The Story of Pingori

Rotary water harvesting project in Pingori, India.

1. Story of Pingori Water harvesting project at Pingori , India

2. Water Water is a essential commodity for life. India is facing challenge of serious water deficit for multiple reasons. Global warming, unpredictable rains, reduction in subsoil water and drainage of rain water all are plying part in it.Some areas are affected more than others. In villages farmers are desperate as their livelihood depends on water. Sadly suicide rates in farmers is getting higher and is of serious concern.

3. Pingori Pingori is small village in Maharashtra,India.This area is designated as one of the worst draught stricken area by the government. Pingori has 3 other villages on the down slope from them in the same location. The location is 1 Hr drive from Pune,India . Agriculture is the only source for income and survival. They own small farms between 2-10acers.Have one natural source of water- a lake-which is barely enough for drinking water. This year was particularly hard hit as no rains in monsoon season.

4. How it all started Meet Mr Shinde.He is born and raised in Pingori.He has BA and degree in journalism and was working for a news paper for 17 years. One day found out that his town is going to be a site for “vacation resorts". Surprised ,he investigated and found out farmers were selling their land and hills for less than 500 dollars out of desperation. He decided to quit his job and make it a mission to make his home town independent and thriving. First project they did thru local NGO is to clean the existing fresh water lake of silt so more water will be stored. There was 22 feet of silt in there, now mostly removed.

5. Natural lake This is the lake that they use only for drinking water

6. How it all started As water conservation project was way beyond just cleaning the lake, he approached Dr Meena Borate “the water fairy”as she is called due to her more than 70 successful water conservation projects. She been involved in Rotary work for many years now. Medical oncologist by trade, she now fully dedicated her time and personal money to water conservation projects. She decided to go for international rotary grant from her Westside Club along with help from sister club. Hillside club.She approached us and we thus raised the money needed for the grant with our sister clubs.

7. What we did together Continuous Counter Trenches or CCT These are small dams with trenches on downward slops of the hills. When the rain water comes, these help to hold the water at one place so it can go subsoil and supply wells in villages. Thousands were built thru the global grant that we supported .

8. Water storage Ponds Two of these ponds were built. Their aim is to have four. They measure 55x55x17 meters and 65x65x17 meters. One is complete and lines by plastic polymer specially created by Garware Nylon company to withstand tons of water pressure that will be created when this is full. It will store about 300,000 liters of water. Second one ran over budget due to rock excavation .This will be lined by special coating which will make it waterproof. This is where they need help, to complete the second one. Monsoon season starts in June and the issue thus is time sensitive.

9. Water storage On site visiting with Dr Meena Borate

10. Water storage This is what it looked like after minimal rain this year

11. Drip irrigation To avoid the wastage of water they have drip irrigation system. There are small pipes with multiple holes which feed water by rotation to plants only what is needed. The farmers put their own money to buy these.

12. What else? They have started looking into crops that will require less water to grow, Two have been very successful so far Pomegranate and Custard apple. Both uncommon and expensive in India. The soil is perfect for these. For the first time a farmer made 1500 dollars growing them. Now ,they all are looking into these. They may become a site for further research in modification of plants to require less water. One of the thriving pomegranate field.

13. Tree planting They have nursery where they get free plants/tress and nurture them to be planted. So far 5000 planted and 10,000 more on the way.

14. Animal Husbandry/shelter for discarded cows Indian Government recently banned killing cows as they are religiously scared for Hindus which is about 90%population of India. Farmers will go and leave these animals far away as they could not afford to feed them. Pigori adopted all of them. They planted fodder along the side of the CCT, which hardly needs water. They will feed animals on this and utilize their manure for fertilizer which is very expensive for farmers to buy. They will also produce gas from it and supply the villages.

15. Animal Husbandry/shelter for discarded cows Project funded by another local NGO. It is one of a kind and so far has been visited by two governors of states as they will like to duplicate it in their states.

16. Technology and education Local school send a teacher to get educated further and brought her back to teach. Currently have 18 Personal computers in donation and looking to build a building to house the,

17. And finally I am most impressed with the work done by the people of the village together than just doing one project. They all play a part in it. In the distant future they look for a thriving community and look at developing other resources like developing eco /agriculture resorts. There is lot of work yet to be done, but I am sure they will do it .This project will benefit 4 villages in the area due to Pingori’s geographic location. They do need 15.000 dollars to finish second water reservoir to complete.,

18. My visit to the clubs I did attend the club meeting for Westside and Hillside clubs, who along with other clubs contributed to the project.

19. Dr Meena Borate presenting

20. Meeting