from HMS (Hydro Metric Services) to check the flow rate & the siltation in the streams. There are three Silt Monitoring stations in this region built by the HMS. There are many check dams in the Sigur area inside the reserved forests which are built by the forest department. Small percolation tanks are built for want of water to the wild animals during the monsoon season. There are big two storage tanks situated in the Masinagudi town where the water from the Singara hydro power house is let out through the channel & this water is pumped from this source & is being distributed to many villages in & around the Masinagudi town. The TWAD board has built many structures like overhead tanks etc & handed over to the local panchayats for maintenance other logistics.
Data Reconciliation and Digitization for Maps
After collecting all the required data like the cadastral maps from the Masinagudi panchayat through the village administrator officer we had digitized the area for studying the area in terms of land use pattern & individual land holdings of this region. Many maps has been generated for this area like the drainage map which falls under the watershed area code numbers of 41, 50,51,52,55,56,59,60 micro water sheds prioritized by the Hill Area Development Program in this region of this district. HADP has termed this area very low priority area from rest of the watersheds of this district thus neglecting the importance of water in this kind of fragile landscape. We had collected geo data using GPS. Measured all the perimeters of the forest villages & that of the revenue villages to ascertain the peoples land holdings from the settlement perspective. All the individual land holdings were also surveyed & mapped. Major land use & land cover maps has been generated like showing specifically areas of agricultural lands, revenue lands, forest lands with village boundaries. On top of this layer the individual land holdings has been incorporated. All the streams have been digitized whether it is perennial or seasonal. All the bore wells or open wells, even structures have been recorded in GPS and an inventory has been made & mapped showing their spatial distribution in this plateau.
Minutes of the Water User's Groups Meeting - April - 2006
Boothanatham(24-4-2006)
People present (WUG)
Chemmanatham & Kurumbarpallam WUG meeing could not be held because Kongali's father was not feeling well & had to go to Hospital. It will be held shortly.
People Present(WUG)
Siriyur(28-4-2006) - 8.30am(Friday)
Siriyur had no problem because water is coming after two people went towards Dhanakadavu & repaired the block. People in Indra Nagar asked if we could build a storage tank or syntex tank or poly line tank for drinking water. They again reminded they wanted support for agriculture , like seeds of ragi & other millets. They wanted support for cleaning some fallow land. Some said they will approach us after cleaning the land since than the rain will also as start.
Minutes of the Water Users Groups meetings
Boothanatham (30-1-2006)
The problem outcome of the meeting was that the fitter Naga is not the operating the water facility properly because the people of the village has not given money which has to be given to him as usual. Each household has to contribute Rs. 10/- to be given to him. The people say they have to contribute money to the WUG fund as well give the fitter. Since money has not been given to the fitter now, he has stopped operating the water system for the sake of money. He has been paid Rs. 240/- by the Masinagudi panchayat.
A suggestion was given to contribute 50% of the contribution money given to the WUG to the fitter to tide over the situation. People had they will convene a village meeting & decide on this issue.
Boothanatham(2-8-2006)
Members present
The Officer bearers were elected on this day & Mrs. Vijaya was elected as the president of the WUG & Mrs. Hallami has been elected as the secretary & decide to contribute Rs 10/ per household towards the WUG fund. Leo sir had given suggestion to draw water using wind mill system.
S. Vijaya
Rajamma
Kala
Rani
Devi
Madhavi
Gowri
Ponni
Hallamanni
Mare
Sivaraj
Basuvan
M.B. Buntun
Mari
Rangaiah
The people had asked the follow up of the windmill installation. We had told them the situation under study & it will be considered once it is over. To do agriculture we had given suggestion to bring tractor to plough the fields. One hour per acre was decided by the people.
Kurumbarpallam (11-12-2006)
Manju
Basuvi
G. Gopi
Radhika
L. Goppi
Ganga
Mudhi
Sunnuthai
Meenaskhi
Guruji
Malliga
People asked to survey the pipeline & rectify the leakages. They complaint that one suresh has been taking water from the pipeline illegally tapping the water & the same reaching the hamlet has been reduced. If the water tap near the shop is opened the water tap near the Balwadi & the other side does not get water flow. They had asked some water facility for cultivating crops. Manju has been given responsibility to take care of the WUG & the collection of the fund.
Sivagami
Jeya
Vijayalashmi
Nelli
Masinni
Saraswathi
Laxsmiamma
P. Laxsmi
P. Basavi
M. Gowri
M. Saraswathi
Vijaya
Masi
Sivini
Saroja
Kumar
Madhevan
Kempi
Rami
Sidhhan
Siva
Masanan
Madhan
People feel if any thing can be done for the EB bill & reinstate the agri system back for cultivating crops. They had asked to come another day for discussing the whole issue since the concerned persons about the check dam & the EB are not present.
