| Background:
Haran village CBO was formed in October 2001 with 25 members,
the majority of whom are either farmers or herdsman. The agricultural
land is about 100 “Jareebs” which is irrigated
by two channels originating from perennial “nalahs”.
The channel irrigating the major chunk of farmland (75 Jareeb)
was not operating as a section of it was swept away by a landslide
in 2001. This section was constructed under the “Khushal
Pakistan Program” but in the very first year of its
operation the channel was eroded, reason being poor selection
of site.
Dialogue:
Son after its formation, the CBO requested for PCDP support
in repairing the disrupted channel. The resolution was backed
by majority decision in review of the need for water for their
next maize crop.
In light of the prioritized need a survey of the identified
irrigation scheme was carried out. The outcome of this survey
was that a safer terrain had to be chosen for the channel
off-take since the site was vulnerable to land sliding; secondly
a pipeline would be laid in the steep ridge as seepage from
an open channel would be liable to erosion again. The CBO
representatives agreed to the method of addressing the need.
Terms of Partnership:
In the partnership arrangement it was agreed that the CBO
would nominate a sub group called Work Committee (WC). On
behalf of the beneficiaries, the WC would liaise with the
project, arrange community contributions of free, unskilled
labor during earthwork/ carriage of pipes/ collection of sand
and gravel etc, provide storage space for expensive construction
materials, boarding place for workers from outside and nominate
trainees for skills enhancement in blasting, masonry etc.
From the project side it was agreed that all purchasable
items from the market would be arranged such as tools and
implements, blasting, pipes, cement, transportation costs
from market to village and skilled labor for masonry and pipe
fitting. The agreement was concluded on a snowing afternoon
of January in the assembly of nearly 40 people.
Construction:
It seemed that community members considered the whole process
‘a mere formality’ as never before an example
is remembered whereby an outside development agency has had
such a close collaboration with a beneficiary group in Palas.
As the project supplied the tools and implements to the WC
it turned to be an eye opener. The WC called an assembly of
beneficiaries and formed the work force of unskilled workers
from the eight divisions of water in the channel. The WC decided
that any member who absented from the communal labor would
have to pay a fine (“Nagha”) therefore during
the next three months community labor share was never a problem;
additionally, Rs 950/- were also collected as Nagha.
A healthy sign of community acceptance and extended cooperation
had been that certain improvements in the proposed work, such
as concrete lining in channel reaches susceptible to seepage,
clearing of debris which had fallen in a channel flowing in
a lower contour, were brought forward by the beneficiaries During
the blasting and earthwork, which continued for almost two
months on a difficult and steep terrain, the community came
all out to support the earthwork alongside the blasting and
drilling operator. A community nominee worked alongside as
helper to the drill machine operator who was paid Rs 80/day
by the project (CBO committed Rs 20/day). Furthermore, the
daily record of blasting work was maintained by the Secretary
of the CBO.
During the third month of construction, involving masonry
and pipeline fitting, the community members collected sand
and gravel for masonry work, which was carried out by the
mason from the village. For the purchase of 4” diameter
pipeline the President of the CBO accompanied the PO to Besham
and the pipes were transported from the village to the site
by the villagers. These 520ft long pipes were fitted by the
pipe fitter engaged by PCDP. The total cost incurred on the
scheme is Rs 1,85,000 of which Rs 25,000 of free labor has
been contributed by the community.
Trial Testing:
Water was led into the channel on June 12, 2002 by tapping
all the available discharge in the nalah. The discharge in
channel was measured through float method to be 1.08 cfs.
This can sufficiently irrigate 185 Jareeb of agricultural
land. The earthen channel down stream is flowing to its brim
full capacity. Some overflow is also seen at the intake chamber,
which the community is very keen to avoid.
Utilizing the maximum resource. It was decided to raise the
intake chamber height by 2 ft and add a larger diameter pipe
(length 40ft) in the initial stretch of the pipeline, in order
to curtail the 10 % spill over.
Lessons Learnt:
1. Community response to collective labor is rapid and consistent
if the scheme is a dire necessity and confidence of the community
is attained through the acceptable village leadership.
2. Community is at large in a habit of asking more as to what
has been agreed therefore a balance has to be struck between
what is reasonable and what is beyond reasonable limits.
Hussain Mustafa, Programme Officer IRD
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