An Approach to Sustainable Watershed Management: Case Studies on Enhancing Sustainability with Challenges of Water in Western Maharashtra

Abstract

Western Maharashtra consists of drought prone villages, which around seventy years ago were facing drastic challenges regarding water requirements. People living in such areas started to migrate from these villages in need of food and water. The chapter focuses on few case studies of drought prone areas of Western Maharashtra which made a move towards sustainability and has created an excellent model of watershed projects. Several practices like ban on cutting trees, terrace farming, contour bunding, drip irrigation, sprinkle irrigation, introduction of cooking stoves, rotational grazing, efficient water distribution and change in cultivation of agricultural crops according to the climate were followed which led the village to become a model for Aadarsh Gaon (An Ideal Village). The author has used secondary data from previous research work and critically analyses the case studies on water management in drought prone areas of Western Maharashtra which managed to become a model for sustainable use of water.