Community in the Himalayan region transport water from long distances for drinking, irrigation and other domestic purposes. This is in spite of the fact that plenty of water is available from monsoon and winter rains which is wasted as runoff. Due to poor economic conditions, the mountain farmers are not in a position to install pumping units to lift water to steep heights from deep gorges. Thus rainwater harvesting is need of hour and is only available, or economical, water source. Rainwater harvesting has been used to provide drinking water, water for livestock, and water for irrigation or to refill aquifers in a process called groundwater recharge.
Through construction of various rain water harvesting structures with Cost effective technology, SATHI has promoted the use rain water harvesting in state. Organisation has adopted different engineering measures for this purpose such as:
- Roof-top rain water harvesting tanks.
- Poly Lined Tanks & Brick poly lined tanks.
- Earthen Dam.
- Water storage tanks,
- Staggered Trenches
- Community ponds (Jauhdis).
After the SATHI interventions, Drudgery of women for fetching of water has been reduced (3.5-5hrs/day) and water storage capacity during lean period has enhanced. Availability of irrigation facilities goes up from 45 hectares to 85 hectares, which converted rain fed agriculture into sustainable agriculture. As most of the region in state is hilly, dry and rain fed, this cost-effective techniques of rain water harvesting can be easily replicated in other parts of state.
