Swajal Dhara

Swajal Dhara (DPMU Agra-Lucknow-Rampur-Roorki-Moradabad-Saharanpur-Udham Singh Nagar-Haridwar, U.P. & Uttarakhand Government) (2004 – 2011)

Introduction: “Jal Nidhi Project in Five Districts of Uttar Pradesh closed on 31^st March 2004 and subsequently merged with the ‘Swajaldhara Programme’ of the Government of India..

Geographical area covered:

IMPART served in five district of Uttar Pradesh 20 GP in Agra, 30 GP in Lucknow and 6 GP in Saharanpur, 5 GP in Moradabad and 3 GP in Rampur.

Activities:

Swajaldhara agreement signed for drinking water supply activities in 20 GP in Agra, 30 GP in Lucknow, 6 GP in Saharanpur and 5 GP in Moradabad. District Rampur selected for planning phase activities of Swajaldhara, community wide meeting organized many times in the villages. Project theme and information disseminated among the villagers, after all the possible efforts by IMPART and District water and sanitation mission, community demand and support was not as per the norms of the project. Lastly district water and sanitation mission, Rampur decided to drop the villages. In other districts project activities organized as per the description of activities of the project.

In tarai region of Uttaranchal and Uttar Pradesh, groundwater level is shallow at about 15-20 feet. In rural areas hand pumps are lowered upto a depth of 20-50 feet to get potable water. As the water from shallow hand pump is invariably polluted, its use causes several diseases such as diarrhea, cholera and worms of various types in the rural population. IMPART was instrumental in creating awareness about this problem in the villages and preparation of a drinking water supply plan of the village was initiated by the joint efforts of villagers and IMPART. It was felt by the village community that for maintaining long-term continuity of the plan, the participation of the community was important. The contribution of the members of the village community could be in the form of cash or kind (labour) or both. It was decided to collect the contribution from the village community to the extent of 10 per cent the cost of the project. Village level committees for drinking water plan and sanitation were constituted to collect contribution from the members in advance and to monitor the progress of work. To ensure the standards of the work, the engineers of the IMPART and consultants from the district unit helped the village level committees in selection of alternate source of drinking water, establishment of the drinking water supply system and its maintenance. After considering the merits and demerits of available options in an open meeting, the committee decided in favour of hand pumps, mini pumping water supply and   overhead tank. The committee with help of IMPART collected 10 per cent contribution from the community and deposited the total sum in a joint account to be operated by representative of the committee. The villagers prepared the project proposal and after finalizing the detailed project report necessary materials were purchased by the village committee in consultation with IMPART officials after market survey of prevailing prices. One member of the village committee was trained in maintenance of the water supply system so as to ensure continuous functioning of the system.

IMPART  also worked as Construction Supervision Agency in District Shahranpur, Uttar Pradesh, where project implementation work is going on in 10 villages i.e. Uchagaon, Shapla Bakkal, Fulah Akbarpur, Madhopur, Sikandarpur, Budakhera, Bandaaedi, Jagehahatanajib, Kandhibas, and Latippur.

Uniqueness of Swajal Dhara Project:

Swajal Dhara also focussed on drinking water, but 20 % community contribution was taken in cash for construction of mini water supply schemes for 25 families in a particular village. Apart from this, operation and maintenance charges were also collected from the users. Water quality monitoring was an additional component of the program. This program was implemented in Uttar Pradesh only. Water recharge was additional component of this program.