281
materials in periodicals and newspapers. Due to lack of historical study and reliable
data on the origin of the dong-bandh system, it is very difficult to trace out exactly
the time of its origin. Some souvenirs and other documents published by the dongbandh committee were reviewed, interviews with the elderly people were conducted, and the folktales related to dong-bandh, etc. were noted carefully to estimate
the time of its origin in the village. The present scenario of the village was very
intensively observed to understand the layout and functioning of the canal network
and its relation with some other components of the village landscape. Cadastral map
of the village was collected from the Directorate of Land Records, Guwahati, to use
it as a base map for land use mapping. The details of the dong (canal) network and
the pattern of land use of each of the plots were depicted on the base map by carrying out intensive ground survey. GPS survey was also done to locate the reference
points and the coordinates of different features on the ground. Finally, the map of
the traditionally developed canal network was prepared using ArcGIS 10.2 software. Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA) methods were also applied to understand the status and challenges of water management
system in the area. Some meetings of the Dong Committee were attended to understand the principles and policies followed by the people in managing the dongs and
sharing of water among the villagers. Some focus groups (FG) were constituted to
acquire necessary information regarding the dong irrigation and its roles, especially
on agriculture, economy and livelihoods of the people.
16.3 The Study Area
A foothill village called Chaulkara has been selected for the purpose of this study.
The village is located in Baganpara Revenue Circle of Baksa district, Assam
(Fig. 16.1). The village spreads within 26°42
/
59
//
N to 26°45
/
32
//
N latitude and
91°22
/
9.30
//
E to 91°24
/
14
//
E longitude. Being located at a distance of about 7 km
south of the Bhutan Himalaya, it is a fringe area of the famous Manas National Park
and Biosphere Reserve. Chaulkara is demarcated by the Mora Pagladiya (Diring)
river on the east and the Bhangrikuchi Forest on the north-east. It is surrounded by
some other foothill villages, namely, Durgapur and Bhutankhuti on the north,
Nikashi and Dhanshreepur on the west and Reclamation A-Block and Reclamation
B-Block on the south. Chaulkara covers a geographical area of 11.01 sq. km with a
population of 4250 as per 2011 census. The average elevation of the village is 113
metres from the MSL. The total number of households in the village as of 2011 is
790 which are distributed in 13 hamlets (chuburis). The Bodo, Madahi, non-tribal
Assamese, Nepali, Bengali and indigenous Muslim are the major communities living in the village. Most of these communities in-migrated to the area and settled
down during the recent past clearing the dense forest cover.
16 Traditional Water Management System and Agricultural Sustainability…
materials in periodicals and newspapers. Due to lack of historical study and reliable
data on the origin of the dong-bandh system, it is very difficult to trace out exactly
the time of its origin. Some souvenirs and other documents published by the dongbandh committee were reviewed, interviews with the elderly people were conducted, and the folktales related to dong-bandh, etc. were noted carefully to estimate
the time of its origin in the village. The present scenario of the village was very
intensively observed to understand the layout and functioning of the canal network
and its relation with some other components of the village landscape. Cadastral map
of the village was collected from the Directorate of Land Records, Guwahati, to use
it as a base map for land use mapping. The details of the dong (canal) network and
the pattern of land use of each of the plots were depicted on the base map by carrying out intensive ground survey. GPS survey was also done to locate the reference
points and the coordinates of different features on the ground. Finally, the map of
the traditionally developed canal network was prepared using ArcGIS 10.2 software. Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA) methods were also applied to understand the status and challenges of water management
system in the area. Some meetings of the Dong Committee were attended to understand the principles and policies followed by the people in managing the dongs and
sharing of water among the villagers. Some focus groups (FG) were constituted to
acquire necessary information regarding the dong irrigation and its roles, especially
on agriculture, economy and livelihoods of the people.
16.3 The Study Area
A foothill village called Chaulkara has been selected for the purpose of this study.
The village is located in Baganpara Revenue Circle of Baksa district, Assam
(Fig. 16.1). The village spreads within 26°42
/
59
//
N to 26°45
/
32
//
N latitude and
91°22
/
9.30
//
E to 91°24
/
14
//
E longitude. Being located at a distance of about 7 km
south of the Bhutan Himalaya, it is a fringe area of the famous Manas National Park
and Biosphere Reserve. Chaulkara is demarcated by the Mora Pagladiya (Diring)
river on the east and the Bhangrikuchi Forest on the north-east. It is surrounded by
some other foothill villages, namely, Durgapur and Bhutankhuti on the north,
Nikashi and Dhanshreepur on the west and Reclamation A-Block and Reclamation
B-Block on the south. Chaulkara covers a geographical area of 11.01 sq. km with a
population of 4250 as per 2011 census. The average elevation of the village is 113
metres from the MSL. The total number of households in the village as of 2011 is
790 which are distributed in 13 hamlets (chuburis). The Bodo, Madahi, non-tribal
Assamese, Nepali, Bengali and indigenous Muslim are the major communities living in the village. Most of these communities in-migrated to the area and settled
down during the recent past clearing the dense forest cover.
16 Traditional Water Management System and Agricultural Sustainability…