During the HJP post flood relief efforts, the need for re-construction of these watermills was identified, but due to lack of consensus between the Bar and Kuz Paro communities work could not be carried out in spite of HJP mediation and potential support.

With the CBO formation by the PCDP at Paro and subsequent follow-up visits from the Community Organization and Participation Sector, a list of needs for the improvement of infrastructure was prepared by the community. After the improvement of the pedestrian path through the Paro village, the community prioritised support for the reconstruction of two watermills at the same location, as prior to the floods (one each for Kuz and Bar Paro).

Risks Involved: Since the site is close to Mushagha River and already affected during floods of 1992, the project did not want to invest in a site vulnerable to a similar damage. Therefore the CBO was asked to identify another, safer site. The response was that since there was no other communally owned land and even if a piece of land was purchased the farmlands next to the watermill would suffer as the donkeys passing would damage the crop on this agricultural land. It was finally decided with the community that, in view of the known risk, the PCDP would take into account measures to design an arrangement for the watermills to stand against medium level floods. With the provision of a gabion bund and the channel feeding, the watermills would be made in firm foundation of stone masonry and concrete. Secondly, this would be a one time investment by the project despite the risk involved.

Terms of Partnership: A Work Committee was nominated by the CBO for the supervision of the work from the community side to resolve any issue during the construction and liaise with the project deputed staff for supervision. It was decided that all inputs from the market would be arranged by the project, e.g. GI wires for the gabion bunds, cement for the channel with its carriage, grinding stones for the watermills and its carriage, payment of the carpenters and masons. Whereas it was negotiated with the community that they would provide all wood required in the watermills construction, make the two watermill houses; haul the gabion wire crates from the 3 km pedestrian distance from the road head and cater subsidised labour for the construction work @ Rs. 80/day.

Construction: The ground breaking for the scheme commenced during the month of July 2002. Initially, the community took it as an opportunity to earn daily wages. Therefore more unskilled labour arrived at the site than needed and since this became a show up of man power from both the villages, it became very difficult to manage quality work on site.

Work was temporarily suspended in order to set a discipline at work to yield quality construction work. It was agreed that in support of 3 masons 15 labourers would be arranged from the community. Secondly, a Head Mason would be arranged from outside the valley, who would be overseeing the work of the other masons from the valley. From the project side, too, the strength of support staff was increased with a Site Supervisor, a Work Munshi and occasionally visits from the Community Facilitator. Simultaneously, the Work Committee was encouraged to come up front and play a more active role as these were community nominated representatives for the work.

Progress: During these days (at the turn of the second month) a new landmark in the lives of Paro villagers is taking shape. It is not only about a new facility that people from four hamlets would have, but over this practical activity but they have once again gotten together to cooperate for their common development. On the sunny evening of September 7th an amount of Rs 70,733 was paid to the labourers. The occasion was witnessed by the CBO President Maulana Hidayatullah and Secretary Mian Gul, an encouraging sign of the occasion was certain improvements requested by the community representatives at the work. These would indeed be honoured as positive initiatives for participatory development.

Anticipated Impact: For the 200 household of Kuz and Bar Paro there are three water mills currently functioning, the villagers have to carry the maize grains for grinding up to 3 km distance. It is anticipated that the upcoming watermills would provide grinding facilities for 2000-3000 maunds of maize grains within the village. Similarly with the addition of wheat crop as a second crop in the valley, 3000-4000 maunds of wheat flour could be processed additionally. The community has assigned these two watermills to two of the traditional communal blacksmiths. These men would be running the watermills, but alongside sharpening the agricultural tools and implements. Furthermore, the water-run turning wheel would also have the possibility for running a wood cutting saw in future.

Hussain Mustafa
PO-IRD