2000 DROUGHT OF GUJARAT
Category |
: |
Drought. |
Account |
: |
The drought in Gujarat was a nightmarish
reminder of the ill-fated drought of 1900. |
Rainfall |
: |
-38% |
Area affected |
: |
More than 125 towns and 9,449 villages
in the regions of Kutch, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Rajkot,
Amreli, Bhavnagar, Surendranagar, Mehsana, Banaskantha,
Sabarkantha, Panchmahals, Vadodara and Bharuch were affected. |
Affected |
: |
20 million people affected and 11 million
cattle. |
Water crisis |
: |
866 villages declared 'Scarcity affected.'
In some towns tap water was available for just 15-20
mins. a day. In others, a bucketful of water costs Rs.45! |
Crop loss |
: |
Destruction of crops was estimated at
Rs.42.5 billion in 9,500 villages. |
Dams |
: |
More than 100 dams out of 143 had dried
up. |
Diseases |
: |
Millions of people were resorting to drinking
polluted water which left them with diarrhoea & other
stomach problems. |
Migration |
: |
Thousands of villagers fled the worst
water shortage in 100 years. |
|
HELP
BY BAPS ORGANISATION
|
|
Centres
|
:
|
BAPS centres in Bhuj, Gondal, Bhadra, Rajkot, Khedbrahma
and Dahod were involved with relief operations.
|
|
Volunteers
|
:
|
480 volunteers served fulltime while 700 volunteers
gave part-time assistance.
|
|
Area helped
|
:
|
Villages and towns in the regions of Kutch, Jamnagar,
Jasdan, Jetpur, Gondal, Sarbarkhantha, Amreli, Bhavanagar
and Dahod were helped by BAPS.
|
|
Saved
|
:
|
Over 16,971 cows, oxen and buffaloes from starvation
and death.
|
GRASS, HAY & FODDER DISTRIBUTION
Livestock was the worst affected victim of the drought. Tens
of thousands of cattle died of starvation and thirst everyday.
BAPS immediately organised transportation of green grass and
cattle feed from other parts of Gujarat to the most affected
regions for distribution to farmers and cattle houses.
Region |
Villages
helped by BAPS |
No.
of Cattle |
Kutch |
BAPS helped 15 villages:
Naredi, Jarjokh, Vadva (Kaya), Suthari, Meghpar, Panandro
(small), Panandro (big), Navanagar, Dayapar, Ravapar,
Hothivandh, Sanosara, Mothala, Bhimpar, Nandro. |
6,900 |
Jasdan |
BAPS helped 8 villages: Godladhaar,
Phooljhar, Somnath-Pipaliya, Modhuka, Bandhari, Sanaari,
Navagaam, Sanaama.
BAPS distributed over 69,300 kg of grass and hay in
this area. |
3,835 |
Baabra
Gondal
Jetpur
|
BAPS helped 8 villages: Laalka,
Paatidad, Gokhalana, Vadod, Mewasa, Haripur, Jetpur,
Varadungra.
BAPS distributed 54,320 kg of sugarcane in this area. |
3,001 |
Sabarkantha |
BAPS helped 11 villages:
Himatpur, Raheda, Finchod, Khodam, Movatpura, Atharva,
Malpur, Delwada, Therasana, Gulabpura, Nadri. |
3,235 |
Total |
|
16,971 |
Over 16,971 cattle heads were saved from
starvation in over 42 villages in the worst affected areas
of the drought.
SUKHADI (SWEET ENERGY FOOD) DISTRIBUTION
To help thousands of people starving from want of proper food,
BAPS started the distribution of sukhadi (sweet energy Indian
food) in the most affected regions with a large volunteer force.
Region |
Villages |
People |
Daily
Sukhadi Kg. |
Monthly
Sukhadi Kg. |
Amount Rs. |
Kutch |
101 |
12,400 |
2,480 |
74,400 |
1,636,800 |
Jamnagar |
17 |
4,711 |
942 |
28,266 |
621,852 |
Amreli |
18 |
2,830 |
566 |
16,980 |
373,560 |
Bhavnagar |
10 |
2,100 |
423 |
12,600 |
277,200 |
Sabarkantha |
52 |
13,500 |
2,700 |
81,000 |
1,782,000 |
Dahod |
11 |
5,100 |
1,020 |
30,600 |
673,200 |
Total |
209 |
40,641 |
8,131 |
243,846 |
5,364,612 |
In total, BAPS distributed more than 243.8 tonnes
of sukhadi, costing over Rs.5.3 million, in over 209 villages,
reaching some 40,641 victims in the drought regions.
RAINWATER HARVESTING
In certain parts of Gujarat, collecting or storing rainwater
in a manner in which everyone can benefit had been a great
problem. BAPS got together engineers, ecologists, architects,
town and village planners and set out to help villages store
rainwater during rains.
The methods were quickly found and included building check
dams, excavating farm ponds, plugging nalas and gullies, and
constructing underground home water tanks.
In the region of Gadhada (Bhavnagar District), from August
1999 to April 2000 the following rain harvesting and watershed
projects were completed in preparation for the predicted drought.
Village
Helped by BAPS |
Structure |
Number |
Ningala & Ugameli |
Talavs (farm ponds) |
11 |
Lakhanka |
Check dams
Nala plugging (of concrete)
Gully plugging (of boulders & mud)
Khet talav (farm ponds) |
6
22
60
22 |
Raliana |
Underground home water tanks
(concrete 10,000 litre capacity)
|
45 |
Goradka |
Underground home water tanks
(concrete 10,000 litre capacity)
|
10 |
Ghogha Samdi |
Check dam |
1 |
Sakhpar |
Check dam |
2 |
Tatum |
Check dam |
1 |
Note: In total BAPS has constructed 61 concrete Check
Dams from 1994 to 2000.
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