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Water dynamics in the Auroville bioregion
World Water Day, March 22 2007 Salinity moderating
and proofing of coastal aquifers
Ground and Surface Water
Organic
Farming
Tank Rehabilitation
Education and Public Awareness
International Seminar
on Sustainable Water Management
Students
and Volunteers
documents:
Water-dynamics in the Auroville bioregion (by Gilles Boulicot and Judith D’Souza) download (84kb)
Kazhuveli Basin : Linking basins to address water scarcity issues
download (1,21mb)
Detailed International Seminar on Sustainable Water Management, download (749 KB)
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In September 2006, jointly with CSR, we hosted an International
Seminar on Sustainable Water Management for the bioregion.
This seminar
was not only endorsed by UNESCO under the HELP (Hydrology for Environment,
Life and Policy) Basin Program but also supported by His
Excellency, Dr. A.P.J. Abhdul Kalam, President of India.
As well, Harvest's area
of operations, the Kaluvelly-Pondicherry coastal sedimentary basin,
has been accepted as one of the new catchments of the UNESCO HELP
Basin Program. Under this program, the basin is used as a pilot area
to create a collaborative framework for integrated water management
with a focus on studying the relatively unknown processes and dynamics
of aquifer salinization in this basin and ways of remediation (for
more information see the Ground and Surface Water page).
Support from His Excellency, The President of India
On the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the merger of Pondicherry
with the Indian Union, the 1 st of November this year, His Excellency,
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, President of India passed by Auroville to
hear about our investigations into the water issue's of our area
and our plans to tackle them. Specifically, he wanted to hear about
the research on seawater intrusion into the main aquifers done through
one of Harvest's major collaborative programs.
The President, during
his talk to the Pondicherry Parliament, gave full support to our work
and emphasized the need to complete the work carried out so far.
In his own words:
“I understand that in Auroville,
a UNESCO endorsed International Seminar brought out the problem
of seawater ingress into fresh water aquifers in Pondicherry and
Tamilnadu. It is essential to formulate a 20-year Integrated Water
Management Plan based on further detailed studies, and then implement
the Plan, in an integrated manner.”
With recent collaborations among stakeholders in the area, the acceptance
of our basin into the UNESCO HELP Basin Project, and the strong support
of the President, the shared vision for an Integrated Water Management
Plan is well on its way.
Harvest's Area of Operations
The main area of operations, the Kaluvelly-Pondicherry
coastal sedimentary basin, ranges from the city of Villupuram west
of Pondicherry to the Coromandel coast and from the city of Cuddalore
south of Pondicherry to the outlet of Kaluvelly wet land, a brackish
water body of 72 square kilometers near the village of Marakannam
north of Pondicherry . This area includes more than 35 village
Panchayats.
As called to,
Harvest also engages in projects throughout India.
Harvest's Human Resources
To the extent possible, the actions undertaken
by Harvest are collaborative endeavors with the people, the civil
society and public departments. Ad-hoc experts, volunteers and
students compliment Harvest's permanent human resources.
Ran by a multidisciplinary staff of 35, Harvest is sub-divided into
six teams:
- Administrative Team
- Tank Rehabilitation / Engineering Team
- Water Resources (groundwater, surface water) Team
- Survey Team GPS
- Social / Agriculture Team
- GIS / Data Management Team
Harvest's Activities
- Harvest is involved in a wide array of activities
pertaining to integrated water management with a base always
in scientific investigation. These activities include:
Sustainable Socio-economic Development: Consultancy
to industries; ecological farming extension and training programs;
environmental awareness and education; aquaculture; and sanitation
and wastewater management promotion.
- Water Resources Development: Rehabilitation of surface
water bodies; artificial groundwater recharge; and water conservation
works.
- Groundwater & Surface water Studies: Surveying,
analyzing, and researching groundwater and salinity levels; assessing
pollution risk; time evolution and impact assessment; and land
use evaluation.
To Contact Us
Harvest
Centre for Water Resources Management Naidu House, Kottakarai,
Auroville - 605101
Tamil Nadu
India
Telephone: +91 (0) 413-262-2333
Fax: +91 (0) 413-262-2690
E-mail: harvest@auroville.org.in
To
Get There:
Coming from the Auroville Visitor's Centre, take the nearby tar
road right towards Kottakarai village. At the first Y intersection
where you will see two overhead water tanks, take a steep turn left
towards Irumbai Village . Harvest is 300 m away; it is the 2-storied
traditional white house on the right hand side, a little ways away
from the roadside (on the left side opposite Harvest you will see
a tiny Ganesh Temple under the shade of a large banyan tree).
Coming
from Pondicherry , either take the coast road, and once in Auroville
follow the above; or take the Jipmer-Tindivanam Road . Once in the
Town of Kootroad , take a turn right towards Irumbai Village . After
passing Irumbai Village , the road is bordered by coconut trees. At
their end, Harvest will be the first house on the left hand side. There
is a direct and regular bus service stopping in front of Harvest commuting
to and from Pondicherry from 6 am to 9 pm. The bus stop precedes Kottakarai
Village, and is called "Society, Harvest".
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