District Irrigation Plan, 2015-2020

Chamba, Himachal Pradesh

District Irrigation Plan, 2015-2020

Chamba, Himachal Pradesh

NABARD CONSULTANCY SERVICES PVT. LTD.

Corporate Office : 24, Rajendra Place, NABARD Building, New Delhi – 110125 Reg. Office : Plot No. C24, G Block, 3rd Floor, NABARD Building,

Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East, Mumbai-400051

Table of Contents Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 6

i. Background .............................................................................................................................. 6 ii. Vision .................................................................................................................................... 11 iii. Objective .............................................................................................................................. 11 iv. Strategy/approach ................................................................................................................ 12 v. Programme Components ....................................................................................................... 13

vi. Rationale/ Justification Statement ....................................................................................... 14 vii. Methodology ....................................................................................................................... 14

Chapter 1 General Information of the District .............................................................................. 16 1.1 District Profile ..................................................................................................................... 16

1.2 Demography ........................................................................................................................ 18 1.3 Biomass and Livestock ....................................................................................................... 20 1.4 Agro-Ecology, Climate, Hydrology and Topography ........................................................ 20

1.5 Soil Profile .......................................................................................................................... 23 1.6 Soil Erosion and Run Off .................................................................................................... 29

1.7 Land Use Pattern ................................................................................................................. 31 Chapter 2 District Water Profile ................................................................................................... 35

2.1. Area Wise, Crop Wise Irrigation Status ............................................................................ 35

2.2 Production and Productivity of Major Crop ....................................................................... 38 2.3 Irrigation Based Classification ............................................................................................ 40

Chapter 3 Water Availability in Chamba ...................................................................................... 41 3.1. Status of Water Availability ............................................................................................... 41

3.2 Status of Ground Water Availability .................................................................................. 43 3.3 Status of Command Area .................................................................................................... 46

3.4 Existing Type of Irrigation.................................................................................................. 48 Chapter 4 Water Requirement ...................................................................................................... 49

4.1. Domestic Water Demand ................................................................................................... 49

4.2 Crop Water Requirement .................................................................................................... 50 4.3. Livestock Water Demand .................................................................................................. 52

4.4 Industrial Water Demand .................................................................................................... 53 4.5 Water Demand for Power Generation ................................................................................. 54

4.6 Total Water Demand of the district for various sectors ...................................................... 54 4.7 Water Budget ...................................................................................................................... 56

Chapter 5 Strategic Action Plan for Irrigation in District under PMKSY .................................... 58 5 .0. 1 Strategic Plan for irrigation in PMKSY ......................................................................... 58

5.1 Strategic Action Plan under AIBP ...................................................................................... 64 5.2.0 Strategic Action Plan for Blocks under Har Khet Ko Pani .............................................. 64 5.2.1 Action plan based on Member of Parliament Local Area Development Schemes

(MPLAD) .................................................................................................................................. 77 5.3 Strategic action Plan under Per Drop More Crop ............................................................... 79 5.4 Strategic action Plan for Blocks under Watershed Development Component ................... 81 5.5 Strategic action Plan for Blocks under Convergence with MGNREGA ............................ 82 5.6 Suggestions ......................................................................................................................... 85

5.7 Expected Outcome .............................................................................................................. 85

Annexure- 1 Production and Productivity of Major Crops in Various Blocks of Chamba

Districts ........................................................................................................................................ i Annexure 2: Action plan - Agriculture Department ................................................................. vii

Annexure 3: Block wise Annual Action Plan- Per Drop More Crop 2016-2020 ...................... xi Annexure 4: Block wise Action Plan , IPH Department .................................................... xxxvii Annexure 5: Block wise Action Plan Horticulture .............................................................. xxxix Annexure 6: ATMA- Action Plan............................................................................................. liv Annexure 7: Strategic Action Plan- District watershed Development Agency ...................... lviii

a. Watershed Plan for 2016-2018 ........................................................................................ lviii b. Watershed Plan 2019-2020 ............................................................................................. lxxxiv C. Consolidated Watershed Plan of Chamba 2016-2020......................................................... cvi Annexure 8: Convergence with MGNREGA- Block wise .................................................... cxxi

a. Convergence Plan- Chamba ........................................................................................... cxxi

