Project Summary

To improve access to water (for domestic, drinking and irrigation purposes), individuals in Andhra Pradesh, like the rest of the country, are making heavy investments in  bore wells and extracting groundwater resources.This is leading to unsustainable water resource management and pushing the farmers towards crisis.

Considering this, it is proposed that a resource centre be established for south India, which attempts to integrate groundwater-related concerns within watershed development projects. The goal will be to deepen the capacities, knowledge systems and practices in participatory groundwater management (planning, using, monitoring, and regulating water resources) in rural areas. In this project, water resource plans with a clear focus on groundwater will be developed. There is also a need to facilitate this process by creating a pool of resource persons, who could provide technical support. Necessary communications and resource materials will be developed, and support systems for conceptualisng and designing new programs and policies with a clear focus on groundwater will be evolved in South India.