Sustainable Water Resource Management by Construction of Water Harvesting Structures in Prakasam District of Andhra Pradesh

Sustainable Water Resource Management by Construction of Water Harvesting Structures in Prakasam District of Andhra Pradesh

Project Background: Water scarcity remains a pressing issue for the rural communities in Prakasam district, where agriculture is the primary livelihood. The heavy reliance on rain-fed irrigation systems, coupled with poor water storage infrastructure, has severely hampered agricultural productivity in these regions. Farmers often face seasonal water shortages, which threaten their livelihoods and the food security of their families. Additionally, the lack of adequate water conservation systems, such as tanks and check dams, further aggravates the issue, leading to reduced groundwater recharge and soil erosion.

This project will be constructing 2 new check dams to enhance water storage capacity and irrigation potential. This effort will directly benefit over 2 villages, providing reliable water resources and improving agricultural sustainability in the region. For ensuring sustainability of the assets created, proper institutions will be promoted to take care of O&M of the structures.

Prakasam District: Prakasam district is primarily an agrarian economy, with major crops such as paddy, groundnuts, pulses, cotton, and maize being cultivated. Due to erratic monsoon patterns, farmers in this district face challenges in maintaining consistent water supply for irrigation. Historically, tanks have been an essential source of irrigation, but due to silt accumulation, many tanks have lost their water storage capacity, reducing the availability of water for agricultural purposes.

Objectives:

• To increase the ground water level by construction of water harvesting structures
• To increase the income from agriculture through increase in irrigated area
• To meet the irrigation requirement by capturing the surface run – off

To promote water users group for each structure and establish the systems for community based management of infrastructure for sustainability.