Within the Karlapat Sanctuary, Gram Vikas is starting its 3rd micro hydro project. Many valuable lessons were learned from its first 2 projects, in Amthagouda and Karlapat villages. Solutions to previous issues are being implemented in the 3rd project, in the village of Purna Guma.
I have spent most of my time at Gram Vikas (the last 2.5 years) trouble shooting existing projects. Therefore, a new project on a blank canvas is no doubt refreshing for me. But here's what makes Purna Guma unique:
1. Purna Guma is being implemented by the community alone with help from the villagers of the previous micro hydro system (7km away). Gram Vikas has learned that in the previous projects there was too much handholding, which now makes community driven management of system very difficult to facilitate. Letting the community drive the project is creating such an amazing dynamic. ...It's wonderful to see them think thru the various issues...without our help! Infact, they keep me on my toes.
2. Purna Guma is being support by several funding agencies, one of which is a student group at Columbia Unversity, Engineers Without Borders. The group gives me priceless energy to keep dealing with the field circumstances.
3. Despite the several castes in Purna Guma's 3 hamlets, the community has really come together for this project. Of course I know that their drive is simply the electricity (mainly lights); however thanks to Gram Vikas' mandate of 100% inclusion in every project, the circumstances don't give the community any other choice. ...Though I continue to sense that PG is more cohesive community than of the previous micro hydro projects.
4. There many other aspects...that i'll ramble off and on :).
Here are some photos...
Once PG decides to do a task, they really do it. Always, over 30 people show up or none at all. This is why the bulk of the civil structure were completed in the first 4 days!!
Leaders from Karlapat led the meeting the night before the construction started.
]Much earthwork was required to get the site ready.
I was worried that we would not have masons...one of the many examples of my worries being pointless. The community had arranged 2 masons without my knowing.
Vaishnav Babu from Karlapat is our man. I am hoping he can lead future ydro implementation in Kalahandi without the field help of Gram Vikas.
After the earthworks, rods, cement, chips, and sand had to be head loaded up the 200m slope...NO JOKE.
But at every opportunity, the guys never fail to produce a laugh.
One second day we started the rod binding of the channel.
Purna Guma is blessed with a cool cave, making it easy to route the channel to the forebay tank location.
....having the time of my life :-)
Start of forebay tank drama....the concreting was difficult without proper supports.
1 comment:
:-)
And you know what, Its pleasing to see you back here.
Have Fun!
:-)
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