W.G.D.P: Mutholapuram Watershed Project 2008 - 2011
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KERALA STATE WESTERN GHAT DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMME
A REPORT ON DOCUMENTATION AT KUNNACKAL –
VELLAPAELY THODU WATERSHED PROJECT
Submitted to
Secretary of Planning and Economic Affairs (E) Department
Submitted by
MUVATTUPUZHA SOCIAL SERVICE SOCIETY (MASS)
Muvattupuzha
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PREFACE
We have great pleasure in presenting the watershed based documentation report of
Mutholapuram watershed project before secretary of government. We place on record our
sincere attitude to the officials, activist, volunteers and general public who contributed to the
success of this programme as a part of decentralization of power, our government encouraged
peoples participation for developing the society. The participation of people in the planning
process, implementation and monitoring make the programme more effective.
Let us express our sincere thanks to the Western Ghat Cell officers, District Planning
officer, Assistant Planning officer, at present and former and the District Collector for entrusting
us such an activity and we consider it as an honor to our institution for the development of all
society.
We presenting this report expressing on gratitude for the co – operation by all whom we
have not mentioned and expecting the same commitment and determination which was shown
during the preparation of this report and the future activities also.
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WESTERN GHAT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (WGDP)
A separate Western Ghat Development Programmes (WGDP) was launched in 1974 –
1975 as a part of the programme for the development of the hill areas of the country. The
delineation of the Western Ghats region for inclusion in programme was settle in 1981 by the
one man committee headed by Dr. M.S.Swaminadhan, then member- in charge of the hill area in
the planning commission. The programme is being implemented in 159 taluks comprising of
Western Ghats in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Goa with the area of 157.95
thousands square kilometers and population of 382.09 lakhs (1981 Census).
Watershed Management
The concept of watershed development is that the development and management of the
resources in the watershed so as to achieve higher production that can be sustained without
causing any deterioration in the resources base for causing no ecological imbalances. For the
formulation and implementation of a package of programmes for action for optimum resources
use in the watershed without adversely affecting the soil and water base or life supporting
system. The watershed development aims at preventing watershed degradation that results
interaction of physiographic features, eliminate unscientific land use, inappropriate cropping
pattern, soil erosion thereby improving and sustainable productivity of resources leading to
higher income and living standard for the inhabitants in the watershed area. Therefore it involves
restoration of eco system and protecting and utilizing the locally available resources with in a
watershed to achieve sustainable development.
The people feel the impact of the development works since entire watershed is fully
treated after proper planning. It is the policy and the principle of the central and state
governments that all the development works related to land, water, and other natural resources
management works must be taken on watershedbasis. The various programmes under operation
are; (i) Western Ghat Development Programme (WGDP), (ii) Drought Prone Area Programme
(DPAP), (iii) Integrated Watershed Development Programme (IWDP),(iv) National Watershed
Programme for Rain Fed Agriculture(NWDPRA), Western Ghat Development Programme
having the basic objectives of landand water resources management for sustainable production
and environmental protection.Watershed management is an effective solution to many of
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thecommon problems like drought, flood, integration of many programmes of soil conservation,
afforestation, minor irrigation, crop protection ect.
Watershed Profile
Name of the Watershed : Mutholapuram
Watershed Toposheet No : 58/C/N.
Latitude :9049’04”to9
051’ 01”(N)
Longitude : 760
33’23”to76035’0”(E)
Name of the important thodu : Mutholapuram thodu
Name of the river in which the thodu joining : Perumbadavom thodu
Name of the wards included : 3, 4, 5Elanji Grama Panchayath, 1 of
Uzhavoor Grama Panchayath
Gramapanchayats : Elanji, Uzhavoor
Block : Pampakuda
Taluk : Muvattupuzha
District : Ernakulam
State : Kerala
Total Area : 625 ha
Treatable Area : 500 ha
Total No. of houses : 1153
Population : 4734
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Boundaries
North : Kizhakombu, Koothattukulam Grama Panchayath
East : Puthuveli, Veliyannoor Grama Panchayath
South : Parts of ward 1 of Uzhavoor Gama panchayath
West : Parts of ward 3, 4, 5, and 6 of Elanji Grama Panchayath
Mutholapuram Watershed project
Mutholapuram watershed area is an agricultural tract and it is structured out Elanji and
Uzhavoor Grama Panchayaths. Total area is 625 ha and treatable area is 500 ha. This watershed
area is hilly, sloppy, and soil erotted too. Majority of the inhabitants were poor farmers
struggling for their livelihood. Land could not be utilized in a sustainable manner. People in this
area are facing many problems like drinking water scarcity, soil erosion, heavy drought, low
productivity etc. Better watershed management can minimize this problem.
