WHEN THE Government refused to help them solve perpetual drought problems, the villagers staying near Rajasthan's Alwar district decided to help themselves.
After suffering for three years, they constructed a check dam to harness rain water before the onset of the monsoon this year. Only, they realised that the Government, which paid no heed to their hardship, is now trying to demolish their precious dam --
their only hope of succour. Even now, over 15 villages in the area are heavily dependent on the water stored in the check dam.
Yesterday, nearly 500 villagers assembled at the Lakhawas check dam to prevent government authorities from demolishing it. Officials of the Irrigation Departments of Alwar and Bharatpur who reached Thanagazi at around 8 a.m. yesterday to raze the dam were
in for a surprise. A 500-strong mob stood on the check dam and dared the officials to go ahead with the demolition after killing them. Seeing frayed tempers and charged emotions, the officials opted to leave the spot.
They contend that the construction of the dam is illegal, as the villagers did not have the Irrigation Department's approval. Also, they claim the dam is unsafe and would affect the flow of River Ruparel.
Inaugurated on March 12, 2001, villagers say that the Lakhawas check dam built near Thanagazi village has helped raise the level of the ground water table in the area by 20-30 feet in just two months.
"Most of the people had moved out of the villages during the drought period. Those who stayed back had to walk for several kilometres in search of water. We had to draw water from wells whose water level had fallen to 200 feet. The Lakhawas check dam has
already helped raise the level of water in the wells. After about 3 to 4 years we are now considering farming again," said 55-year-old Mansni Devi of Thanagazi village.
Another local, Kanhiya Lal, contends that at least 70,000 people will directly benefit from this check dam while another two-and-a-half lakh will benefit indirectly. "This check dam is a common property resource and government authorities should support
such initiatives," he said.
Rajinder Singh, a representative of NGO Tarun Bharat Sangh, which helped mobilise villagers of Thanagazi, Todijodas, Arner, Wagroli and Jodhavas to construct the Lakhawas check dam, said that the Sangh had constructed at least 4,500 such check dams in 11
districts of Rajasthan in the last 17 years. "Many of these check dams have been constructed along tributaries of the Ruparel itself. We can't understand why is this check dam being singled out as being illegal," he said.
Nearly 600 to 700 villagers had invested their life savings while many others worked day and night on the dam's construction.
However, District Magistrate Tanmay Kumar maintains that the check dam violates a 1910 agreement signed between Bharatpur and Alwar. "According to the agreement, Bharatpur and Alwar share the waters of Ruparel at a 55:45 ratio. The technical review
committee of the government has submitted that the check dam is illegal as it is built over a tributary of the Ruparel," Mr Kumar said.
