Community Mapping and Empowerment:Case Study of Water Management in a South Indian Village

3rd International Open Source GIS ConferenceVelp, The Netherlands

June 25-28, 2012

Nagesh Kolagani, Dr. Palaniappan Ramu and Dr. Koshy VargheseIndian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036 INDIA

Location Map of Project Villages in South India

Parigi villages (22) (phase II)

E. Palaguttapalli village (phase I)

IIT Madras

Up to 1970’s: Community-based Rain Water Harvesting

FOREST

STREAMS

RESERVOIRS

WELLS FARMS

Up to 1970’s: Sustainable Water Usage

Number of wells: 76● Open wells

During 1980’s and 1990’s: Excessive Water Usage

Number of wells: 198● Open wells● Tube wells

Since 2002: Water Crisis

Number of wells: 59● Open wells● Tube wells

Falling Ground Water Levels over Decades

1970's 1980's & 1990's post-2001

-200

-180

-160

-140

-120

-100

-80

-60

-40

-20

0Ground level

Hard rock

Water and Agriculture Over the Decades

Number of wellsArea under irrigationGround water table depth10-year return on investment

1970's 1980's & 1990's Post-2001

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

150

200

250

Ground Water Exploitation

Number of wellsArea under irrigationGround water table depth10-year return on investment

1970's 1980's & 1990's Post-2001

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

150

200

250

1970's 1980's & 1990's Post-20010

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Discharge / Recharge

Economics of Irrigated Agriculture

Statistics of one project village:Number of households: 300Average land holding: 1 hectareAverage annual income: € 800

Losses in one such village:

€ 2,400 / family towards capital costs

€ 4,200 / year for government towards free electricity

Water-intensive commercial cropsup to 2001

Problem: Water Crisis since 2002

Rain-fed subsistence cropssince 2002

Solution: Water Harvesting Structures

Blackboard Sketch of People's Suggestions

Field Visits to Proposed Locations

A Sample Plan for Proposed Structures

No location information for facilitating monitoring & visualization

GPS/GIS Map of People's Suggestions

For monitoring & visualization; Enforces participation & field visits

Social Benefit Analysis of Proposed Structures

For facilitating discussions among people

A Structure Well-planned and Constructed by Neighbours

Started working as a Successful Silt Trap within 1 Month

Extending these Lessons to Other Villages

Thank You!

Credits: To the local youth & To the farmers