Collective action for water problems
On 19.05. 2009
Yesterday we started our first meetings, bringing together people from the constituency with officials who need to hear their voices.
Our meeting was with I P Gautham, the Municipal Commissioner of Ahmedabad. Present with me were about 60 women and men, making up a heart-warming group of different slices of society — representatives from Vraj Vihar Vasahat, erstwhile manual scavengers and currently sweepers with private housing colonies; of three societies from D Cabin; from Rama Pir No Tekro representing 35000 families; from Gota Housing, where there is a temporary new pump that actually works; and from the up-market Srinanand Nagar Society in Vejalpur, a society of 5000 houses.
I doubt if a cross section of people like that had ever got together to discuss a common issue — water.
The Commissioner was patient and helpful, but the administration totally lacks long-term vision in dealing with the water issue. THERE IS A WORLD WIDE WATER CRISIS. To think that Narmada water is unlimited (have they not heard of the diminishing snows on all the mountains?) and all issues can be solved by attaching more pipelines, is suicidal.
I kept bringing up the issue of water harvesting, refurbishing bore wells, but had only limited success. I am determined to get at least a few pilot projects in place before the monsoon comes soon.
The Srinand Nagar representatives, who had earlier been extremely dismissive of our water expert, Rajubhai, when I sent him to explain a way out of their problem, now seem more open and I am going to try and get one recharge well there.
Four hundred Valmiki Dalit families in Rama Pir No Tekro have no access to sewage lines. When asked, the Commissioner said that there is provision for Rs 4000 per family for building toilets. I asked if eco san toilets or something like that had been considered but this fell to deaf ears. However, I am sure this can be done. More on this in a few days.
Mira Kamdar
19. May, 2009
Wonderful work and a great way to keep the momentum you’ve generated going and growing!
Sudhakar Shah
19. May, 2009
Your persistent initiatives have provided the motivation to the affected people.
If we can get at least 10 houses in each colony to set up water harvesting this monsoon (more the better, but I am suggesting a minimumat least), hundreds will follow next year.
Rs 4000 per family for 35,000 families in a single society is Rs 14 crores. In Savar Kundala, municipality did an underground sewer in the whole Khatakiwad for much less money.. Any way, 4000 is not the ultimate limit. Limit is the need to provide the sewage facilities.
Your Group can pursuade the MC to start immediately.
A retired civil servant from Mumbai had got a whole village to do water harvesting single handed in dry Amravati district they were then able to supply water to other villages after meeting all their needs.
Good Work, Excellent Initiatives and appropriate beginning for the tasks to be done in the next 5 years.
Sudhakar