Traditional Rejuvenated Rainwater Harvesting Water Bodies (NADI) Help to Sustain Livestock-Based Livelihood in Thar

Author(s): Poonam Singh and Yashwant Singh

Abstract:

The western Rjasthan has been in the grip of drought for last so many consecutive years. The year 2002 drought is the worse among the four years and much severer than even 1987 when few million animals had died. The impact of this drought has been very extensive and intense. Animals have been hard hit due to acute shortage of water and fodder. There has been a terrible crisis of drinking water for human and animal population. The small and marginal cultivators, landless labors and destitute families were worst affected as they did not have any food, water and fodder. Many people in Thar believe that they had never witnessed such a severe drought (in fact it is Trikal) in their living memory. The acute scarcity of water and fodder has caused casualties of animals in large numbers. The thar marusthal region the rural communities face acute problem of scarcity of water, food grain and fodder. Water for human being is the main theme of human interest. But due to introduction of tap water, canal water, deep tube wells these technologies are abended in these areas. In this paper attempts are made to explain the traditional water resource management systems and the innovations such as catchment improvements, masonry super structure “NESTA/spillway” to allow excess water from Nadi and protect to embankment of Nadi bund, provision of outlet “Nesta” in the Nadi to protect embankment of nadi heavy rainfall and to support long life of the structure. The innovations suggested in the structures are proving very useful and increasing the water bearing capacity in the nadi for animal and ensure their productivity and continuing dairying program. Women continuing their animal-based livelihood to earn income generation to sale milk, butter and butter milk in near by markets, at local dairy out lets.

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