My journey to Sikkim
for building water security through Rainwater Harvesting - a collaborative
effort of KSCST, Govt. of Sikkim and
UNDP
Place name is Suldung, Upper
Kamling, at an altitude of 2560 meters, closest town Jorethang, West Sikkim.
August 2nd marked a day to introduce rainwater harvesting in the region and build
skills among the local youth.
Sharing the experience of rainwater
harvesting and building water security among the most HUMBLE LOCAL COMMUNITY,
was a truly joyous experience.
West
Sikkim is a district of the Indian state of Sikkim. The
economy is mainly agrarian, despite most of the land being unfit for
cultivation owing to the precipitous and rocky slopes. The region has many
power projects and enjoys almost uninterrupted electricity. Roads are in poor
condition owing to the frequent landslides. West
Sikkim houses a great diversity of flora and fauna, many of which are used by
Indigenous and local communities. Most of the district is hilly, it enjoys
a temperate climate.
Above 3,800 m (12,000 ft) the slopes are full of rhododendron forests.
The story
of 'Suldung' - The region
has an annual rainfall of around 2000mm and the roaring river Rangeet
(tributary of Teesta) flows ferociously in the valley. Several kilometres
uphill, villages with scattered houses are dependent on springs and streams for
daily water needs. Steep slope drain off rainwater quickly and water reaches
the bottom of the hill to join the river Rangeet. Villagers (mostly woman) trek
few kilometres to collect water and carry water on their back climbing the
steep slippery winding walk paths through thick woods.
My mobile camera could
capture waterfalls and the flowing river, but are not of reach by villagers
(mirage). Few rich among them hire daily labour to haul water. It is common for
grownup boys to leave the village and move down hill to towns because of water
scarcity. Tourist across the country and even from outside India reach here for
adventure water rafting in Teesta, just few kilometres uphill, people decamp
their villages because of non availability of WATER.
'Harvest Rainwater and a Host of
benefits'
Thank you KSCST, DST, Govt of Sikkim
-Dorjee Thinlay Bhutia, Suman Thapa,
UNDP - Surajit Baruah, Rowena Mathew, Sanjeeb Pradan and more so for the PEOPLE of Suldung.
UNDP - Surajit Baruah, Rowena Mathew, Sanjeeb Pradan and more so for the PEOPLE of Suldung.