Annexure 9: Year Wise Action Plan- Convergence MGNREGA .................................... cxxxiii

List of Tables

Table 1-1 District Profile .............................................................................................................. 17 Table 1-2 Administrative set up of Chamba ................................................................................. 17 Table 1-3 Demography Details ..................................................................................................... 19

Table 1-4 Livestock Details of Chamba ....................................................................................... 20 Table 1-5 Agro Ecological Situation In Chamba District ............................................................. 22 Table 1-6 Soils of Chamba ........................................................................................................... 24 Table 1-7 Block wise micro watershed details- Chamba.............................................................. 30 Table 1-8 Land Use Classification- Chamba ................................................................................ 31

Table 2-1 Area wise Irrigation Status of the district under Agricultural crops ............................ 35

Table 2-2 Irrigation Status of Horticulture Crops ......................................................................... 36 Table 2-3 Block wise Irrigation Status of Various Agricultural Crops ........................................ 37

Table 2-4 Block wise Irrigation Status of Horticultural Crops (Area in Hectare) ........................ 38 Table 2-5 Production and Productivity of Major Crops ............................................................... 39 Table 2-6 Block wise Irrigation based Classification ................................................................... 40

Table 3-1 Status of Water Availability ......................................................................................... 41 Table 3-2 Block wise details of Water Availability ...................................................................... 42

Table 3-3 Hydrogeology ............................................................................................................... 43

Table 3-4 Block wise Canal and other services in Command . ................................................... 46 Table 3-5 Block wise Villages Covered under Command Area ................................................... 47

Table 3-6 Existing Type of Irrigation in Chamba ......................................................................... 48

Table 4-1 Domestic Water Demand ............................................................................................. 49

Table 4-2 Block wise Crop Water Requirement (in MCM) ......................................................... 51 Table 4-3 Crop wise Water Requirement ..................................................................................... 52

Table 4-4 Livestock Water Demand ............................................................................................. 52 Table 4-5 Animal wise Water Requirement ................................................................................. 52 Table 4-6 Various Industrial Areas in the District ........................................................................ 53

Table 4-7 Block wise Water Demand for Industries in BCM ...................................................... 53 Table 4-8 Water Demand for Power Generation .......................................................................... 54

Table 4-9 Present Water Demand of the district for various sectors ............................................ 55 Table 4-10 Total Water Demand of the district for various sectors (Projected for 2020) ............ 55 Table 4-11 Water Budget Chamba ............................................................................................... 56

Table 5-1 Department wise Action Plan for 7 Blocks of Chamba (Rs in Lakh) .......................... 61 Table 5-2 Component wise, Year Wise Phasing of Action Plan (Rs in Lakh) ............................. 61

Table 5-3 Year wise, department wise Fund Requirement for 2016-2020 (In Rs Lakh) ............. 62 Table 5-4 Department wise Command Area coverage for 7 Blocks of Chamba (in Ha) ............. 64

Table 5-5 Details of IPH Schemes – Bhatiyat Block .................................................................... 65 Table 5-6 Details of IPH Schemes- Bharmour ............................................................................. 71 Table 5-7 Details of IPh Schemes- Chamba ................................................................................. 72 Table 5-8 Details of IPH Schemes- Mehla ................................................................................... 73 Table 5-9 Details of IPH Schemes- Salooni ................................................................................. 75 Table 5-10 Details of IPh Schemes- Tissa .................................................................................... 76

Table 5-11 Details of Surface Minor Irrigation schemes- Agriculture Department .............. Error!

