Leading a water revolution

This place in Uttara Kannada district is emerging as a popular destination among people from diverse backgrounds. All through the year, one can see scores of farmers, students, government officers and water enthusiasts gazing in awe at the enormous water harvesting structures that herald the water self-sufficiency achieved by Kalave, a hamlet in Sirsi taluk.

A series of percolation tanks built in the valleys between the hillocks remind one of the valley tanks built by the Kadamba rulers. "I felt that the traditional tanks that have stood the test of time would be suitable for this geography. The Gudnapur tank and the tank in Talagunda were built in the 4th century and are still reliable sources of water," says Shivananda Kalave, a water campaigner. A naturalist by passion, Shivananda perceived that these reservoirs, known for their structural simplicity and high efficiency, can be an answer to the recurring water problems that plague Malnad, in spite of being a high rainfall zone.

How it all began

It was the water dispute which started around 2001, between Sirsi Municipal Council and the people of Kengrehalla watershed area, that stressed the need for water conservation in the region. Kengrehalla stream, which was a source of drinking water for the town was also a lifeline for many villages. Increasing pressure on rural areas to meet the water requirements of the town resulted in the conflict.

While the farmers protested and halted a project intended to draw more water to the town, during the process they realised the need for a long-term sustainability of the water resources in the region. Both urban and rural population had contributed to the situation by over-exploiting water which led to the drying up of many streams in the area.

A group of farmers led by Shivananda decided to create awareness on the need to conserve water and take necessary action to resolve the issue in the long run. By then Shivananda had started water conservation efforts in the family land and was working single-mindedly to make people water-literate. He travelled across Malnad region and observed that deforestation, monocropping, and excessive use of water had caused the degeneration of natural water conservation channels in the area. It was imperative that a two-pronged approach, addressing both city and village dwellers, be used to address the issue.

Shivananda popularised rooftop rainwater harvesting in Sirsi town, while his team made over 300 urban houses achieve self-sufficiency in water and inspired many people to continue the good work. In the village, they encouraged people to build water conservation structures. The distinctive aspect of this initiative is the effective collaboration between the administration, government departments and the villagers. "We used locally relevant techniques to rejuvenate the Kengrehalla watershed area. The trenches dug around the forest blocks were modified with checks at regular distances to enable water percolation," says Shivananda.

While old tanks were revived through desilting and renovation, several kanive keres (valley tanks) were constructed in the area (in the forest land) by the Forest Department under a project. The active participation of local administration, villagers and stakeholders like the village forest committee (VFC) was the highlight of the initiative, which led to the optimal use of time, energy and funds. The storage capacity of these tanks ranges from 50,000 to two crore litres.

Since these tanks were in succession, the results were evident in the fields. Other rainwater harvesting structures like chandra barav (a circular trench dug around a plant), staggered contour trenches and percolation tanks augmented the process. As the increase in groundwater level was visible, those who were initially apprehensive about the efforts also joined hands.

More initiatives

Meanwhile, the forest land which was once dominated by eucalyptus or acacia was gradually replaced with native plant species on the insistence of villagers. Now around 30 wild varieties are planted in over 300 acres. Some of them are already yielding fruits. Now this area, which spans over 500 acres of agricultural land and 10,000 acres of forest land, has transformed into a live model for soil and water conservation. None of the 80 households in the vicinity use borewell for irrigation purpose as water is available on the surface level, even in summer.

As the collaborative efforts yielded results, the villagers decided to motivate others through the dissemination of information. Eventually, Kanmane, with the tagline of 'nature's knowledge centre', was built in 2014 on the land donated by Gopal Dixit, a village elder. "This is a rare example of village forest committee coming forward to utilise its income for a greater good. The village has set an example as to how government programmes can be effective with the active involvement of local communities. It's perhaps the only such effort in the entire State," says Yathish Kumar D, deputy conservator of forests, Yellapur division, who had taken an active interest in the formation of Kanmane.

Kanmane was built by VFC with support from the Forest Department. The VFC organises training sessions and exposure visits for enthusiasts with villagers as resource persons. From students to government officials and water enthusiasts, everyone has something to learn from Kanmane. The sessions are designed depending on the requirements and interests of the participants.

"Such exposure is crucial for students. A trek across the fields and forests helps them observe nature closely, the sessions facilitate a better understanding of natural resources, and the stay and food make them experience the rural lifestyle. It is refreshing and inspiring," says Shashank Hegde, the chief executive officer of Tungal Schools in Jamakhandi.

Kalave has set an example as to how with proper guidance and inspiration, people can rejuvenate natural resources and inspire others in the process.