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Ensuring Environmental Sustainability

Natural Resource Management

KROSS initiated a two-year programme (2002-2004) in 14 drought-hit villages of Karnataka to conserve and manage natural resources, namely water, top-soil and vegetation. This was done with active cooperation of local communities. Individuals and families have started collecting rainwater and using the same for their daily needs. This has reduced the pressure on ground water.

Fourteen watershed committees comprising both men and women were formed and were actively involved in implementing the following.

Components	Total Achieved
Gully Plugs	191 Nos.
Renovation of Tanks	12 Nos.
Tree Plantation	75 acres
Percolation Ponds	2 Nos.
Stone Clearing	21 Acres
Land Reclamation	65.5
Earthen Dams	7
RFDS	4
Roof Water Harvesting structures	4

Achievements

Soil erosion was arrested in 3,150 acres of land through trenching, mud-bunding, stone-bunding, etc;

Totally 46 village ponds were desilted and 40 new ponds constructed to manage water and raise the ground water level;

Safe drinking water: KROSS along with its partners helped to revive water sources and provide safe drinking water in 50 drought-prone villages;

Rejuvenation of water sources: A total of 1,342 soak pits were dug, out of which 279 were dug by SHG women. 151 bunding works wereÂ undertaken and 24 borewells were recharged; 9 farm ponds were created;

Water Committees: In 30 villages, water Committees were formed comprising youth, teachers, Sangha women and farmers, to manage water resources.Â In some villages the water committees have initiated action to get public taps repaired, in collaboration with the Gram Panchayat.

Vanamahotsava: Celebrations of Earth Day or Vanamahotsava to green the Earth are very popular in the villages. Totally, 53,452 tree saplings were planted by 13,048 members.

Organic farming: Due to increased awareness about the harmful effects of chemicals in agriculture, many farmers are switching over to organic farming and using vermi-compost. Till now, 108 farmers have adopted this method.

Effective water management: Micro-movements for effective water movements have been initiated in the villages of Karnataka.

The services of KROSS directly benefits around 6,00,000 people from 1,50,000 poor families in the South Indian state of Karnataka.

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