GROUNDWATER AWARENESS CAMPAIGN IN MAHABOOBNAGAR DISTRICT OF A.P.UNDER HP-II

Groundwater awareness programmes are being carried out in the specific villages in the Dist under Hydrology project. Accordingly during this year 2009-10 Dooskal Village , Farooqnagar (M) Mahabubnagar Dist, which is the one of the over exploited village of safe basin is chosen to carry out the same.

Dooskal Village, Farooqnagar (M) Mahabubnagar Dist is falling in micro basin MBNR_D_44_SHADNAGAR (which is a part of lower Krishna sub basin in the Mahabubnagar dist). The basin is with an area of 17577 Ha covering 15 no. of villages in Kothur (7 no.) and Farooqnagar (8 no.) mandals of Mahabubnagar Dist. As per the Groundwater Estimations 2007 the basin is categorized as the safe basin with 56% stage of groundwater development. The stage of groundwater development of the villages in the basin is as follows.

 

Name of the mandal in the basin	No. of villages
	Over exploited	Critical	Semi-Critical	Safe
Farooqnagar	4	0	3	1
Kothur	0	1	2	4
Total	4	1	5	5

 

Dooskal village is one of the over exploited village with 101% stage of groundwater development, which indicates there is heavy withdrawal of ground water exceeding the annual replenishable reserves. It is also reported (as per data collected from the RWS Authorities ) that the groundwater in the village is with high fluoride contamination i.e. 2.6 ppm. Hence the village needs a systematic management strategy to sustain the ground water regime from further damage.

One day work shop at Dooskal village was conducted on 4/2/2010 to give awareness regarding the groundwater scenario and optimum utilisation of groundwater in the village.

 

Initially the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) conducted with regard to the social map of the village including surface / groundwater resources. Awareness created among the farmers / villagers with regard to the rain fall pattern, ground water levels & depletions, status of yields in the bore wells, fluoride contamination, ground water status and conditions supported for the over exploitation in the village. Subsequently explained regarding the efficient utilisation of groundwater, sharing of groundwater, artificial groundwater recharge methodologies, site specific selection of water harvesting structures etc.

During the programme presented the importance APWALTAct, registration of wells, spacing among the bore / dug wells, notified areas, investigations for selection of bore well sites - approachability through the mandal WALTA authorities, Insurance scheme etc.

The line departments like Agriculture, Horticulture, Micro Irrigation Project etc are also participated in the work shop and explained the villagers regarding the cropping pattern, crop water requirement, cost benefit ratio, latest technologies in the agriculture (SRI vari etc), subsidy schemes in horticulture, sprinklers, drip, agriculture implements etc.

To create more effectiveness the programme is also organized with the KALAJATHA team by singing songs, conversations, palle suddulu etc related to the groundwater.

To address the issues like depletion of water levels over exploitation, efficient GW utilization etc it is felt necessary to involve the ground water users in participatory Groundwater Management(PGM) through social regulation. This opportunity was provided to the GW department to involve as one of the stake holders in APCBTM Project.