Back in March 2018, the villages of Phulambri Block located in the Girija river basin area of Aurangabad struggled to provide water for their daily needs. And now, the villages are self-reliant. They have protected irrigation for over 5000 hectares, and many households are progressing in agricultural activities. How did this happen? Here's an inspiring read.
The Story:
In March 2018, Atlas Copco Charitable Foundation (ACCF), with its NGO associate Savitribai Phule Mahila Ekatma Samaj Mandal(SPMESM), Aurangabad, commenced the Girija Watershed Project. The mega project was designed to transform the drought-affected villages in Phulambri Block through complete watershed development and promoting agricultural activities. While it is due for completion in June 2022, its results have already drawn attention.
This ambitious project's highlights testify to the contribution done by ACCF & SPMESM, the thoughtfully designed objectives, initiatives, and the positive impact the project continues to create.
Project Area: 9450 hectares covering 13 villages
Duration: March 2018 – June 2022
Impact till date: Positively impacted close to 30000 people since March 2018.
The project's objectives clearly define the vision and serve as a guidebook to steer the initiatives toward fruition.
Dual-approach objective:
Improvisation of the current structure's water collecting capability and boost in-situ rainwater conservation, further improving groundwater recharge.
Enhancing farm revenue through agricultural and related activities such as drip irrigation and intercropping, particularly emphasizing to assist economically weaker families and women.
Crucial components of the project:
1. Pre-restoration
2. Water structures/restoration work
3. Area treatment (CCT's, WAT, Loose bolder structure's, Gabion bunds, Mati Nala bund, Gully plugs, farm bunding/trenching, plantation of trees and pasture)
4. Post watershed (Drip irrigation, Exposure visits, Sheti shala, Frontline demo, Impact analysis survey)
Meticulous planning, stagewise implementation, and the villagers' support enabled ACCF to bring about the change it envisioned in 2018. While the project is yet to arrive towards its completion date, the villages' self-reliance clearly defines the results.
Achievements so far:
Enhanced in-situ rainwater conservation and boosted water collecting capability of existing structures.
Increased groundwater recharge by 186.93 MLT up to 2021 due to afforestation
The project's villages are now tanker-free, and they have protected irrigation for over 5000 hectares in 2020-21.
Villages have received assured irrigation for rabbi crops (wheat, gram and vegetables) and two seasonal crops (ginger, cotton) for about 2000 hectares in 2020-21.
Training and Demonstration Practices under the project helped almost 2700 farmers to date resulting in a 15% increase in the farm produce.
600 farmers from the area have come together to form the Farmers Producer Organization (FPO) to aggregate and sell their farm produce.
Watershed is a source of life for those thriving in its vicinity. It holds the potential to regenerate the natural vegetation and further provide support to agricultural endeavors. It is an integral part of our ecology, and at Atlas Copco, we believe in preserving it for a sustainable tomorrow.
