Shaili GTraining Programme
“Urban Lake Conservation & Protection”
March 20th, 2013, Hyderabad
Urban Watershed Management
to Combat Climate Change
The city has cascade of lakes
which are in bad condition – 3084
lakes in HMDA’s core areas itself,
many more in peri urban areas
(data available – about 500)
Urban areas have lost several
lakes during the process of
development, which were earlier
natural sources of water for
agriculture and several other
economic activities.
Sewerage water is diverted in the
lakes which leads to pollution,
Ground water contamination and
diseases
Shadan hospital near Peerancherureleases Bio-medical wastes into the lake
Slide curtsey: Dhan Foundation -
rural.nic.in/sites/downloads/pura/WM_%20Approaches...
Shamirpet Lake
Area : 486 ha
Shamirpet Lake
Area : 256.77 ha
230 Ha of land
under water got
reduced in 17
years
1989 2001
2005 2005
2009
Shamirpet
Lake
(classified map)
Water
Vegetation-1
Vegetation-2
Other classes
Source: SaciWATERs and IIIT Study, 2011, Forthcoming
Regulate local / micro climatic conditions
Keep surroundings cool
Regulate flood waters
Minimize economic loss due to flooding
Improve ground water recharging
Support aquatic life
Stop gap habitat for migratory birds.
Contribute towards natural remediation of waste
waters.
Silt controlling traps.
Slide curtsey: Jasveen Jairath,
2011
Increase in urban floods – extent and spread
Low recharge of GW
Vulnerability to droughts
Peri urban areas – deprived of corporation
services bare compounded brunt
Aggravated by gated affluent communities in PU
areas
Poor quantum and low quality
Slide curtsey: Jasveen Jairath,
2011
Local water body sources – replaced by distant
rivers – krishna, godawari, manjeera
Consequences – expensive, larger eco-footprints
Local self reliance of water – breaks down
Around 60% of HMDA is covered by formal water
supply – rest of the areas depend on GW – lakes
recharge GW
Community Involvement -
users of water supply and
management services
Participate in a project cycle
By
Assuming a responsibility,
Exercising an authority
Having control over the
management of water
services
For planning and execution of a given project
A method of understanding the community’s
issues
Helps in better community participation
Facilitates in identifying various stakeholders
Smoothens the flow of work
Technical assistance
Effective use of resources
Faulty lines
Unequal distribution
No proper operation
systems (on/off
switches)
Frequent electricity
cuts
Quality related issues
Mixing of water and
sewage lines
Transect walks
Random interaction with the people
Understanding the complexities of a heterogeneous
population
Identifying the vulnerable groups
Visiting them at their time of convenience
Detailed ethnographic study
Identifying key active members
Formation of committees and sub-committees
Interaction with the SHG members
1. Rapport building
Building contacts with the
government representatives, local
bodies such as Panchayat office,
community leaders, political
leaders, other key members
2. Awareness building activities
(with children, youth and adults)
Street plays, art and slogan
competitions for school children,
rallies
3. Meetings with all the
stakeholders
To identify their issues; to gain
traditional knowledge
4. Iterative sessions – Women,
landless and poor
Separate session to bring out
their perspectives
5. PRA exercises
FGDs, Timelines, Social
Mapping, Resource Mapping,
Water Mapping
6. Working groups co-ordination
Local governments, partner
NGOs, etc
7. Training and Capacity building
programmes
WASH practices, Water
harvesting, drip irrigation, use
of natural fertilizers, etc.
• Framing a lake management committee
• Operation and maintenance of the lake : SHGs, Identifying
a third party
• Regular public awareness: media, hoardings, organising
community vigilance meetings, Involving the local school
students
• Introducing certain resolutions: User fees, Ban on littering
around the lake etc;
• Community to play the role of “Watch Dogs” !!!
• Regular Capacity Building : Municipal Solid waste
management
The advantages linked to community involvement are:
Improves the outreach of the services
Time-saving
Recognition of work at community level
Programmes designed in accordance to community needs
Project management in the hands of community
TIME – most of them are unavailable during
working hours
Effective communication – language barriers
Identifying the right needs of the community
Have to satisfy everyone within the project goals
Projects implementation would be time
consuming
Identifying stakeholders representing diverse
communities
Influence of political parties
Communicating technical information in an easy to
understand manner
Capacity of the community to contribute to the
project management
After a period of time, the initial zeal in active
implementation fades away.
The community needs constant push in managing
their own resources
The community would expect immediate change and
positive impact
Consideration of landless and other poor people into the
planning process
The tools and approaches are to be developed which
would meet the needs of the communities
Ultimately all the users would get actively involved over a
period of time
Importance of the role of women
Community involvement is a highly affective method of a
change
Proper planning and implementation process is required for
enhanced community involvement.
The involvement is influenced by leadership and
responsibility.
Approaches/strategies should be localized for a better fit
into the environment.
Successful experiences should be disseminated.
Specific tools should be developed to support community
involvement in order to reduce the constraints.
Community participation improves the financial viability
and overall sustainability of the services
