Report: Integrated Drinking Water Project Kanchner Tanda No. 1. Block&Dist. Aurangabad,Maharashtra

Providing potable drinking water and sanitation facilities to Kachner Tanda No. 1. We have implemented a water system to aid them in their water crisis.

KACHANER TANDA NO. 1: Completed Activities. (100% work completed)

: The village community has successfully completed the cost effective and community managed drinking water project in their hamlet. Under this, The existing old well belonging to the Grampanchayat ( local governance council of the village ) was repaired by the people, and the electric pump of 5 H.P. has been installed on the well. The water from this well is being lifted and transported through the new underground rising main pipeline of 2000 feet in length, and the water is being stored in the newly constructed water storage tank of 18,000 liters capacity. The drinking water is provided to each household through individual water connection, at their doorstep by providing the newly laid down distribution system pipeline of 1000 feet in length.

Tap connections: Installation of 48 individual tap connections have been completed. Each household has been provided separate tap connections with a view for the judicious use of water. At present all the household get the water at their door step.

Provision of water for the school students: A separate tap connection has been provided to the primary school.

Health Activities :
(i) The local health promoter has been appointed by the Sampada Trust (sister concern of WOTR) She looks after the preventive health care and malnutrition of children between the age group of 0-5 years old.
(ii) Regular follow up and orientation is being conducted through monthly meetings of the SHGs and SMS, about the personal health and hygiene as well as cleanliness of the surroundings in the village.
(iii) Each household has promoted kitchen garden by using the waste water.
(iv) Every fortnightly the women from the village collectively carry out village cleanliness campaign.

In Kachner Tanda hamlet the watershed development activities are being implemented since October 2008 by SIED (sister concern of WOTR). The land treatment in 194 hectares of land (61 % against the total area of 320 hectares ) has been completed. The horticulture including orchards and dry land horticulture is also completed in 10 hectares of land. The underground water table has been increased due to the large area treatment.

Impact: Before the initiation of the project, the people faced acute drinking water problem in the summer. During this summer, due to the project intervention there was plenty of water. Now this hamlet has become tanker free hamlet. Henceforth, the people will not be dependent on the irregular supply of water through tankers. The village community especially, women and girls are very happy has much of their time is saved as earlier had to fetch water for 3-4 hours per day. This saved time is used by the women and children for other productive purpose. Due to the successful implementation of the project, there is greater cooperation among the people, and the people are united due to the common cause of drinking water.

So far, three households have constructed individual toilets. The village community has been sensitized and aware about the negative impacts of the open defecation. The village community is convinced and motivated for the construction of toilets through the support of Self-help groups (SHGs). Since, the water is available at the doorstep of the each household, now people are willing to construct the toilets with their own funds.

The maintenance revenue model for Kachner Tanda project is prepared. The operational costs, such as electric bill, honorarium to the caretaker and water distributor, regular maintenance cost like, TCL powder (chlorination), cocks, etc. will be done through the maintenance cost. Besides this, the provision for the reserve fund of 20 % of the annual cost is made, so as to ensure the sufficient fund for the replacement of major parts of the pump, minor repairs of the valves, pipes etc. after 5-7 years period.

Since the responsibility to provide safe drinking water to the people is of the Govt. , hence the local governance council i.e. Grampanchayat is responsible for the collection of water tax, water distribution, water chlorination etc . However, looking to the present scenario of the ineffective functioning of the local governance, we have tried out the alternative, which we found quite successful in our drinking water projects.

Under this new arrangement, the Women’s water committee will be the legal sub-committee of the Grampanchayat under the state Act. This act empowers the sub-committee to work independently under the supervision and control of the Grampanchayat, which is mainly responsible to the Gramsabha (General assembly of the hamlet).

Therefore, the sub-committee will collect the water tax with extra funds as per the revenue generation model and deposit in their bank account. The amount of the legal water tax will be paid to the Grampanchayat collectively by the sub-committee, and the surplus amount will be kept with the water committee’s bank account for the regular maintenance as well as in case of major repairs.

WOTR through its sister organisation SIED is a facilitating implementation of WASUNDHARA programme in Maharashtra since April 2008. SIED is implementation unit of WOTR for the integrated watershed development program.