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Location where technology is being evaluated : Varli village in Bhuj district (Gujarat) India.

Number of people approximately being served by the technology : 2500

Since when it is in operation? : 2005

Who Designed / Planned and who implemented / constructed the technology? :
A 15 member committee (11men and 4 women) named as “Pani Samiti” was formed (Mr. Jaintibhai Ahir, Mr. Babubhai Makwana, Mr. Memabhai Ramjibhai Ahir (Present chairman), Mr. Kanabhai (Ex chairman), Mr. Welgibhai, Mr. Punjabhai Bichawada, Mr. Hematgarbhai Goswami, Mr. Govind Mema, Mr. Keshubhai Malawa, Mr. Sarjanrang Rebari, Mr. Babu Bawla, Mrs. Mogiben Lakhu, Mrs. Jaishreeben Jaishbhai, Mrs. Neeruben, and Mrs. Faridaben Sakoor). First four members were the founder and active members of the committee.

Who is taking care of the technology now? : Committee known as ‘Pani Samiti’.

Are there any standards available which need to be fulfilled by the technology? If yes which? : Equal distribution of good quality underground water.

Are operations and maintenance data records available? :
Yes (Approximately 500 liters daily water supply per house. The quality of water has always been good in this area. This technology puts more emphasis on the quantity i.e. equal distribution to all which was a problem issue here earlier due to its uneven topography. The quality as such is good and has never been a problem issue.)

Please provide a brief summary of the history/evolution of this technology in the selected case study :

Due to the hilly and rugged terrain, Varli village has an uneven topography with some part of the village in low lying area while a part of it in upper reaches. As a result, the area suffered from the problem of water not reaching its upper part. There was no canal in the area; therefore government started supplying under ground water around 30 years back by building a towering water tank so that water would flow with pressure. But even that system did not work properly because the topography is not on level and therefore the water did not reach the upper areas. Since the water supply was dependent upon the pressure system, therefore even if a single tap was open in the low lying area, the water would not reach the upper parts. As a result, many a times there were disputes too over the issue of water supply to upper parts.

Finally around six years back, fed up of the daily disputes, the villagers held a meeting in order to get some solution. A four member committee named as “Pani Samiti”was formed of the active members (namely Jayanti bhai Ahir, Babu bhai, Welgi bhai and Mema bhai) to resolve the problem amicably. The present chairman is Mr. Babu bhai. To solve the problem of finances (as it required a lot of money), they approached WASMO (Water and Sanitation Management Organisation, Gujarat) with their ideas put on paper. After a long discussion with minor changes WASMO agreed to finance the project with 90% of financial help from WASMO and the rest of the 10% as “Lok fala”. Each household was supposed to contribute Rs. 100 though some people who could afford contributed more too for this project.