This case study examines community-based water management in villages in South India. It describes how villages historically had sustainable rainwater harvesting and management until excessive groundwater pumping in the 1980s-90s led to water shortages after 2002. To address this, a project engaged communities to map local knowledge, suggest water harvesting structures, and plan and construct structures themselves. GPS/GIS mapping facilitated monitoring and community participation. Initial structures were successful, and lessons are being applied to other villages.

1. Community Mapping and Empowerment:
Case Study of Water Management in a South Indian Village
Nagesh Kolagani, Dr. Palaniappan Ramu and Dr. Koshy Varghese
Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036 INDIA
3rd International Open Source GIS Conference
Velp, The Netherlands
June 25-28, 2012

2. Location Map of Project Villages in South India
Parigi villages (22) (phase II)
E. Palaguttapalli village (phase I)
IIT Madras

3. Up to 1970’s: Community-based Rain Water Harvesting
FOREST
STREAMS
WELLS
FARMS
RESERVOIRS

4. Up to 1970’s: Sustainable Water Usage
Number of wells: 76
● Open wells

5. During 1980’s and 1990’s: Excessive Water Usage
Number of wells: 198
● Open wells
● Tube wells

6. Since 2002: Water Crisis
Number of wells: 59
● Open wells
● Tube wells

7. Falling Ground Water Levels over Decades
Ground level 0
1970's 1980's & 1990's post-2001
-20
-40
-60
-80
-100
-120
-140
-160
-180
Hard rock
-200

8. Water and Agriculture Over the Decades
250
Number of wells
200 Area under irrigation
Ground water table depth
150 10-year return on investment
100
50
0
1970's 1980's & 1990's Post-2001
-50
-100
-150

9. Ground Water Exploitation
9
8
7
6
5
250
200 4
150
3
100
50
2
0
1970's 1980's & 1990's Post-2001
-50 1
-100
0
-150
1970's 1980's & 1990's Post-2001
Number of wells
Discharge / Recharge
Area under irrigation
Ground water table depth
10-year return on investment

10. Economics of Irrigated Agriculture
Statistics of one project village:
Number of households: 300
Average land holding: 1 hectare
Average annual income: € 800
Losses in one such village:

€ 2,400 / family towards capital costs

€ 4,200 / year for government towards free electricity

11. Problem: Water Crisis since 2002
Water-intensive commercial crops
up to 2001
Rain-fed subsistence crops
since 2002

12. Solution: Water Harvesting Structures

13. Blackboard Sketch of People's Suggestions

14. Field Visits to Proposed Locations

15. A Sample Plan for Proposed Structures
No location information for facilitating monitoring & visualization

16. GPS/GIS Map of People's Suggestions
For monitoring & visualization; Enforces participation & field visits

17. Social Benefit Analysis of Proposed Structures
For facilitating discussions among people

18. A Structure Well-planned and Constructed by Neighbours

19. Started working as a Successful Silt Trap within 1 Month

20. Extending these Lessons to Other Villages

21. Thank You!
Credits: To the local youth & To the farmers