Monthly Update 6: Rufford Small Grant

Monthly Update 6: Rufford Small Grant

By: Dr. Nilesh Heda

20 May to 22 Jun 2009

 

• River conservation is possible only when there are organized efforts based on holistic ecosystem approach. Keeping this basic assumption in mind my efforts are going on in the Adan river basin. For rivers of our area, we have a basic problem of siltation. The destruction in the vegetation in the river basin leads to siltation. Abundant silt entering in the river chock-up springs and pools converted in to other type of habitats. In this situation watershed development is an important work to be carried out. National Rural Employment Guaranty Scheme (NREGA) of government of India can be utilized to restore the degraded riverine resources. Through RSG grant I am concentrating my attention on the wise implementation of the NREGA for riverine resource conservation. This initiative generates 15 small ponds on the streams entering in to Adan river basin. People of the Dhamani village got total of 300,000 Rupees (about 4400 Pound) of employment up to Jun 15, 2009 divided in to about 200 labours. They have also established a union and helping us to conserve river. The union also decided to take water bodies on leas for the aquaculture purpose in the coming monsoon so that they can lower their dependency on riverine fish and can get sustainable livelihood.
  
• On 5^th Jun 09 (World Environment Day) a popular awareness program has been arranged at local K.N. college in which people from the all class of society, NREGA labours and fishermen from the various villages gathered.
  
• Sakhli river, an important tributary of river Bembla (North-Eastern-Godavari basin) is originated at village Manbha (20⁰30'35.66'' N 77⁰.37'.52.01'' E) in Karanja taluka (Near our field station). The river has been enchroched by a welthy person of the area due to which, there is a danger of the flood to village. A social movement has been raised by our team with local villagers to save this river. On 23 Jun 09 local people with consensus removed encroachment.
  

 

 

Caption to photographs

Photo 1: People gathered to study present condition of river SAKHALI.

Photo 2: World Environment Day program.

Photo 3: Summer view of the Bhan Doh (Fresh Water Protected Area) along Adan river.