Water Harvesting
The terrain of “Kutch” district is endowed with diversified geographical environment. There are four geomorphic divisions. They are: 1. The Rann (Desert) on the north 2. The plain grass lands on the north known as Banni 3. The hilly regions, and 4. The coastal plains on the south and west.
The Rann is the most remarkable and unique feature of Kutch region occupying its northern and eastern parts, forming more than a half aerial area of Kutch i.e. out of total area of 45,612 Sq Km, about 23,310 Sq Km is desert. The Rann area mostly remains dry except for the rainy season when it is covered with saline water. The Banni plain lying between the great Rann and the hilly region is a grassland and shrubby area. The hilly region consists of east-west trending hill ranges while the coastal plains cover southern border of the district towards the Arabian Sea.
Kutch district is practically an arid area. The seasonal rain is highly irregular here. There occur frequent droughts and cyclones in the district. The average rain fall is about 30 to 40 cm. Besides this; it has been classified as earthquake prone zone.
Despite enormous geographical area, there isn’t any perennial river in Kutch. Among the available rivers of the district, almost all remain dry through out the year due to scanty rainfall in the area. Under these circumstances, there remain only one way and that is ground water as a source of water for drinking, agriculture, industry and for cattle. Almost whole district extract water through numerous bore wells dug since long back.
Consequently, the under ground water level has gone down drastically. If such a condition persists for longer time, then certainly, there would be critical circumstances to face for the human beings and the cattle. The wide spread effects will be even worse.
Looking to these circumstances, the Harvesting of water becomes absolutely important in this region. Water Harvesting is implemented to achieve the following aims.
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Storage of water to meet the demand of water for drinking, agriculture and other purposes.
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To raise the level of underground water and
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To improve and maintain the moisture retaining capacity of land to enhance agriculture.
To execute the above mentioned aims, Ashapura Foundation has adopted following steps:
 1. Construction of Staggered Trenches
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Staggered Trench |
The pits of the size 6 ft. x 2 ft. x 1 ft. are dug on the land surface with downward slope on the course of flowing water. This reduces the speed of water flowing speedily over this surface. These pits are known as Staggered Trenches. |
The flowing water is initially hindered by these trenches. This method would reduce the speed of the flowing water and consequently prevents the erosion of land surface (soil) and ultimately preserve the fertility of soil. At time, 200 liters of water is filled in each Staggered Trench, which then percolates down and recharges the ground water.
Up to June 2005, 65092 Staggered Trenches have been created by Ashapura Foundation. |
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| 2. Construction of Loose Boulders |
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Loose Boulder |
After filling the Staggered Trenches, the excess water flows out in the form of little streams. To stop these streams, the obstruction walls of the length equal to the width of the streams are made with the help of stones. Such walls are created at an interval of 200 to 300 meters along the channels of the streams. These walls are known as Loose Boulders. |
With this kind of arrangement, water filters out after passing through this loose boulder. The material like sand grains, grass, plants, seeds etc. flowing with water stops here. This promotes land fertility and increases moisture retaining capacity of land. Also it prevents land erosion. In addition, this collection of organic material would provide food to the cattle.
Up to June 2005, 660 Loose Boulders have been constructed by Ashapura Foundation. |
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| 3. Construction of Nala Plugs |
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Nala Plug |
The rain water falling on land surface moves downstream along the slope and forms small streams of water. These small streams are stopped at suitable places. These stops are called Nala Plugs. These structures are made to store rain water. By means of this arrangement, maximum 1 to 3 meter of water head is stored. |
By making such Nala Plugs, the stored water is used in the farm benefiting the area about 2 to 5 Acers of land located near the structure. At the end of monsoon, if there is no further rain, then the existing crop in the farm is supplied water from these Nala Plugs and the crop is saved.
Up to June 2005, Nala Plugs have been constructed by Ashapura Foundation as follows:
Total No. of Nala Plugs Constructed |
Total Water Storage Capacity Created |
47 |
264.5 Million Litre of water |
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| 4. Construction of Storage Tanks |
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Storage Tank |
Storage Tank is the arrangement in which the retaining walls of clay are made and a dam (waste weir) is constructed using cement concrete. This tank is preferred at the site where two to three rain water streams meet. The outlet is also planned so that excess water overflows out of it. The Storage Tank is a good basin for water storage. Generally, it is surrounded by the agricultural fields. |
By making arrangement of Storage Tanks, a good deal of water is stored. This water is used for agriculture in monsoon and even for the crops during winter and summer by lift irrigation. Considering economic aspect, excellent water storage capacity is created by means of these Storage Tanks. Compare to construction of large dams, construction of storage tanks at local sites is not only economical but prevents ecological disaster. Many farmers and large land area benefit out of this stored water.