Bookmark not defined. Table 5-12 List of IPH Schemes under MLALAD ....................................................................... 77 Table 5-13 Plan under- Per Drop More Crop- Agriculture & Horticulture Department .............. 80

Table 5-14 Year wise, Block wise Budgetary outaly under Watershed Component .................... 81 Table 5-15 Consolidated Plan Convergence with MGNREGA- Chamba District ....................... 82 Table 5-16 Strategic Action Plan - Chamba 2016-2020 ............................................................... 87

List of Figures

Figure 1.1 Percentage of Inhabited-Uninhabited Villages in Chamba ......................................... 18 Figure 1.2 Block wise Male, Female Children Population in Chamba (No.s in 000’) ................. 18 Figure 1.3 Block wise SC, ST, General population and Households in Chamba (No. s in 000’) 19 Figure 1.4 AES wise Normal annual rainfall in Chamba ............................................................. 23

Figure 1.5 Block wise Soil classes in Chamba ( Area in 000’ Hecatres) ..................................... 24 Figure 1.6 Block wise slope in Chamba (Area in 00’ Hecatres) .................................................. 29 Figure 1.7 Change in Land use 2002 to 2015 (%) ........................................................................ 34 Figure 2.1 Gross irrigated and rainfed area under agricultural crops ........................................... 36

Figure 2.2 Gross Irrigated and rainfed area under Horticulture crops .......................................... 36 Figure 4.1 Block wise Domestic Water Requirement .................................................................. 50

Figure 4.2 Crop Water Demand and Existing Water Potential ..................................................... 51 Figure 4.3 Water demand for various sectors in Chamba ............................................................. 54

Figure 4.4 Water Budget ............................................................................................................... 56 Figure 5.1 Share of departments in PMKSY Budget .................................................................... 59 Figure 5.2 Block wise Fund Required under PMKSY 2016-20120 (In Rs Lakh) ........................ 60

Figure 5.3 Block wise Fund Required under PMKSY 2016-20120 (Percentage share in Funds) 60 Figure 5.4 Component wise share of Proposed Command coverage area .................................... 62

Figure 5.5 Block wise Command area to be brought under irrigation in PMKSY 2016-20120 (In

hecatres) ........................................................................................................................................ 63

List of Maps Map 1 Location Map of Chamba ................................................................................................. 16 Map 2 Soil Map of Chamba .......................................................................................................... 26 Map 3: Slope Map of Chamba ...................................................................................................... 28 Map 4 Land Use Map Chamba- 2002 ........................................................................................... 32

Map 5 Chamba Land Use Map-2015 ............................................................................................ 33 Map 6 Hydrogeology Map of Chamba ......................................................................................... 44 Map 7 Ground water user Map ..................................................................................................... 45

i

Executive summary

Out of about 141 million ha. of net area sown of the country, only 65 million hectare (46%)

is currently covered under irrigation. Substantial dependence on rainfall makes

cultivation in remaining areas a high risk and less productive profession. Empirical

evidences suggest that assured/protective irrigation/in-situ moisture conservation

encourages farmers to invest more in farming technology and inputs leading to

productivity enhancement and increased farm income. Government has conceived the

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) with the objective of extending the

coverage of irrigation in a focused manner, with end-to-end solution on source creation,

distribution, management, field application and extension activities.

Further, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) incentivizes states to enhance

expenditures on irrigation and water resources management by making the access to

PMKSY funds to states conditional i.e., state will have access only if the expenditure in

water resource development for agriculture sector in the year under consideration is not

less than the baseline expenditure, which is defined as the average of the expenditure in

irrigation sector irrespective of the department in the state plan in three years prior to the

year under consideration.

PMKSY will be implemented in area development mode only by adopting a ‘decentralized

State level planning and projectised execution’ structure that will allow States to draw up

their own irrigation development plans based on DIPs and SIPs with a horizon of 5-7

years. A three tier structure at national, state and district level will oversee

implementation and coordination of the program. The District Level Implementation

Committee will form the third tier of the PMKSY. The DLIC will be chaired by the Deputy

Commissioner, Una and comprises of the Departments of Agriculture, Horticulture,

District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), Irrigation and Public Health Department,

Forest Department, Lead bank of the District and any other line Departments in the

District. The DLIC will oversee the implementation and inter-departmental coordination

at district level.

