Integrated Watershed Project begins in Betul

Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt ltd has joined hands with Action for Social Advancement, gram panchayat, local community and other stakeholders to implement the Integrated Watershed Project covering 38 villages of Chicholi and Shahpur blocks of Betul district. To be executed in over five years, the project is aimed at enhancing livelihoods of approximately 5,200 families and 30,000 people.

To mark the World Water Day celebration, ground breaking ceremony was organised at Chuna Hujuri village is Shahpur block to commence the work on this project in the presence of a large number of villagers, elected representatives of Panchayat, officials from District Administration, officials from Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages and Action for Social Advancement.

The objective of project is to promote integrated and community-based natural resources development for enhancing livelihoods of the people of the area with special emphasis on sustainable water management and sustainable agriculture. The project is spread over 38 villages of Chicholi and Shahpur blocks.

Approximately 5,200 families or over 30,000 people belonging to the tribal community (over 75 per cent and rest from the other marginalised groups) shall benefit from the project and overall the ecosystem of the area will be rejuvenated.

The primary occupation of the locals is agriculture, but the production of food crops for subsistence dominates agriculture. The average annual rainfall for Betul District is sufficient for agriculture (1083.9 mm), however, it is extremely erratic and the district is prone to the incidence of consecutive years of drought. Only 27 per cent of the net cropped area has irrigation facility due to low investment on water resources development.