Watershed
In a mountainous region, where the contours of land determine
not just the types of forest and flow of water, but also influence social
linkages, watershed as a unit of development is particularly appropriate. CHIRAG
initiated watershed development work over ten years ago in Ramgarh and Dhari
blocks of Nainital. However, the idea and its practise fully crystallised only
in the last few years. To develop a comprehensive community based watershed
development practice, CHIRAG has sought to cohere the different sectors of its
natural resources initiative into a singular integrated modality. At present
CHIRAG is carrying out such work at three sites in partnership with the state
and central government as well as Indian philanthophic organisations. The
ongoing work is at Naukuchiyatal and Chiori watersheds (Nainital district) and
just started at Devaldhar (Bageshwar district).
The organisation has begun to share its knowledge and technical
expertise with other NGOs to help them take up similar work in several remote
regions of the state. In a parallel but separate initiative, CHIRAG is providing
crucial training inputs to natural resource teams from two NGOs to develop
microplans to carry out watershed development work on sites already chosen for
the purpose. These microplans formulated through a one year exercise, will be
independently assessed by experts on the basis of which the project is likely to
get funded. Plans are on the anvil for CHIRAG to work with eight more NGOs from
different parts of the state in the next two years to carry out a similar
exercise.
Catchment Area Protection Works
This programme, funded under the aegis of Swajal, was
structured around soil and water conservation measures in 11 villages that had
low source discharge. The physical interventions were in the form of forest
plantations, soil and water conservation activities and various community
mobilisation and income generation related activities. The objective was to
improve water purity and to protect, sustain and boost water supply.
