Development Aspects Impressum Editors
Source: Gujarat Water Supply and Sewerage Board, 2009 This has also resulted in a sharp decline in expenditure on tanker water supply in the State from 2003/04 onwards (table 2), which is another indicator of creation of water security in the State. Table 2: Annual expenditure on tanker supply, 1990 to 2009
Source: Gujarat Water Supply and Sewerage Board, 2009 a US$1 ≈ Rs.46 Reduction in carbon footprint in water supplyIn several villages, the tube wells are now utilized as a dual source and the opera- tional hours have been reduced. Based on a random survey, it has been observed that a significant saving has been achieved in electricity consumption which is now available for alternative uses, proving to be an eco-friendly achievement. Solar pumps have also been commissioned in 260 villages in the State and about 200 more solar pumping systems will be installed in the near future. In various parts of the State, including coastal and tribal areas, rooftop rainwater harvesting struc- tures have been installed in public buildings, schools and individual households, which is resulting in substantial electricity savings. Comprehensive energy audits for various group water supply schemes have also resulted in energy savings (table 3). Table 3: Emission savings in drinking water supply
Source: Gujarat Water Supply and Sewerage Board, 2009 Paradigm shiftWith a paradigm shift from dependence on drinking water supply by tankers, trains and deep tube wells to safe surface water, much of the fluoride-affected habita- tions have been covered by piped water supply. Technological interventions, such as defluoridation through reverse osmosis, have also been taken up in some villages. In the remaining villages safe water sources have been identified or created and are being used for drinking water pur- pose. Thus, a “vicious circle” has been transformed into a “virtuous cycle” with a win-win situation for water, energy, environment and health sectors and with considerable economic benefits. In short, this is Gujarat’s technology-oriented re- sponse to the existing and future water stress and insecurity due to climate change. The creation of the Water and Sanitation Management Organisation (WASMO) was a significant shift in the role of governance from provider to facilitator by empowering village-level institutions through extensive capacity-building and pro- active facilitation. Since its inception, WASMO has been able to bring in effective citizens’ engagement through its innovative governance model for facilitating the successful community-led water supply programme throughout the State of Guja- rat. Now more than 16,740 Village Water and Sanitation Committees have been formed in the State that are ready to take on the responsibility for management of service delivery and water resources management at the decentralized level. More than 6,500 villages have already commissioned the infrastructure and water conservation projects in a demand-driven mode. Another 4,547 villages are pres- ently implementing the decentralized, community-managed, rural water supply programme in their villages with a strong feeling of ownership. WASMO’s strength lies in its organizational professionalism, innovations in governance and strong partnerships with about 48 civil society organizations. The rural community is the central focus of WASMO’s decentralized approach. Its in- novation has led to the scaling up of reform processes to cover the entire State. Its professionals have created an enabling environment which has resulted in the com- munity being fully empowered to take ownership of their water service delivery wherein operation and maintenance is done through a tariff mechanism devised by consensus in the village assembly. It has also been able to institutionalize the rural water quality monitoring and surveillance programme. The majority of villages are now able to monitor their water quality teams which are duly trained. WASMO’s innovation in Gujarat has emerged as a model for learning and exchange, influenc- ing policy initiatives in the water sector at the country level. WASMO has also been given the United Nations Public Service Award in the category of fostering par- ticipation in policymaking decisions through innovative mechanisms (Modi, 2010). Yüklə 2,97 Mb. Dostları ilə paylaş: |