A walk through the villages of Padi, Quisconda and Gokuldemin Quepem taluka reveals a people that are on the brink of tasting prosperitybrought about by the implementation of the watershed development project by theQuepem Salesian Society. Glimmers of hope can be seen on the faces of thevillagers whose houses are lit by solar home lighting systems, and who sustainthemselves through agriculture which was boosted by the watershed plan.
The Quepem Salesian Society is part of the District NodalAgency for watershed projects which were initiated by the Central Government.The Salesians have been in the process of implementing two 5-year watershedplans in Goa “ the first one was undertaken in Sulkorna and the most recent onewas in the watershed basin that is comprised of the three villages “ Padi,Quisconda and Gokuldem. “The project is about soil, water and people,” says FrGeorge Quadros, the project coordinator.
As project coordinator, Fr Quadros along with SubodhD’Souza, the social worker and community organiser who played an active role inthe implementation of the watershed projects, sat the villagers down and beganwith explaining the watershed plan to them and educated them on its benefits.“The people who stay in the watershed area become stakeholders; they form a WatershedAssociation. They work manually to conserve water and this gives agriculture aboost. Income is generated and stays in the village,” says Fr Quadros.
The most recent addition to the watershed project was theintroduction of biogas units. The villagers used firewood for fuel and only 3-4households had an LPG connection. Each household used a truckload of fuel ayear. “Our aim was to preserve the forests which are fast getting depleted,”says Fr Quadros. “The villagers have to walk for two kilometres to collectwood. The biogas units could spell and end to this and also make use of kitchenwaste that every household generates,” he continues.
“This knowledge of implementing the idea will be shared withthe neighbouring villages when we conduct an 8-10 day programme in the firstweek of December. There will be lectures, video demonstrations and sightseeingand will be attended by students and those interested. This will mark theculmination of this 5-year watershed development project that ends in March 2013,”concludes Fr Quadros.
