The impact of the watershed programmes have not only resulted in ecological restoration but also yielded economic returns for the communities. In village Bagroda of Bhopal district, the watershed mission initiated work in 2006, covering a total area of 1,275 hectares with a project cost of 65.03 lacs. In the four years of the project, a sum of 43 lacs have been spent in creation of 6 percolation tanks, 5 ponds, 10 boulder check dams, 6000 contour trenches, plantation of 57000 saplings and fodder development in 10 hectares.
“Mahukheda ki ghati, mare raand, jeevit mati” goes a local saying here. It implies “in the valley of Mahukheda, the women die and the men prosper”.
Basindra Village, Ratlam District, Madhya Pradesh, is watered by the perennial Jhamand River. The river flows about 100 ft below the village and was once its only source of water. The 2-3 handpumps installed here in the 1970’s by the Public Health and Engineering Department (PHED) used to run dry in the summer. When the river would shrink in the summer, people would dig holes in the riverbed to procure water for their daily needs.
This publication documents traditions, practices technologies and policies of water harvesting in the country. It also assesses state government efforts to deal with drought. The book has a clear message for the thirsty times ahead: Water must be made everybody's business.