Development of participatory and accountable decision-making processes via panisamitis(water committees) which will plan and over see the construction and maintenance as well as formation of a Water Federation to handle large-scale water security issues
The pani samiti was the crucial decision making and executing body in the construction process. These pani samitis comprised approximately 200 people and represented all the community groups within the village.Women were represented in all the samitis.A consequence of this composition was that the villages have once again learnt to work as a collective and think together for the development of their village.They faced the various challenges together, joined by a common goal.The fact that all the accounts were publicly displayed,and budgets and expenditure was open to scrutiny was something that was much appreciated by the community at large. The fact of being collectively responsible and having the gratification of seeing it succeed so immediately was something that has transformed the atmosphere from one of cynicism and indifference to one of engagement.
The Water Federation was formed in 2012.This federation comprises 30 persons,representing the various pani samitis.The purpose of this federation will be, as envisaged,to discuss and plan for water security in the area around the Sambhar Salt Lake.
Plantation
A total of 905 trees have been planted in the periphery of each structure. 90% of these trees are alive. An additional number of approximately 615 trees have naturally taken root in the periphery of these structures.
The trees that were planted were
- Neem/MargosaIndica
- Kejri/Prosopis Cineraria
- Bad/banyan
- Pipal/FicusReligiosa
- Ardu/Ailanthus Excelsa
- Babool/Acacia Nilotica
- Ker/Capparis Decidua
- Karanja/PongamiaPinnata
- Sisam/DalbergiaSisoo
All of the species selected are native species and are good for the soil, and useful either as fodder, for shade or both. The selection of the trees, some of them considered sacred, was done by the communities themselves and is an indication of their appreciation of the water bodies that have been created. The fact that trees like the kejri, pipal and banyan take decades to grow to their full dimensions and have long lives is testimony to the fact that the community intends to maintain and preserve these water bodies for a very long time.
Table : Number of trees planted on the periphery of the reservoirs
S.No |
Type |
Location within village |
Village |
Number of trees |
1 |
Banda |
Charagah |
Nosal |
50 |
2 |
Nadi |
Charagah (kumhariya) |
Bawali |
|
3 |
Banda |
Near Balaji mandir |
Kotri |
|
4 |
Banda |
Charagah |
Kotri |
|
5 |
Banda |
Near Khedi ka dhani |
Jhag |
50 |
6 |
Nadi |
Charagah |
Ringi |
|
7 |
Nadi |
Charagah |
Habaspura |
|
8 |
Nadi |
Moosani (shamshanbhoomit) |
Kishanpura |
|
9 |
Banda |
Khori |
Bhilawat |
|
10 |
Nadi |
Abas ki nadi |
Sinodiya |
– |
11 |
Nadi |
Bausitiba |
Sinodiya |
– |
12 |
Channel |
Dheera talaab(feeder channel) |
Jhag |
10 |
13 |
Nadi |
Charagah |
Srirampura |
– |
14 |
Nadi |
Charagah |
Bawali |
– |
15 |
Banda |
Moriya naka |
Ujoli |
40 |
16 |
Kund |
Jeevan pujari kighati |
Bawali |
– |
17 |
Nadi |
Solawata |
Solawata |
300 |
18 |
Anicut |
Dungrinaka |
Kotri |
– |
19 |
Nadi |
Tal |
Jhakholai |
50 |
20 |
Nadi |
Charagah |
Jajota |
40 |
21 |
Banda |
Ghasi baba ka banda |
Gudda |
25 |
22 |
Kund |
Balaji ki dhani |
Balaji ki dhani |
70 |
23 |
Anicut |
Sewako ki nadi |
Sewako ki nadi |
50 |
24 |
Nadi |
Bhagat ji kagulla |
Gudda |
– |
25 |
Nadi |
Jogi baba |
Mohanpura |
– |
26 |
Nadi |
Mordikala |
Mordikala |
10 |
27 |
Nadi |
Gochar |
Pingoon |
10 |
28 |
Nadi |
Bansi |
Kankaria |
300* |
29 |
Banda |
Naal ka banda |
Gudda |
– |
30 |
Nadi |
Devnarayan Mandir Charaga |
Kardala |
– |
31 |
Kund |
Plantation |
Bagariyonkidhani |
50 |
Total: |
1,055 |
* 50 saplings were planted on the periphery of the lake and an additional 250 were distributed amongst households given the availability of freshwater