Asia-Pacific Water Forum

RURAL WATER MANAGEMENT WITH MULTIPLE BENEFITS

A Grassroot Sustainable Project in the Deltic Lowland Near the Bay of Bengal

The Rangabelia project in the Sundarbans delta adjoining the Bay of Bengal is one of the best practices of rural water management and is a multiporpose project to alleviate poverty. The Tagore Society for Rural Development, a grass root NGO with technical help from Interdesign (Principal Architect being Secretary General, Centre for Built Environment) has developed this is a village - Rangabelia, which is in low land with a number of ponds. The project has proper and systemetic wastewater reuse/treatment, hygienic waste disposal system including composting and digester technology, solar hot water and electricity generation through photovoltaic cells, biomass cultivation with fuel generation and pyrolysis (main generator), ovrall water management with rainwater collection ponds and channels using biofilters, low cost and innovative sanitation and building technology to provide facilities economically. Besides availability of better water and sanitation, the project is productive with increased crop yield – agriculture and fishery. It supports a plethora of flora and fauna and maintain biodiversity.

The rainwater reservoir covers 30% of total site area of 2.0 ha. The whole pond system collects about 15 million litres per annum and the element of partial recycling contributes further. Overall evaporation is controlled by using aquatic plants which also help in limiting turbidity, cleaning the water and maintaing permissible BODs. The programme is managed by local inhabitants including women. The participatory development is providing incentives and has become a generator of rural development.

Centre for Built Environment is involved in sustainable development in deltic low land and the project was presented at the 4th World Water Forum, Mexico, 2006. For furthr information contact Centre for Built Environment (ranajit@cal.vsnl.net.in) (interdes@satyam.net.in).

(Poster: Prof. Santosh Ghosh)