Watershed Committee
The watershed committee is the executive arm of the watershed community. Its memberships
should be as follows
1. Ten farmers from the Watershed community identified in a general body meeting through
draw of loads and having land ownerships as follows
Below 50 cent - 2 members
50 – 100 cent – 2members
101 – 250 cent – 2 members
251 – 500 cent – 2 members
Above 500 cent – 2 members
2. Five representatives of kudumbasree or S.H.G’s or N.H.G’s in the watershed community
3. Representatives of N.G.O’s active in thearea of watershed development
4. All officials of the working group on agriculture, allied sectors and poverty reduction.
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5. Elected members from the wards in the watershed area
6. The president of the Grama Panchayath will be the chairman of the watershed committee
and the agricultural officer will be its convener.
DETAILS OF P.I.A
MUVATTUPUZHA SOCIAL SERVICE SOCIETY
Muvattupuzha Social Service Society is a reputed Non – Government organization with
efficient personnel’s. This agency is working for the upliftment of the poor and neglected and
weaker sections of the society. Muvattupuzha Social Service Society is registered under
Societies Registration Act 1955. Reg. No. ER/471/04 (Travancore – Cochin Literal, Scientific
Trust Act 1955). Some of our activities are given below.
Awareness Programmes
Muvattupuzha Social Service Society conducted 45 awareness programmes in different
parts of Muvattupuzha and Kothamangalam Taluks
Camps Co – ordinated
1. Ayurvedic camp
2. Special camps on National days
3. Cattle rearing awareness camp
Training programmes Co – ordinated
1. Personality development programme
2. Vegitable cultivation training programme
3. Food processing training programme
4. Medicinal plants cultivation training programme
5. Training on soft toys making
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Organizational effort to encourage ecological sustainability
Encourage eco-friendly farming practices through:
1. Encourage use of bio – fertilizers to the Pineapple, Banana and Paddy cultivation.
2. Give training and technical assistance to start Vermi compost unit and bio fertilizers.
3. Create positive attitude among the people towards eco – friendly farming practices.
Role and Responsibility of Muvattupuzha Social Service Society in this Project
1. Study the watershed area (Geographical peculiarities & social characteristics)
2. Understand the needs and problems of that area.
3. Priorities the needs and problems.
4. Identify the felt need
5. Conduct tools like P.R.A and Base line data collection
6. Prepare a project plan based on this needs with the people’s participation.
Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) of Mutholapuram Watershed
Introduction
The term watershed development has got much popularity in new development
endeavours. Watershed is a natural unit that binds together soil, water, and bio resources.
Watershed development is a topic that in being discussed widely in these days. The changing
outlook in that the overall development can be brought about only by harnessing they above
mentioned resources.
Watershed area development aims at sustainable development by safeguarding nurturing
enriching the available ground water – bio resources in their natural habitat and thus ensuring the
overall development of that area in an ecofriendly manner. The identified area ofMutholapuram
Watershed project is constituted with portion of area in Elanji&Uzhavoor Panchayaths in
Ernakulam district.
This Watershed area is an under developed both in agriculture, industry and
infrastructure. Majority of the people depend agriculture for their livelihood. The price fall of
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agriculture products, low fertility of soil, plant diseases, the climatic extremes, unavailability of
water at proper time, unscientific farming methods etc. leads to the low economic status of these
people. The infrastructural facilities are limited in this area and also health facilities are very
poor.
Participatory Rural Appraisal may be defined as “a versatile semi – structured process of
learning from, with and by local people about rural conditions” (Leurs. R 1993)
Building up of report is the first step to a PRA approach. Rapport with the rural folk is
built by spending sufficient time with them so that the mistrust of outsider is overcome. These
make for free and frank discussion, learning and sharing of information (Chambers R1992). The
main emphasis by Chambers in the theory of PRA is on attitudinal change, from teaching to
learning, from doing to facilitating, from taking away information to sharing and leaving it with
the community, “We know – they do not know” to “they know – we do not know”.
Principles of PRA
1. Right attitude – openness, humility, curiosity, acceptance and sensitivity
2. Right behavior – sharing, being friendly, showing respect, embracing,
error, listening not lecturing.
3. Flexibility and innovations – do not convert PRA in to a set of rigid
methods and fixed jargon: allow it to evolve continuously.
4. Triangulation (source, method, point of view)
5. Appropriate imprecision.
Objective of PRA
Participatory Rural Appraisal can be defined as a method, which aims to obtain multiple
feedback of any given area. PRA evoke enthusiasm, interest and participation of village
community. PRA is carried out in the Mutholapuram Watershed area with the following
objectives.
