Siruthuli, based on its prior experience in rejuvenating the existing water bodies has decided to take up integrated water resources management involving the community to ensure sustainable development of the ecosystem, which ultimately fulfills the objective of restoration of River Noyyal. Based on that, watershed approach has been given priority and Siruthuli has taken up this specific project titled “Madhwarayapuram Watershed Project”. It is our pioneer watershed development project with the financial support of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Chennai. This project can quench the water needs of 1300 hectare of farming lands and the rural community.
Madhwarayapuram is a prominent place on Noyyal River Basin, situated in the foot hills of Western Ghats i.e. about 26 km from Coimbatore city towards west on the Siruvani main Road. The watershed area covers about 1600 meter in length and 900 meter in breadth covering the beneficiaries of six villages (Nallurvayal, Iruttupallam, Sadivayal, Alandurai, Madhwarayapuram and Kallipalayam).
In general, the concept of watershed management is a holistic approach aiming at optimizing the use of land, water and vegetation in an area so as to alleviate drought, moderate floods, soil erosion and to improve water availability and increase fodder and agricultural production on a sustainable basis. Soil and water conservation practices receive top priority for planning watershed management as they form foundation of sustainable rain fed agriculture.
Typically watershed development implies those activities that would minimize water run-off, implementing micro plans to conserve top soil, restore defunct water harvesting structure and construct new ones. Soil conservation and Water harvesting structure includes contour bunds, trenches, gabions, check dams, earthen checks, percolation tanks, farm ponds, tree plantation etc. The scope of this Madhwarayapuram Watershed Development Project includes creation and restoration of most of the water harvesting structures mentioned above. Hence, Siruthuli Board approves this project as a pioneer project that can be replicated in the entire Noyyal River Basin with the scrupulous support of farming community for the betterment of rural community as well as for the ecosystem of the whole region.
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is the financial partner of this project and Siruthuli is the executing partner of this project. Beneficiaries are farmers and people from local community.
Current Status of the project
Shramdan work has been completed by the community. As per norms of the NABARD supported watershed projects, part of planned activities under Capacity Building Phase (CBP) should be implemented by the community on their own contribution as Shramdan work. Activities like clearing of bushes and desiltation of water channel, desiltation of existing 3 checkdams have been completed and the project proposal for Capacity Building Phase (CBP) has been prepared and submitted to NABARD for appraisal.
Activities carried out so far under the Capacity Building Phase (CBP)
- Introductory meeting - On 11th October 2008, Siruthuli team interacted with the farmers at Iruttupallam. Siruthuli briefed the beneficiaries over the efficacy of the project towards solving their local water problems.
- Exposure visit to Nilakkottai Taluk of Dindigul district - It was an eye-opening day for the 41 farmers representing Madhvarayapuram Watershed area. Demonstrations on various components executed in the project area were briefed by the implementing agency of that project area. Then, distinct roles played by the community, implementing agency and NABARD as funding agency was discussed.
- Joint meeting between Siruthuli, NABARD and Beneficiaries - On 6th December 2008, the above joint meeting was conducted. Siruthuli Chairman Dr. S V Balasubramaniam and apex body members of Siruthuli interacted with the farmers to help them decide on the manner upon which work has to go under this new project. NABARD AGM witnessed the activities, clarified the roles and responsibilities of funding agency, implementing agency and on the networking of these agencies with the beneficiaries.
- Formation of committee - On 13th December 2008, the beneficiary farmers of the Madhavarayapuram Watershed area formed a village level committee, named “Nellurvayal Neerpidippu Melaanmai Vivasaayigal Sangham” for the smooth execution of the project components.
- Orientation meeting - On 18th November 2008, hydrologist of Siruthuli attended an orientation meeting for the capacity building phase held at NABARD. This meeting provided hands on training with regard to data collection, project proposal preparation etc.
- Data Collection - Right after orientation meeting, data collection work was started to prepare proposal for Capacity Building Phase (CBP). Data collection includes demographic details of watershed area, climate data, well inventory, soil characteristics and topography details, identifying activities pertaining to water resources development and its treatment, planning plantations across the watershed etc.
- Shramdan work - As a component of capacity building phase, beneficiaries suppose to carry out physical activities under the name “Shramdan work”. Clearing of bushes, removing blocks along the canal for free flow of water and desiltation of existing checkdams are some of the shramdan activities carried over.
- Project proposal - A detailed project proposal was prepared over the data collections made. Also, the same report had the details of work done during capacity building phase. The report was submitted to NABARD by 16th March 2009 for their perusal and appraisal.
After implementing this microlevel watershed, a macrolevel watershed is planned for about 400 sq. km in the first phase of Noyyal River Restoration.