Rotary water harvesting project in Pingori, India.

1. Story of Pingori
Water harvesting project at Pingori, India

2. Water
Water is a essential commodity for
life. India is facing challenge of
serious water deficit for multiple
reasons. Global warming,
unpredictable rains, reduction in
subsoil water and drainage of rain
water all are plying part in it.Some
areas are affected more than
others. In villages farmers are
desperate as their livelihood
depends on water. Sadly suicide
rates in farmers is getting higher
and is of serious concern.

3. Pingori
Pingori is small village in
Maharashtra,India.This area is
designated as one of the worst draught
stricken area by the government.
Pingori has 3 other villages on the
down slope from them in the same
location. The location is 1 Hr drive from
Pune,India.
Agriculture is the only source for
income and survival. They own small
farms between 2-10acers.Have one
natural source of water- a lake-which is
barely enough for drinking water. This
year was particularly hard hit as no
rains in monsoon season.

4. How it all started
Meet Mr Shinde.He is born and raised in
Pingori.He has BA and degree in journalism
and was working for a news paper for 17
years. One day found out that his town is
going to be a site for “vacation resorts".
Surprised ,he investigated and found out
farmers were selling their land and hills for
less than 500 dollars out of desperation. He
decided to quit his job and make it a
mission to make his home town
independent and thriving. First project they
did thru local NGO is to clean the existing
fresh water lake of silt so more water will be
stored. There was 22 feet of silt in there,
now mostly removed.

5. Natural lake
This is the lake that they use
only for drinking water

6. How it all started
As water conservation project was way
beyond just cleaning the lake, he
approached Dr Meena Borate “the
water fairy”as she is called due to her
more than 70 successful water
conservation projects. She been
involved in Rotary work for many years
now. Medical oncologist by trade, she
now fully dedicated her time and
personal money to water conservation
projects.
She decided to go for international
rotary grant from her Westside Club
along with help from sister club.
Hillside club.She approached us and we
thus raised the money needed for the
grant with our sister clubs.

8. What we did
together
Continuous Counter Trenches or
CCT
These are small dams with
trenches on downward slops of the
hills. When the rain water comes,
these help to hold the water at one
place so it can go subsoil and
supply wells in villages. Thousands
were built thru the global grant
that we supported.

9. Water storage
Ponds
Two of these ponds were built. Their
aim is to have four. They measure
55x55x17 meters and 65x65x17
meters. One is complete and lines by
plastic polymer specially created by
Garware Nylon company to withstand
tons of water pressure that will be
created when this is full. It will store
about 300,000 liters of water. Second
one ran over budget due to rock
excavation .This will be lined by special
coating which will make it waterproof.
This is where they need help, to
complete the second one. Monsoon
season starts in June and the issue thus
is time sensitive.

10. Water storage
On site visiting with
Dr Meena Borate

11. Water storage
This is what it looked like
after minimal rain this
year

12. Drip irrigation
To avoid the wastage of
water they have drip
irrigation system. There are
small pipes with multiple
holes which feed water by
rotation to plants only what
is needed. The farmers put
their own money to buy
these.

13. What else?
They have started looking into crops
that will require less water to grow,
Two have been very successful so far
Pomegranate and Custard apple. Both
uncommon and expensive in India. The
soil is perfect for these.
For the first time a farmer made 1500
dollars growing them. Now ,they all are
looking into these. They may become a
site for further research in modification
of plants to require less water.
One of the thriving pomegranate field.

14. Tree planting
They have nursery where
they get free plants/tress and
nurture them to be planted.
So far 5000 planted and
10,000 more on the way.

15. Animal
Husbandry/shelter for
discarded cows
Indian Government recently banned
killing cows as they are religiously
scared for Hindus which is about
90%population of India. Farmers will
go and leave these animals far away as
they could not afford to feed them.
Pigori adopted all of them. They
planted fodder along the side of the
CCT, which hardly needs water. They
will feed animals on this and utilize
their manure for fertilizer which is very
expensive for farmers to buy. They will
also produce gas from it and supply the
villages.

16. Animal
Husbandry/shelter for
discarded cows
Project funded by another
local NGO.
It is one of a kind and so far
has been visited by two
governors of states as they
will like to duplicate it in
their states.

17. Technology and
education
Local school send a teacher
to get educated further and
brought her back to teach.
Currently have 18 Personal
computers in donation and
looking to build a building to
house the,

18. And finally
I am most impressed with the work
done by the people of the village
together than just doing one project.
They all play a part in it.
In the distant future they look for a
thriving community and look at
developing other resources like
developing eco /agriculture resorts.
There is lot of work yet to be done, but
I am sure they will do it .This project
will benefit 4 villages in the area due to
Pingori’s geographic location.
They do need 15.000 dollars to finish
second water reservoir to complete.,

19. My visit to the
clubs
I did attend the club meeting
for Westside and Hillside
clubs, who along with other
clubs contributed to the
project.

20. Dr Meena Borate
presenting

21. Meeting