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General Objective
To understand the socio – economic conditions of the people living in the Watershed area
and identify the problem with the people and thereby designing appropriate project intervention.
Specific Objectives
To access information on
Historic and cultural background of the village.
Agricultural cropping pattern.
Existing infrastructural facilities and institutions in that area.
Social settings of the area in terms of caste composition, economic classification
and social conditions.
Existing problems and solutions.
Use of PRA
PRA has been used by NGOs for implementing programmes having a participatory
approach involving relatively small areas, population and a long time frame
Methodology
PRA exercise was conducted in Mutholapuram Watershed area using following methods
People related methods
1. Social Map
2. Wealth Ranking
3. Venn Diagram
Resource related method
1. Time Line
2. Trend Analysis
3. Seasonality Analysis
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Household Survey
The house hold surveys conducted initially provide to be an extremely routine exercise
with a very marginal impact in establishing a report with people. While conducting survey,
community people were in convinced about watershed programme and its procedure during
implementation
An attempt was made to collect certain personal and social characteristics of the
community people in the Mutholapuram Watershed area in order to understand the socio
economic status and infrastructural facilities
Details that Obtained through Survey as follows
Total population of this watershed area is about 4734 among these 2394 males and 2340
females. The main religious domination in this area is Christians, and Hindus the total area of the
watershed is 625 hector and treatable area is 500 hector. It is an agrarian community mainly
depends on Rubber, Coconut, Arecanut, paddy, Banana, for their livelihood. In this project area
there are 1153 houses out of this 1106 house holders are electrified, 876 houses has own wells
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and 277 households depend on public tap for drinking water. The main livestock included in this
area Cow, Goat, and Hen.
Watershed Community (Grama Sabha)
This is the general body of the residents of the watershed as well as farmers who own
land within the watershed area. Its functioning’s are
1. Discuss local problems and possible solutions based on available data and arrive at
consensus on the priorities.
2. Mobilize the contribution of the beneficiaries to the programme.
3. Ensure full beneficiary participation in the implementation
4. Decide on locations of public assets created as a part of the programme.
5. Sort out problems, which may arise during implementation.
6. Conduct social audit of the programme every six month.
7. Selection of beneficiaries.
In the project period the watershed community meets 15 times with in the participation of
minimum quorum.
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Natural Resource Management (NRM)
SL.
NO
COMPONENTS UNITS NO.
OF
B.F
B.F.
SHARE
P.R.I.
SHARE
W.G.D.P.
SHARE
AMOUNT
1 Contour bund 8441 103 539841
2 Rain pit 2000 21 62000
3 Centripetal terrace 1000 20 25000
4 Digging of new
well
11 11 55000 55000 110000
5 Protection of well 12 12 24000 24000 48000
M.I Works
6 Side protection works to Vettiyuodi 193929 193929
7 Side protection works to Perumbailimeal Padashekharam 38800 38800
8 Rain water harvesting structure 45000 45000
9 Side protection work of Manakkathazham 157592 157592
10 Leading channel for Perumbailimeal 32115 32115
11 Nellikkanam colony soil conservation 165528 165528
12 Urulichalil Colony soil conservation 203435 203435
Production System Management (PSM)
Agricultural Development
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SL.
NO
COMPONENT
S
UNITS NO
OF
BF
B.F.
SHARE
P.R.I.
SHARE
W.G.D.P.
SHARE
AMOUNT
13 Nutmeg 403 101 50300 17530 42920 110750
14 Jack tree 190 55 9500 2755 6745 19000
15 Mango tree 189 87 4680 2193 5452 12240
16 Coconut plant 151 38 6040 1752 4288 12080
17 Organic manure 102 102 65000 18850 46150 130000
18 Sprayer 18 18 45000 13050 31950 40500
19 Vegetable
cultivation
50 50 25000 7250 17750 50000
20 Pumb set 6 6 35000 7250 17750 60000
21 Weed cutter 9 9 99000 26100 63900 189000
22 Vermicompost 2 2 15000 4114 10073
30000
23 Aquaculture 5 5 125000 36250 88750 250000
24 Goat rearing 65 65 97500 28275 69225 195000
25 Poultry 190 190 570000 16530 40358 114000
26 Calf rearing 32 32 141714 33143 1256000 256000
27 Dairy 5 5 200000 29000 71000 300000
28 Milching machine 5 5 9250 9250 18500
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29 Biogas plant 14 14 184000 32480 79520 112000
30 Cattle shed 13 13 91000 13195 32305 136500
Livelihood Support System (LSS)
31 Tailoring unit for BPL
Women
35 35 71750 99750 171500
32 Toys making 12 12 42190 58754 49056 150000
33 Bee-keeping for SHG 13 13 73907 54155 121938 250000
Project Management Component (PMC)
34 P.R.A & Base line survey 210900
35 Awareness & Training 209726
36 Administration cost of P.I.A. 313386
37 Documentation 104256
Impact of the Project
Natural Resource Management (NRM)
Soil and Water conservation activities
Soil and water conservation activities like Contour bunding with the stone, Rain pit,
Central petal terracing etc helps to decrease soil erosion and it helps to increase the water level in
the soil.In this watershed area Perumbailimeal colony largely affected the problem of soil erosion
so the project give importance to solve this problem and make a leading channel to
Perumbailimeal colony and it helps the colony to reduce the soil erosion. Water conservation
activities like digging of new well, side protection of wells, side protection for thodus, side
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protection of ponds etc. Digging of new wells in watershed area helpthe people to solve their
problems related with the drinking water and also it helps the people to get sufficient water for
their agricultural needs and it helps farmers to get water in all season for their agricultural
activities and side protection of wells helps the people to get pure water and avoid diseases
related with the polluted water.
