GARD and other partners of WOTR

By Blue Planet Network Posted on Fri 22 Jul 2011, over 12 years ago

Namaste,

Being very close to WOTR and impressed by its reach, i wonder when some of your partners who you have trained and worked with for many years would be referred for membership into PWX.

Would NGOs like GARD be able to apply, review, and manage their projects on PWX? Initially it would be with help from WOTR and PWX but hopefully they would develop confidence and skills to navigate it on their own.

Is WOTR now their fiscal agent? What are the arrangements in terms of audits and M&E between WOTR and GARD?

Regards,
Rajesh

Sanitation

By El Porvenir Posted on Mon 25 Jul 2011, over 12 years ago

On another topic, can you provide some more information on the sanitation piece? The application mentions that 81 people will received sanitation, but it is not mentioned (or maybe I missed it?) in the application or the budget. Do the other 400+ people already have sanitation?

Thanks,
Rob

queries above

By Project Well Posted on Mon 25 Jul 2011, over 12 years ago

waiting for the response of the above questions before scoring today, Tuesday 26th here and Monday 25th PT.

queries above

By Watershed Organization Trust Posted on Tue 26 Jul 2011, over 12 years ago

Thank you Rajesh for inviting our partner GARD to the PWX family. The have expressed their thanks to you and willingness to be a part of the PWX.

Reg the queries the replies are as follows -

1. The need to create two water sources is explained below.
- The new drinking water well is located in the downstream of the minor irrigation tank and therefore has plenty of water. This is connected to drinking storage tank of Ghotewadi (main village) and the capacity of the tank is 60,000 ltrs (and not 40,000 ltrs as mentioned earlier). The drinking water of this tank is supplied to Valhewadi through common stand posts.

- In Valhewadi there are about 50 households, out of these some are located near the village and many are scattered. The village community from this hamlet does not receive sufficient water due to the long distance of (1,350 meter) and non-availability of sub-water storage tank. Therefore, it is proposed to construct a new water storage tank of 20,000 liters capacity at the control place i.e. Valhewadi hamlet from which the extension pipeline will be provided to two other hamlets. (i.e. Lamkhade vasti and Tambade Vasti) which are excluded from the existing drinking water scheme. For the water distribution we have proposal construction of 5 new stand posts; three in Valhewadi and one each at Lamkhade vasti and Tambade vasti.

- Also two sources are provided; as the existing old water source well and underground pipeline of 600 meters in length, is not in use at present can be used as an alternative. After completion of the new scheme in the main village, we propose installation of 3 .H.P. electric pump and some repairs of the pump house, so that the existing system can be used as stand by and as a conjunctive use, whenever there is storage of water or in the emergency situation.
Since presently, it is not being used the investment of the govt. becomes a dead investment and after some years due to non –maintenance the entire old system would be defunct.

- We had several discussions and meetings with the village community with regard to the planning and designing of the project. Also the plan and estimates were discussed with Executive Engineer Mr. Dhepe who has an experience of 25 years in implementing large drinking water project under govt. schemes. Mr. Dhepe visited the village and after his inspection to the sites and discussion with the people, the project was designed.

2. Elevation : The main source is the Ghotewadi water storage tank which is at a height of 40 ft from the ground level and the destination is the Valhewadi hamlet connecting to other two hamlets. The newly proposed constructed water tank at Valhewadi will be filled by gravity with force through the main water storage tank (Ghotewadi). The extension of other two hamlets are at the lower level and the water from the Valhewadi will be supplied through gravity with force.

3. Timing of pumping? Manually or through automatic level controls:

There are two electric pumps of 7.5. H.P each. One electric pump is being used. The second one is kept as a standby. Generally, the water tank of 60,000 liters takes 3 to 3.5 hours to fill the tank. There are two persons appointed by the Gram Panchayat for the drinking water scheme. One is pump operator and second one is the water distributor. The pump operator starts the electric pump by 7:00 a.m. every day. The main water storage tank gets filled by 10/10:30 am. The drinking water is released to the people by 11:00 a.m. every day for one hour. Since the over head water storage tank is at the height of 12 meters (40 feet) from the ground level, the distribution system pipeline has full pressure of water. Water is being distributed though individual tap connections. There are about 150 individual tap connections in the main village. Generally each family gets the drinking water about 225 liters (about 45 liters per person ).

4. What is the capacity of the current source (where you plan to lay the 1350m pipe)? : Water is being distributed though individual tap connection. There are about 150 individual tap connections in the main village. Generally each family gets the drinking water about 225 liters (about 45 liters per person ) Thus the requirement of the of the main village is about 33,750. Liter of water per day. Since the capacity of the water storage tank is 60,000 liters still there is balance stock of water is about 26,250 liters in the water storage tank. The laying of 1350 m pipeline would be done in two hamlets (Lamkhade vasti and Tambade Vasti) of Valhewadi.

5. Considered a solar pumping solution? -
This is not feasible due to high cost and there is no single successful model for such a large schemes (600 mtrs). There are few successful models where the pump runs on solar pump where it is installed on the bore well. We have proposed 3HP submersible pump on the existing old well which is not in use. This will be used as an additional source.

