Support groundwater restoring through rain water harvesting by Tropical Research & Development Centre (TRDC)

Harvest the RAIN and reap the GRAINS. Drops of water can save our thirsty world

. Increase of water levels in the open and Bore wells. •
Availability of water throughout the year for household, livestock and agricultural purposes. •
Reduction in floods as most of the rain water joining rivers from the hills gets collected in the pits thus reducing the force of water. •
The expected impact of this particular activity is to make people aware of the techniques of conserving rain water through simple pits and spreading it to the world through the network of people in neighboring villages in Varada River Basin. Karnataka. •
Though the beneficiary loses part of his land on the border, still his benefit from the availability of water throughout the year.

Fieldsite images of rainwater harvesting process

Program Update

TRDC developed this new small tank/pond in Gorasagadde village within Hasanagi Panchayat, Yallapura Taluk, Uttara Kannada District. All the beneficiaries are either agriculture labourers or small farmers. They were practicing subsistence agriculture in a very dry land depending on rain without any water storage facility. In the event of rain failure, their crop used to wither and result in crop failure. We facilitated villagers to understand the situation of Village Lake & take up rejuvenation through participatory processes. In all 17433 m3 of silt was removed out of which 3984 m3 of silt was removed through community contribution. 2000 m3 of tank was covered with stone revetment. Waste weir and sluice were repaired for water management & community members were trained on maintenance of village lakes.

Story from the field

TRDC developed this new small tank/pond in Gorasagadde village within Hasanagi Panchayat, Yallapura Taluk, Uttara Kannada District. The lake was developed and new bund was created across valley so that the water remains stored in the newly developed pond. This will also result in constant ground water percolation resulting in ground water recharge, increased static water table in the surrounding region and also benefits inhabitants of Gorasagadde and its neighboring villages in terms of getting enhanced supply of drinking water for livestock and wild animals. Village communities in Gorsgadde village have never experienced acute drinking water shortages. Water Users Group is maintaining & protecting the tank. Community is getting irrigation water 2 times for their crops during acute summer season. The impact of the programme has spread to surrounding villages & they too have started rejuvenating village tanks in collaboration with local Panchyats & with their own efforts.

Impact - Enhanced surface water storage and groundwater recharge for irrigation to grow their food crop- paddy Ground water recharge and flow of excess water into smaller tanks/lakes situated downstream. Provides drinking water for wild animals and birds as the tank is located at the periphery of the forest or land with rich vegetation. Control of soil erosion along the valley in the hilly areas of Western Ghats.

Program Update

TRDC has made efforts to initiate and practise rainwater harvesting through community mobilization in Western Ghats. Rainwater harvesting on hill slopes will make an important contribution to resolving water shortages in the future. TRDC has put forth this donation option that caters to promote water conservation, restoration and regeneration of water bodies through promotion of rain water harvesting pits in the villages of Uttara Kannada District. TRDC is continuously supporting their cause and supported the water rejuvenation through development of rainwater harvesting structures on the hill top. Hundreds of hectares have been covered under rainwater harvesting pits in these villages

Story from the field

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