District Water Profile: Chamba district is predominantly rural where households are

dependent on agriculture and allied activities for their livelihood. The gross cropped area

under agricultural crops in the district is 70,351 ha (including an area of 17,067 ha under

horticulture plantations). About 39, 595 ha is cultivated during kharif season and 27,626

ha is cultivated during summer season. Paddy and Wheat are the major cereals grown in

the district covering 72 percent of the total area under various crop. Maize is the chief

coarse cereal crop grown in the district. Thus, 90.5 percent of the total area under various

crops is majorly shared under cereals and coarse cereals crops. The rest of 9.5 percent of

ii

the area is shared among vegetables, oilseeds, pulses and horticultural crops. In chamba,

83.6 per cent area under kharif cereals, i.e. 21,426 ha. is rainfed and remaining 16.4 per

cent is irrigated. In case of summer season, out of total 22,407 ha under cereal crops only

15.9 per cent is irrigated. Except cereal crops and a limited area of vegetables all other

kharif crops are rainfed. Considering the topography of Chamba, where land is an

inelastic resource increasing the irrigation potential further is the key to increasing the

production and productivity of crops.

Availability of water sources: It is primarily a hilly district with altitudes ranging

from 600 m amsl to 6400 m amsl. Physiographically the area forms part of middle

Himalayas with high peaks ranging in height from 3000 to 6000 m amsl. Chamba, is

drained by Ravi, which is the main river of chamba, and its tributaries. There are no

large-sized lakes in Chamba district. However, a few water bodies namely Khajjiar

Lake, Manimahesh Lake, Chamera Lake, Lama Dal, Gadasru Lake, Maha Kali Dal

exists.

The irrigation is mainly done either by tapping natural springs or by lifting surface

water from perennial khads and rivers

Existing Type of Irrigation: In Chamba district close to 203 irrigation works were

supplying water to households for domestic and irrigation purpose which consists of 203

water harvesting structures with no dug wells, tube wells or canal being used for

irrigation. Among ground water sources, the district does not have any sources. However,

a total of 22 electric water extraction devices are available throughout the district, out of

which 17 belongs to Bhatiyat block. Roof top rainwater harvesting in urban/rural areas

and water harvesting in rural area need to be adopted and proper scientific intervention

for spring development and revival of traditional water storage is required in water scarce

hilly upland areas. In hilly areas structures like nalla bunds, gabion structures, check

dams, check dam cum ground water dams, subsurface dykes, revival of ponds are

recommended while in low hill ranges, check dam and roof top rain water harvesting

structures can be adopted. Kuhl system is the major irrigation system in the district, and

the water users associations exists at various places. In order to, ensure predictable,

equitable and reliable distribution of water, their needs to be sensitization amidst users

about people participation in ensuring predictable supply of water in the Kuhl and

technological interventions like ensuring sufficient storage capacity to the Kuhl and

making head-works of two or three contiguous networks common to reduce maintenance

cost for users.

Demand for water sources: The present water demand of the district has been

assessed to be 113.80 MCM annually. Out of the total water demand 81.64 mcm (71.73

percent) is the requirement from crop production. Nearly 14.09 Mcm is required for

domestic drinking water requirement and another 18.024 Mcm (or 15.8 %) is required for

iii

livestock water requirement purpose. Industrial water requirement is very low with

0.0463 mcm (0.04 %) and there is no water requirement for power generation

Water budget in the district: The water budget shows moderate gaps between water

availability and water demand in the district. While the availability at present is 101.86

mcm, the present water demand is 113.80 mcm giving rise to an unmet demand of close

to 11.94 mcm. If the existing water availability is continued the water gap is likely to

increase further in future and as a result the unmet demand for water is likely to go up

reaching 45.63 mcm. The water budget analysis suggest that urgent efforts are required

to meet the water requirements of the district as the gap is likely to increase in future.

Utilizing the surface & ground water potential in the district, activities that promote

ground water re-charge and soil moisture and water conservation etc. are proposed in the

Strategic Action plan, 2016-20 that will address the challenge.

Component wise planned Coverage area: The strategic action plan envisages to

provide assured irrigation in an additional command area of 42,601.28 hectares. Under

the component Har khet ko pani a command area of 1190.94 hectares (or 26.27 percent)

will be brought under assured irrigation by various lift/flow irrigation schemes. The

watershed component will assure soil and moisture conservation activities in an area of

27,839 ha (65.35 percent share). The component per drop more crop will ensure efficient

water conveyance and precision irrigation in a command area of 3570.54 ha (or 8.38 %).

