WATERSHED MANAGEMENT IN SEMI ARID REGION - EXPERIENCES IN INDIA

by Prasad Rasal1

History has proved that civilisations have risen on lands with favourable land and water resources and destroyed by soil erosion and siltation e.g. Indus valley. Interestingly India and many developing countries with agriculture dominant, are prospering with new developments in agriculture.

With depleting natural resources, changing lifestyle and values, sustainable development is a dream today. Government working with huge infrastructure has its own problems and limitations. Rural Development being the principle objective, the stress should be on natural resources and its management. There are some places in all parts of the world, acting as lighthouse in thunderstorm. Concerning India, some villages developed themselves through NGOs, who created initiative in local people.

With rise in productivity of some food grains like rice, wheat, sugarcane (requiring huge quantity of water), concept of environmentally sustainable development requires to be injected into the minds of the people. Devoted voluntary workers in NGO sector can show a way for this huge task, as can be seen in villages like Ralegan Shindi. INDIA believes in what Mahatma Gandhiji said "There is enough for everyone's need but nothing for anyone's greed."

Different techniques adopted in all places under integrated approach for sustainable development are - low external input, optimum utilisation of available local resources, indigenous technology and sustainability, considering village as a unit of development, soil and water conservation on watershed basis, new improved methods of organic manure, equitable distribution of available local resources like water, participation of villagers from planning to distribution of benefits. Planned land use pattern, self-imposed disciplines, equitable distribution of benefits are the key words in each case.

In all the villages, water availability less than 750 cum per capita. But they have shown a way to sustainable development. Now in all the places more than 25% area is under forest, 20% under irrigation.

CONCLUSIONS : Above discussed models show that each village can be self-sufficient only with its own natural resources. At village level, soil conservation, water conservation, biomass and agricultural development will play a substantial role with active participation of villagers. Work done by these villages has been responsible in changing the government policies. When selfless leadership and urge of the people join hands, unbelievable things become a reality.

1 Secretary, Centre for Management of Local Resources, 216 Narayan Peth, Pune - 411030, India. Phone 91_212_450584, Fax 91_212_452145. Email -prasadrasal@yahoo.com