If the rain fall is good, the pay back period of such water storage tanks is one monsoon crop only.
Up to December 2007, Storage Tanks have been constructed by Ashapura Foundation. as follows:
Total No. of Storage Tanks Constructed |
Total Water Storage Capacity Created |
70 |
1503.5 Million Litre |
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| 5.Construction of Check Dams |
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Check Dam |
Check Dam is a structure constructed using cement and concrete across the river of comparatively wider water channel. This structure is preferred where the height of both the banks of river is considerably high and the width of river channel or stream is less. There should not be any other place of water outlet from where water overflows out of the dam. The height of the Check Dam is determined considering the depth of river or stream channel, the quantity of water to store and the catchments area. |
By constructing Check Dams, water collected is used for irrigation in the nearby farms. With the help of lift irrigation, the farmers are able to cultivate their crops not only during monsoon but also during winter and summer season as well.
Up to December 2007, Check Dams have been constructed by Ashapura Foundation as follows:
Total No. of Check Dams Constructed |
Total Water Storage Capacity Created |
70 |
580.7 Million Litre |
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| 6. Construction of Recharging Check Dams - Recharging Storage Tanks |
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Recharging Dam |
Recharging Check Dams and Recharging Storage Tanks are constructed considering topography of the area. They are the structures constructed to recharge ground water. Such structures are planned where the bed rocks are porous and permeable like the coarse grained sedimentary rocks. The rock called sandstone is preferred here because it is largely available in this area and is highly suitable for recharging underground water. |
Due to the arrangement of recharging structures, the level of underground water grows higher. This in turn improves the quality of water. Moreover, the water level in bores and wells goes up, so there is good quality and quantity of water available for drinking and agriculture.
Recharging check dams also help in reducing salinity ingress.
Up to June 2005, Recharging Check Dams and Recharging Storage Tanks have been constructed by Ashapura Foundation as follows:
Total No. of Recharging Structures Constructed |
Total Water Storage Capacity Created |
5 |
145 Million Litre |
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| 7. Construction of Khet Talavdies (Farm Ponds) |
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Khet Talavdi |
Ashapura Foundation promotes construction of Khet Talavdi (Farm Pond) of size 20 X 20 X 1 or 30 X 30 X 1 Metre by the farmer at the corner of his farm where the water of his entire farm gathers, or sometimes at the place which is in the vicinity of his farm. The water flowing out from the farm is concentrated and stored here. At the end of monsoon, when there won’t be any chances of rain, the water requirement of the crops can be satisfied from this water. |
Up to June 2005, Ashapura Foundation has promoted the construction of Khet Talavdies as follows:
Total No. of Khet Talavdies Constructed |
Total Water Storage Capacity Created |
44 |
86.3 Million Litre |
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| 8. Recharging of Wells |
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Kuva Recharging |
This is the method in which flowing water is taken to the unused well. There will be a filter tank to filter water before dropping it into the well. In this method unused wells are used to recharge ground water therefore it is more economic. Due to this arrangement, the underground water level rises up and also improves the quality of water in the area. |
By placing the filter tank at the stream passing near by the old unusable well, the water of the stream is taken to this well with the help of pipe line. This arrangement is known as Recharging of Well. This is the most successful and less expensive method for water recharging.
Up to June 2005, 25 wells have been recharged by Ashapura Foundation. |
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| 9. Bori Bandhs (Creating obstruction by placing used bags filled with sand) |
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Bori Bandh |
Bori Bandh is the effective method to slow down the speed of flowing water of the stream in any area. Bori Bandh is a kind of stop made of empty cement bags filled with sand, clay and such other material and placed in the course of stream. Usually, there will be great erosion due to flow of water in hilly terrain but Bori Bandh can check it effectively. |
In case of Bori Bandh, the empty cement bags are filled with sand, clay and small pebbles. Such bags are then stacked one over the other in the channel of the stream which are not more than 5 meter in width. This method is effective where the depth of the stream is not more than one and a half meter and the sides of the stream are of clay. On the upstream side of Check Dam at two to three places if Bori Bandhs are made then they prevent land erosion. Moreover they check sediments from entering into the Check Dam and increase the lifespan of Check Dam.
Up to June 2005, Bori Bandhs have been made by Ashapura Foundation.
Total No. of Bori Bandhs Made |
Total Water Storage Capacity Created |
1 |
6.1 Million Litre |
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