Department wise planned coverage of area: Department wise, watershed

department will bring 27,839 ha. or 76.71 percent of planned coverage of area under

assured irrigation followed by intervention of Irrigation and public health department,

which will provide irrigation infrastructure for a command area of 4,883.5 ha (13.46 %),

Agriculture department having a coverage area of 2,031.54 ha or 5.6 % along with

Horticulture department having planned coverage area of 1,539 ha or 4.24 % will ensure

precision water application in an area of 35 ha and 393 ha respectively. Agriculture

Technology Management Agency (ATMA) focused on awareness generation and capacity

building of the beneficiary farmers on water distribution, efficient use of water and water

saving technologies etc.

Component wise planned financial outlay Total plan for four years works out to Rs.

69554.49 lakh. Maximum share of Rs. 47,856.50 lakh is of Irrigation and Public Health

Department (69.80 %) followed by Rural Development Department having a budget of

Rs. 15185.91 lakh (21.83%), Horticulture Department Rs. 3649.10 lakh (4.12%) and

Agriculture Department’s plan for four years is Rs. 2862.98 lakh (5.25%). While working

out the plan, phasing of ongoing irrigation projects has been considered. However, from

the proposal of departments, eligible activities under RIDF will be covered as per the

funds requirement of the State. Projects sanctioned under RIDF XXI for micro irrigation

iv

have not been shown separately as it will be implemented by the Agriculture Department

and covered under the plan of the Department. Also, four DPRs posed to NABARD for

funding by Government of Himachal Pradesh amounting to Rs 664.19 lakh have been

considered by IPH department in the abovementioned cost. Capacity building, extension

and training is an important component of successful execution of the plan, therefore, Rs.

354.66 lakh (for all the blocks) has been proposed in the plan from 2016-17 to 2019-20.

Block wise planned financial outlay: The block wise distribution of budget from

2016-2020 is highest for Bhatiyat block (Rs 17255.77 lakh), followed by Salooni and

Mehla blocks having a projected budget of Rs 13741.24 lakh and 11198.37 lakh

respectively.

Strategic Action Plan under PMKSY in Chamba District: The following is a brief

statement of the activities proposed in the Strategic Action plan, 2016-20 that will address

the challenge of water resource management in Chamba District

Component-wise plan

Component wise

YEAR

TOTAL 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20

Accelrated

Irrigation

Benefitted

Programme (AIBP) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

PMKSY-Har Khet

Ko Pani (HKKP) 9571.29 14356.95 16749.78 7178.48 47856.50

PMKSY- Per Drop

More Crop

(PDMC) 1302.42 1953.62 2279.23 976.81 6512.08

i) Micro-irrigation 6.300 9.450 11.025 4.725 31.50

ii) Supplementary

Water Management

activities 1270.72 1906.08 2223.76 953.04 6353.60

iii) Ext. And Trg.

Under ATMA 25.40 38.09 44.44 19.05 126.98

PMKSY -

Watershed 4036.27 4184.05 3206.31 2378.60 13805.23

Convergence with

MGNREGS 276.14 414.20 483.24 207.10 1380.68

Total: 15186.12 20908.82 22718.56 10740.99 69554.49

v

Expected Outcome: The gross sown area of the district is 70, 351 ha. of which 8045

ha is irrigated (except horticultural area). Thus there is a gap of 62,306 ha which can be

converted from rainfed to area under assured irrigation. As the water requirement of

crops for the existing cropping pattern works out to be 87.8 MCM and if the gross cropped

area is to be brought under irrigated area, 62.6 MCM water is required. Keeping in view

the above constraints a plan to develop 3164 water harvesting irrigation structures has

been proposed, this will create a water potential of 83,745 cubic metres. Also, the activities

planned under per drop more crop will create water potential to the tune of 13, 827 cubic

metres in the district. On completion of all the projects proposed under PMKSY 42,601.28

ha of command area is likely to be developed in the district. This is likely to generate an

additional income of Rs. 7,258 lakh to the farmers of the district. This is also likely to

create 37 lakh mandays1 of non-recurring employment and 4000 jobs annually2 on

recurring basis.

