SEVAI-SG project involved in Water and soil conservation projects such as Check Dams.

Check dam construction in Vilkalpatty

Tamilnadu is facing severe drought due to shortage of rainfall as well as lack of water storing and sharing measures for Agriculture activities for food production and even shortage of severe drinking water scarcity in several districts even in Cauvery delta areas. SEVAI with the support of OFI –SG is involved in restoration of water resources and also control soil erosion in Thogamalai Block. SEVAI-SG and the village communities are involved in the construction two check dams as Check dams are small barriers built across the direction of water flow on shallow rivers and streams for the purpose of water harvesting. The small dams retain excess water flow during monsoon rains in a small catchment area behind the structure. Pressure created in the catchment area helps force the impounded water into the ground. The major environmental benefit is the replenishment of nearby groundwater reserves and wells. Water is essential for all life and is used in many different ways - for food production,

construction work of check dam  in progress

drinking and domestic uses and industrial use. It is also part of the larger ecosystem on which bio diversity depends. Precipitation, converted to soil and groundwater and thus accessible to vegetation and people, is the dominant pre-condition for biomass production and social development in dry lands. The amount of available water is equivalent to the water moving through the landscape. It also fluctuates between the wet and dry periods. Fresh water scarcity is not limited to the arid climatic regions only. Even in areas with good supply, the access to safe water is becoming a critical problem. The water entrapped by the dam, surface and subsurface, is primarily intended for use in irrigation during the monsoon Increased agricultural yield, Increased income from the sale of crops,  Increased revenues from livestock, Increased growth of fodder and the check dams have served to increase the quality of life in beneficiary communities by  Improved food security: Increased yields of staple crops and planting of vegetables and the addition of a second growing season has worked to increase food security among beneficiaries. The check dams constructed during the past years have helped for Recharging groundwater reservoirs and wells, Increasing soil humidity, Promoting growth of surface vegetation, Capturing runoff rainwater and silt.considered with respect to site selection such as the structure should be able to store a high volume of rainwater, The check dam should provide a long length of stored water, there should be a high percentage of cropped area, or potential crop area, on either side of the length of the stored water, Risk of submergence of cropped lands during flash floods should be minimal, It should have a high cost-benefit ratio. The main objectives of the check dam projects were to recharge ground water reserves and increase the availability of water for agricultural purposes. -Kris

Water stored in Check dam in Vilkalpatty