Do revert for further clarifications or if any query is missed out.
Regards,
Thomas

queries above

By Watershed Organization Trust Posted on Tue 26 Jul 2011, over 12 years ago

Dear Rob,

1. Reg. solar use we do agree with your view.

2. Thanks for appreciating the community manage the funds. Yes we have done this in the past and would like to share it with you.

- As per WOTR’s approach, the funds are released in installments to the Drinking Water Committee (DWC).
- The drinking water committee (7-15 members or depending on the size of the village) is the main actor which is selected in the general assembly (Gram Sabha). The committee comprises of women members. This committee is accountable to the village community and WOTR.
- After the sanction of the project, the ‘Letter of Offer’ is sent to the DWC with terms and conditions along with the sanctioned budget. Even in large projects like watershed development projects implemented by WOTR the letter of offer is done.
- The funds are released in installments (3-4 installments as per requisitions/action plan) directly to the DWC’s bank account.
- After due utilization of 60% of the installment amount released, the committee requests for demand for the next installment. For this, all the original bills / receipts along with the prescribed physical and financial progress report has to be sent to WOTR.
- The BPR accounts are maintained at WOTR’s project office (Ahmednagar) and audited by our internal as well as external Chartered Accountants. The water committee maintains its record at village level.

3. Regarding more info on sanitation - At present there are 14 families avail individual toilet facilities and for the remaining households we have planned to construct individual toilets under the Women’s Development Fund which is sanctioned under Watershed Development Program by NABARD. The NABARD has sanctioned Rs. 4 lacs (8,889 USD) towards the Women’s Devp. Fund. The women SHGs – Apex body called the Samyukta Mahila Samiti (SMS) has planned to utilize this component for the construction of individual toilets. This fund will be utilized as a revolving fund and to some extent loan will be given to the women SHG members from this revolving fund. During next two years, all the households would avail from the construction of toilets.

Kindly revert for any other information.

Best,
Thomas

Existing well, revenue, maintenance

By Team Blue Posted on Thu 28 Jul 2011, over 12 years ago

Hello Thomas,
I'm sorry but I'm still unclear on the existing well and why it can't be the sole/main source of water:
Existing Well
1. Is the existing old well dry or does it not have adequate capacity? If it isn't, then:
a. Given the pipe from the existing well (600m away) is already laid, then wouldn't it be possible, as a first phase, to get up and running faster with just this well?
b. With the savings (not laying 1350m of pipe), there could be more stand posts or even individual taps.
c. Then, only if needed, the 1350m pipe can be laid to supplement the old well.

Maintenance
2. If the existing well (600m away) is to be used in an emergency, why will the 3BHP pump need to be run every month? Wouldn't it need to be run only in the dry months between March and July?

Revenue
3. Are families comfortable paying per family or would they prefer paying per person? Or does that open up other problems?

thanks,
Madan

Existing well, revenue, maintenance

By Watershed Organization Trust Posted on Fri 29 Jul 2011, over 12 years ago

Greetings to you
The replies are -
1. a The exiting well is not dry. The old well (600 meters) is meant only for Valhewadi hamlet and is being used for 50 households (approx 250 population). The water requirement is of 11,250 ltrs per day and the water from this well is available for at least for 9-10 months. Only in the peak period of summer there is a scarcity of drinking water for two months. Also the water from this well is not sufficient for another 2 additional hamlets (which has been proposed along with Valhewadi) i.e. Lamkhade and Tambate hamlets.
- The water requirement of 106 households (521 population) is about 23,500 ltrs. which cannot be met from this old well and fulfill the needs of the people. Since the well and underground pipeline constructed by the government is already in place and not being used presently, it has become a dead investment. Therefore, we propose this water source (though not sufficient in summer) can be used for 9-10 months as an alternative source and a standby in emergency situation.

b & c. The pipeline of 1,350 meters is already laid down under the govt. scheme and is being used to supply water to the Valhewadi hamlet (50 families) only. This pipeline requires a storage water tank and an extension to other two hamlets i.e. Lamkhade vasti and Tambate wasti. This would meet the needs of these hamlets and would get sufficient water.

2. Maintenance : Yes your are correct. This pump would be run as when required. The electric charges for the drinking water for the GP is subsidized to Rs. 50 (Rs. 2250 per year). As it is the cost would not matter much as the electric charges would be paid by the GP.

3. The families are comfortable and willing to pay the tax. The GP is responsible for the repairs, maintenance and running charges. At present, the GP collects Rs. 360/- per family for six months. i.e. Rs. 720 per year (Rs. 60 per month). There will be no additional water tax for the proposed project nor for the 3 HP motor.

Do revert for any other information
best,
Thomas

Existing well, revenue, maintenance

By Team Blue Posted on Fri 29 Jul 2011, over 12 years ago

Hello Thomas,
Thanks for the clarifications.
Also, my apologies, I realize now that the 1350m has already been laid

thanks,
Madan