Assessment of Water Availability and Water Budgeting
Client: Watershed Department, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand
Year: 2023
Geographical Coverage: 28 Gram Panchayats across Berinag and Gangolihat blocks in district Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand
Green Pahadi Foundation has provided consultancy and technical advisory services under the WDC-PMKSY 2.0 initiative (Watershed Development Component- Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana 2.0) in Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand. The project focused on assessing water availability and conducting water budgeting studies across 28 Gram Panchayats to promote sustainable and efficient water resource management
GPF adopted a mixed-method approach for conducting this study, integrating both quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques:
- Household Surveys: Direct engagement with community members to gather information on water usage and availability.
- Key Informant Interviews (KIIs): Discussions with local leaders and stakeholders to gain in-depth insights.
- Focus Group Discussions (FGDs): Collective sessions to understand community perspectives on water resource management.
- Field Observations: On-ground assessment of water sources, cropping patterns, human and livestock population and more.
Key Highlights
1. Assessment of Water Resources:
- Comprehensive evaluation of water sources and their availability in the identified GPs.
- Analysis of water distribution for agricultural, household, livestock, and other needs.
2. Water Budgeting:
- Development of detailed water usage plans tailored to resource availability and cropping patterns.
- Recommendations for efficient water management and conservation strategies.
3.Community Education and Awareness:
- Educating the community on best practices for water budgeting and conservation.
- Capacity-building sessions on optimizing water use for agriculture.
Project Outcomes
- Detailed water budgeting reports for all 28 GPs, including a thorough assessment of water resources, water inflows, water outflows, along with recommendations and mitigation strategies.
- Strengthened understanding of water conservation and sustainable practices among local stakeholders.
