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Executive Summary:
Triumph Foundation, is a registered charitable trust and is 22 years in service to the weaker sections of the Society in an around Thane District. The Trust is a charitable organization of Rotary Club of Thane Hills, a member of Rotary International, a one of the largest global service organisations.
Triumph Foundation has proved itself to be an organisation known for undertaking large projects and delivering on the same to the satisfaction of the beneficiaries. The projects are conceived and executed by the members of it's parent organisation viz Rotary Club of Thane Hills.
As a part of providing continuous service, RC Thane Hills has identified the need of water conservation in the areas of Thane District within Murbad & Shahapur Taluka. This can be achieved through construction of check dams and holding the rainwater flowing through the drains. The construction of check dams creates a permanent water reservoir and also increases the level of ground water table as accumulated water is absorbed in the soil and this ground water then could be used through bore wells/open wells.
The adivasi farming community can achieve a self-sustaining status as they will be in a position to take a 2nd crop of Rabbi and double their current earnings. Increased financial resources then can be utilised for availing better educational facilities and bringing the sustained economic stability in their families. As mentioned above, the creation of water body enables the water to be absorbed in the soil, increasing the underground water table, which can be extracted and used through bore wells. The accumulated water also provides a nearby means of water supply for the daily needs of the farmers. One more indirect benefit of construction of check dams is wage earning to the local workers who will be deployed for construction of check dams.
The proposed project consists of construction of a minor dams at an approximate total cost of Rs. 1.19 Crores. The project will directly benefit 15,000 adivasi villagers on a permanent basis in an around Ambadi and surrounding villages.
HISTORY:
The villagers with the help of Local self-Government constructs Vanarai Bandanas across the non-perennial stream passing through the fields. Vanarai Bandharas are small temporary Dams built by filling empty cement / Polythene Bags with sand and arranging them in a form of wall 1.00 meter High.
Because of the short life (1 Year) of Vanrai Bandharas the villagers are compelled to perform this task every year at the end of Mansoon.
The local farmers are by now educated to use this arrested water for cultivation of the land in the off season ie. months of October to March. Traditionally they grow only one crop a year usually Paddy (Rice).
Proposed solution
Small permanent dams built of plain cement concrete, are found to be a suitable method of Rainwater Harvesting in the rural parts of Maharashtra. Good numbers of projects (approximately 400) are executed by Rotary in Thane & Raigad Districts till now, and have shown good results.
The Tangible benefits of Constructing Permanent check dams are:
• It raises the ground water table of the area surrounding the check dam (Radius of 0.50 Km) which increases the yield of the bore wells and open wells falling in this zone. This enables the villagers to get drinking water for them & also for the live-stock in the summer.
• Farmers can cultivate the fields for a second crop usually cash crops like vegetables, flowers, barley etc. This will increase the family income substantially, increasing the standard of living (increase of Rs. 10,000/- per acre per year). Each check dam can hold water to the extent of approximately 25 Lakh litres and an area of @ 30 acres can be irrigated.
The intangible benefits are outlined below:
• The scarcity of work and water compels the local population to migrate each summer in search of work to the cities. If water and work is provided by this project, such migration could be avoided.
• Children are deprived of continuous education due to migration. Lack of water also causes health & hygiene problems amongst them.
• The local workers get the earnings through working on the check dams construction sites and earn during non-agricultural period.
Proposed Water conservation program - Construction of minor dam at Ambadi
RC Thane Hills have been approached by Group Gram Panchayat of Ambadi and also by Gram Panchayat of Zidke. The proposed project will be executed on the overflow of Tansa river in Ambadi in Bhiwandi Taluka of Thane District. Ambadi is situated at a distance of 36.2 KM from off Kalyan Junction on NH 160 & NH 848. The overflow of Tansa river passes through Ambadi and this overflow is at present under-utilized because of lack of irrigation projects and Water Conservation Works. During the months from March to May the villagers face acute shortage of Drinking water.
Post completion, the concrete dam is expected to create a water reservoir upto a stretch of 1 km resulting in approximately 1050 Million litres of water storage and approximately will support 10 Ha of irrigable area.
BENEFICIARIES:
Direct:
• Approximately 12,000 villagers will be benefitted due to availability of water in the Rabbi crop season.
• Approximately, 500 adivasi fishermen will be benefitted as they will be able to do fishing for longer time and improve their earnings.
• Water will be available for cattles
Indirect:
• Approximately 200 villagers will earn daily wages during construction of dam by working on the site.
• Increase in the yield of surrounding borewells and open wells
Site Visits:
We have organised site visits on 9th October, 24th October and 18th December in RC Thane Hills members having requisite experience in the fields of large civil works, architecture and public works have participated
Work done till now:
1. We have approached Water conservation department under Zilla Parishad, Thane. The Dy Engineer, Irrigation department, Z P Subdivision Bhiwandi have undertaken the survey and 1st cut cost estimates.
2. These have been validated and revised by the appointed civil consultant who is licensed engineer with Public Works Department.
3. We have received for NOC from Minor Irrigation department, Z P, Thane.
Steps ahead:
1. We are approaching the corporate CSR for tying up for required funds to construct the concrete dam.
2. Post organising the funds, we will appoint the contractor through bidding process.
3. Supervision will be done by appointed project consultant and will be visited during the constructions.
4. The payment to the contractors will be done after certification by Project consultant through account payee cheques / electronic funds transfers.
5. All the appropriate taxes will be deducted/paid as applicable.
The dams require very low maintenance, mainly removing the sludge from the slit once in every two years. Once the construction is completed, the project is handed over formally to the respective Gram Panchayats for regular maintenance, which they agree through an acceptance letter. Required training will be provided to local contractors to undertake the same.
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