Siriyur(30-12-2006)
Pusha
Laxsmi
Vasantha
Masinniammal
Madhi
Jyothi
Susheela
The water from Dhanakadavu has been slowed down due to unknown reason. They wanted to check the pipeline & get it corrected. They had suspected some leakage somewhere due to elephants. At Indranagar the tap at the filling point is leaking. It has to be replaced or leakage stopped. At Indranagar the people was asked to agriculture & ploughing the land through bulls suggested. The lands have been ploughed & land has been taken back by the tenant(Saroja). Few problems between the JeenuKurumbars & the main village.
Pushpa
Indranagar did not get water for some time. Suspected leakage from Dhanakadavu check dam. They had asked for some spare parts. But people had gone upto the check dam & cleaned the block. Now water is coming & there is no problem.
Minutes of the Water Users Meeting held at Sigur villages.
Anaikatti WUG (14-7-2006)
M.B. Basuvan Mare
B. Shankar B. Mare
Nanjan Erai
Alarmare S.P. Bomman
Kunmasi Bunti
K.H. Bomman Poojari Mari
Mari Buntun
Heran
Kunmasi
Dhandu
Sarasammal
P. Gowri
Sarasa
Kalli
In this meeting people of Anaikatti suggested to pump water to the old FD GLR which is lying unused for a long time above the village & then bring it to the Village GLR near temple & then take the water to the Kanyakumari people. The people of Kanyakumari did not get any water due to some technical problems in the distribution system. It was suggested that more Horse Power to the existing motor will be sufficient to take water to the above FD GLR. They suggested if the channel water can be filtered properly using good methods it can be used for the domestic purpose.
Anaikatti WUG ( 12-9-2005)
Members Present
Bunti Sarasammal
Devi Masi
Saraswathi Erai
Sudha Jeyamani
Thangamani
Kunni
In this meeting the people told to relay the pipeline from the Village GLR to the Kanyakumari settlement & the leakage near the down the temple has to be rectified. The said the pumped water from the borewell has many leakages & it has to be redone. The GLR is not filling up due to the leakage & the water is not enough to for all. They suggested for more distribution pipeline inside the village. In this meeting the contribution money for the WUG was collected - Rs.15/-.
Bunti
Sudha
Erai
Basaviammal
Maneka
In this meeting all things were fine as far as the water. After the rains there was enough for all people. They had decided to contribute Rs. 5/- per household per month. They had given Rs. 25/- in this meeting. But they all come from different SHG groups they say it is not possible for us to pay every month, instead they will pay Rs. 10/- every alternate month.
Chemmanatham WUG meeting ( 8-11-2005)
Members pesent
Kokila Buntun Sivagami
Kumar Basuvi
Kepi
Siddhan
Neeli
Shanthi
People discussed about the WUG contribution fund. Madhavi says without anyone coming from the KS office she will not collect the contribution money from the village. There is no water presently for drinking & cooking, they have to depend upon the stream. The water has been diverted at Mavinhalla for the use by the people there. So there is no enough water, they hardly get one to two pots per house per household. They say there is only three taps for the whole village(45 households). There are requesting for more distribution lines to be laid in the village. They say they have no enough water to fill the GLR itself. We had informed of opening an savings account for the WUGs.
Members present.
Nirmala
Bommiamma
Halli
Bellu
M. Seetha
Vasantha(President)
Kavitha (Secretary)
Maniammal
MareKempiammal
Laxmi
Belliamma
Buntiammal
Masanni amma
Thangamma
B. Sudha
T.M. Belliamma
In this meeting the office bearers were selected from the water user group. Shared & explained about the water quality results to the people. They agreed to contribute about Rs. 5/- per household per month. Explained how the formed WUG will work in the future. Contribution of Rs. 95/- was collected from the people.
B. Seetha
Chokkanalli WUG meeting (16-1-2006)
Seetha
LAxmi
M. Saroja
Buntun
People are asking to help in reviving the EB connection for the agriculture pump since it is high time to do cultivation. They say NAWA has come forward to help & assist the crop growing aspect. The people had reminded about the cover for the open well.
Anaikatti WUG Meeting (16-1-2006)
The people say they find difficult to contribute to the WUG fund every month due to other commitments for SHG & others. It is also due to non availability of work. They say they will contribute the same amount once in two months. They say there is no problem regarding the water situation now & there is no one ill as of now.