(Contour Bund with Stone)
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(Contour Bund with Stone)
(Centripetal Terracing)
(Manakkathazham thodu side protection)
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(Leading channel to Perumbillimiyal paddy field)
(Vettiyuodi thodu side protection)
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(Protection of existing well)
(Digging of New Well)
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(Rain water harvesting tank for Nellikkanam Anganwadi)
Production System Management (PSM)
Agricultural development
Agricultural activities like supply of different types of seedlings (nutmeg, coconut plant,
mango plant, and hybrid jack tree), vegitable cultivation, organic manure, motor pump, sprayers
and other agricultural technologies like Vermi compost etc helps the farmers to increase their
agricultural production and it helps the farmers for the maximum utilization of land. These types
of agricultural activities help the watershed community to return back to organic farming and it
reduce the use of chemical pesticides.
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(Vermi Compost)
(Vermi Compost)
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(Supply of Vegitable Plants)
(Supply of Mango plants)
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(Supply of Sprayer)
(Supply of Manure)
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(One day training programme for Aqua culture, Honey – Bee, and Mushroom cultivation)
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(Bio gas plant)
(Supply of Hybrid Jack fruit plant)
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Animal Husbandry
Animal rearing programmes like Calf rearing, Goat rearing, Milching cow for B.P.L and
A.P.L, Poultry etc. It helps the people especially for the women to get a better economic
condition to satisfy their own needs and also it helps to increase the production of milk, and egg
in the Watershed area.
(Calf rearing)
(Goat rearing) (Supply of Poultry)
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(Aqua Culture)
Dairy development programmes
In this watershed area is agrarian community. Agriculture is the main occupation of this
community and cattle’s rearing is a part of their agricultural programmes so dairy development
programmes like Dairy unit, Cattle shed, Milching machine etc helps the watershed community
to increase the production of milk and also it helps the community to get some additional
income.
(Cattle Shed)
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(Cattle Shed)
(Dairy Unit)
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(Milching Machine Unit)
Livelihood supporting system (LSS)
The project helps inhabitants to improve their living standards. Livelihood supporting
systems like Tailoring unit for B.P.L women, Toys making unit, Bio gas plant, Bee – keeping for
S.H.G’sect helps the people to get improvement in their living conditions.
(Sewing Machine)
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(Honey -Bee Unit)
(Toys making Unit)
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Limitation
Lack of time is the major limitation to complete the project
Conclusion
The watershed development programme was launched by government of India in1974 –
1975 for the development of hill areas of the country. Kerala has 27.8 m. ha. Forest and only 6.6
m. ha. is treated with soil conservation measures. Almost all areas are accelerated soil erosion,
land slide, loss of productivity, rapid loss of habitat and genetic diversity. The main problems in
the watershed region are the pressure of increasing population on the land and vegetation,
undesirable agricultural practices etc. This fragile eco system is under great pressure due to
submersion of large areas under reservoir, damage to areas due to mining, denudation of forest,
adverse effects of floods, encroachment of forest land.
Growing trend of industrialization and civic needs are also creating increasing challenges
for the present searceland resources. For maintaining the soilin a state of high productivity on
sustainable basis, there is a need for rational use of soil this project is not only to help farmer but
also to protect, restore and reconstruct the fragile eco diversity of our nature.
Kunnackal – Vellapaely thodu watershed project is successfully running with the support
of Community people, Watershed Committee members, Agriculture officer, Panchayath
President, Ward members, Planning and Economic Affairs department.Our humble attempt is the
protection oriented approach to restoration of degraded areas and protection – cum – production
oriented objectives of related natural resources and eco – restoration.