Climate Smart Villages
a) Implementation of Community Collaborative Water Management (CCWM) in more than 100 villages in Tiruvallore, Kancheepuram & Cuddalore Districts in TAMILNADU under Various Funding agensies viz., TATA Trust Fund, IDBI Bank and World Bank Funds had been completed.
b) Glimpses of various Activities involved in CCWM.
1. CLIMATE SMART VILLAGES
Two Model Villages Damal and Puthagaram in Kancheepurm District. have been selected to demonstrate that the implementation of efficient and effective Water Resources Management with the participation of the community which is the need of the hour in order to get over the Water Crisis. This Concept is called, ‘Community Collaborative Water Management (CCWM)’ which will ensure i) Optimum use of water ii) Equitable Distribution of Water and there by Water Conservation. This is in line with the present strategy of Water Management at the village level which is nothing but ‘Micro-Level Water Management.
2. Activities in Model Villages
It has been decided to take Two villages have been taken up as ‘Model Villages in Kancheepuram District to implement the Community Collaborative Water Management (CCWM)’ along with On-Farm Development in the Command Area (Ayacut Area of the Farmers under the WRD Tanks).
3. Outcomes Expected
Optimum use of water, Equitable Distribution of Water and there by Water Conservation. Also to enhance Agriculture Production and Productivity in the selected Model Villages.
- Two other important activities in the model villages are (i) Establishment of ‘Single Window Information and Knowledge Centre (SWIKC)’ and
- (ii) Formation of ‘Community Change Management Group (CCMG)’ including training them for sustainability. The Trained Cadre of CCMG will ensure the continuance of this best practice even after the support of our organisation
- Establishment of SWIKC provides a centralized hub for farmers to access information and resources from various government departments; facilitates regular visits by the Line Departments officials at specific intervals on Roster basis to address the farmers’ grievances, provide guidance on water management and other interventions of the Line Departments for better service delivery and ensuring service delivery at the doorsteps of the community.
4. CCWM Processes
CCWM involves well designed process starting with ‘Entry Level Activities, Awareness Creation, Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), including social and resource mappings, water budgeting, vision building, decision support system, preparation of ‘Operational Plan for the season etc., for ensuring the optimum use of Water, equitable distribution of water.
DAMAL TANK & VILLAGE
Present Status: I) Damal Village
- • As stated earlier, the implementation of CCWM involves well defined process, starting with ‘Entry Level Activities, Awareness Creation, Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) including social and resource mappings, water budgeting, vision building, decision support system, preparation of ‘Operational Plan for the season etc., for ensuring the optimum use of Water, equitable distribution of water in order to enhance Agriculture Production and Productivity.
- • In this Village all the activities starting from Entry level activities to Water Budgeting have been completed. As per the Water Budgeting, The Total Water Availability is 60,555 Lakh Litres. The Water Required is 1,28,670 Lakh Litres for Agriculture and 2582.94 Lakh Litres for drinking. The Water Balance is Deficit.
- • This deficit has to be minimised by ensuring ‘Optimum use of Water and equitable distribution water in the Command Area. For this, a decision support system will be developed by adopting modern techniques in the Agriculture Sector viz., Crop Intensification, Crop Diversification and Micro-Irrigation Techniques.
- • An Operation Plan will be prepared for implementation during that season. This Operation Plan will ensure optimum use of water and equitable distribution and there by conserving the water for further use and sustainability.
- • In addition to CCWM, the study on ‘On-Farm Development’ will also be done to ensure equitable distribution of water in the Command Area (Ayacut).
Further activities by CEC:
- • Preparation of Operation Plan for ensuring optimum use of water with the involvement of the community.
- • On-Farm Development studies will be taken up.
Discussion on Water Budget at Damal Village
Village Vision at Damal Village
At Head Sluice of DAMAL
De-Silting of Field Channel at Damal Village (Entry Level activity)
II) PUTHAGARAM TANK & VILLAGE
Present Status: II) Puthagaram Village
- • In this Village all the activities starting from Entry level activities to Water Budgeting have been completed. As per the Water Budgeting,
- • Total the Water Availability is 17,420 Lakh Litres which is equivalent to 1.742 MCM (61.52 Mcft). The Water Required for Agriculture purposes is 16,518.25 Lakh Litres and for drinking water Purposes is 1133.50 Lakh Litres. The Water Balance is 920 Lakh Litres (0.092 MCM or 3.25 Mcft).
- • Though, the Water Balance is surplus, the Farmers are not Covering the entire cultivable area of 464 Ha. There is a gap of 334 Ha (464Ha - 130 Ha) and this gap has to be minimised and brought into cultivation by adopting the best practice ‘CCWM’.
- • In addition to CCWM, the study on ‘On-Farm Development’ will also be done to ensure equitable distribution of water in the Command Area (Ayacut).
Further activities by CEC:
- • Preparation of Operation Plan for ensuring optimum use of water with the involvement of the community.
- • On-Farm Development studies will be taken up.
Water Budget at Puthagaram Village
Village Vision & Water Budget - Puthagaram Village
Article on the Model Villages published by “THE HINDU”
On 06.03.2026, The Hindu featured a report on the success of Community Collaborative Water Management (CCWM) inside pilot villages, illustrating how institutional support and local Change Management Groups combine to tackle local water stress.
III) ANDAMAN VILLAGE IN MADURAI DISTRICT
Present Status: III) One Model Village at Andaman in Madurai District
One Model Village at Andaman in Madurai District has been selected to implement ‘Community Collaborative Water Management (CCWM)’ to ensure i) Optimum use of water ii) Equitable Distribution of Water and thereby Water Conservation. This is in line with the present strategy of Water Management at the village level which is nothing but ‘Micro-Level Water Management’.
5. Activities in Model Village ‘Andaman’ in Madurai District
- To implement the Community Collaborative Water Management (CCWM)’ along with On-Farm Development in the Command Area (Ayacut Area of the Farmers under the WRD Tanks).
6. Outcomes Expected
Optimum use of water, Equitable Distribution of Water and thereby Water Conservation. Also to enhance Agriculture Production and Productivity in the selected Model Village ‘Andaman’ in Madurai District.
- Two other important activities in the model village are (i) Establishment of ‘Single Window Information and Knowledge Centre (SWIKC)’ and (ii) Formation of ‘Community Change Management Group (CCMG)’ including training them for sustainability. The Trained Cadre of CCMG will ensure the continuance of this best practice even after the support of our organisation.
- Establishment of SWIKC provides a centralized hub for farmers to access information and resources from various government departments; facilitates regular visits by the Line Departments officials at specific intervals on Roster basis to address the farmers’ grievances, provide guidance on water management and other interventions of the Line Departments for better service delivery and ensuring service delivery at the doorsteps of the community.
Further activities by CEC:
- • Preparation of Operation Plan for ensuring optimum use of water with the involvement of the community.
- • On-Farm Development studies will be taken up.
Visit to Perumal Theppakulam in Madurai District
Andaman Tank in Madurai District