85-Impact of water conservation and restoration of lakes on multiple livelihood options in rural village of South India

Abstract

The hydrological characteristic of the Indian monsoon necessitated the creation of storage facilities to hold the rain water of the monsoon and utilize the same at a later date. With extraordinary Engineering, Managerial and Social skills an extensive system of rain water harvesting structures like tanks and ponds had been built and maintained by the people for centuries. Tanks are similar to lakes but it is an artificial one where a lower earthen bund constructed across the shallow valley to hold the rainfall runoff from its catchments area above. Tank may be either isolated or in cascade. After independence there has been wide spread recognition that the tanks are on a decline, there by a drastic reduction in area irrigated by tanks persists. Releasing the importance of tanks, South Indian states have started rehabilitating it in mid (,11980's under state funds as well as under external assistance. Initially the focus was only to maximize the net production which was favorable to farmers alone. Later, there are proponents who argue that tank rehabilitation is a must around, which livelihood options of the rural poor are to be built in view of the multiple use of tank water such as washing, livestock, drinking, duck rearing, brick making, silt as manure, fuel wood collection from tank bed and bund, fish rearing etc. Hence, while deciding any water resources development project to be sustainable, it is necessary to involve multi-stake holder's participation for decision making. This paper discuss about the impact of tank rehabilitation of Pelasur village, South India which has achieved an excellent betterment in livelihood options for both direct and indirect users. In order to attain the result a stratified sampling method was used to select farmers (direct users) and a detailed questionnaire survey was done. Collected data were analysed using SPSS 14.0. Also focus group discussion was done with landless group to understand their improvement in socio-economic status after tank rehabilitation. The expected results might give us the comparative statements of before and after rehabilitation of this selected rural tank which will be the representation of south Indian rural tanks.