Implementation Time Period: The planned activities and outlay of Rs 39202.21 lakh

will be spent between 2016-17 and 2017-20 period. Some of the activities may require 5

to 7 years and some other activities relating to extension, small irrigation works etc., are

recurring and hence will have a period of implementation less than a year.

Monitoring and Evaluation: The Strategic Action Plan of PMKSY will be monitored

by the respective departments through the regular reporting system and component wise

progress will be monitored by the District Level Irrigation Committee. Further, the

activities, outputs and outcomes will be reported in web based MIS of PMKSY for review

at state and national level.

1 Non recurring employment is calculated by considering the labour component to be 20 % of the total financial

outlay and dividing it by wage rate

2 Recurring employment is calculated by using the rationale that 1 job will be created in 2 hecatre of land irrigated

additionally (CCA of Hark het ko pani and Per Drop more crop taken).

6

i. Background

Preparation of decentralized area specific district planning process visualized in various

plans took concrete shape through the years and initiatives like specific guidelines on

methodologies and processes for preparation of district plans; framework for preparation

of perspective plan, medium term and annual plans by then planning commission in 1969

and the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments conferring constitutional status to

Panchayats at district and sub district level, local self-government in urban areas;

constitution of district planning committee to consolidate the plans prepared at

Panchayats and municipalities and preparation of a draft development plan for the whole

district.

The decentralized planning process was strengthened further through emphasis by

planning commission on preparation of district level plans and making it an integral part

of the process of preparation of the states 11th five year plan . Planning commission issued

guidelines in August 2006 on the preparation of the district plans. The guideline defines

the district planning as ‘…the process of preparing an integrated plan for the local

government sector in a district taking into account the resources (natural, human and

financial) available and covering the sectoral activities and schemes assigned to the

district level and below and those implemented through local governments in a state. The

document that embodies this statement of resources and their allocation for various

purposes is known as the District Plan”.

Government of India through a resolution in National Development Council on 29th May

2007 conceived a special Additional Central Assistance Scheme to address the slow

growth of agriculture and allied sectors by incentivizing states to draw up plans for their

agriculture sectors more comprehensively. The NDC resolution states "GoI will introduce

a new Additional Central Assistance scheme to incentivize states to draw up plans for their

agriculture sector more comprehensively, taking agro-climatic conditions, natural

resource issues and technology into account, and integrating livestock, poultry and

fisheries, etc. This will involve a new scheme for Additional Central Assistance (ACA) to

State Plans, administered by the Union Ministry of Agriculture over and above its existing

Centrally Sponsored Schemes, to supplement the state-specific strategies including

special schemes for beneficiaries of land reforms. The newly created National Rainfed

Area Authority will, on request, assist states in planning for rainfed areas".

The NDC in its resolution advised the states to prepare a comprehensive district

agriculture plans (C-DAP) that will fully utilize available resources and will include allied

Introduction

7

agriculture sectors. Further, GOI issued a manual on preparation of comprehensive

district agriculture plans to help the states prepare C-DAP. As per these guidelines, the

objective of district planning is ‘to design an integrated and participatory action plan for

the development of local area in general and agriculture and allied sectors in particular’.

The objectives of Comprehensive District Agriculture Plan (C-DAP) are:

To prepare a Comprehensive District Agriculture Plan (C-DAP) through

participatory process involving various organisations and stakeholders.

To enable optimum utilisation of scarce natural, physical & financial resources.

To assess and plan for the infrastructure required to support the agriculture

development.

To establish linkages with the required institutional support services, like credit,

technology transfer, ICT, research etc.

To evolve an action plan for achieving sustainable agricultural growth with food

security and cropping system that will improve farmers’ income.

The guidelines wanted the state/district authorities to (i) ensure that the agricultural

plans are prepared for the district and then integrated into the agricultural plans of the

state based on the agro-climatic conditions, availability of technology, trained manpower

and natural resources; (ii) the local needs / crops / feed and fodder / animal husbandry /

dairying / fisheries / priorities are reflected in the plan; (iii) the productivity gaps for

important crops and livestock and fisheries are reduced; and (iv) the returns to the

farmers from these are maximized.

The latest move in the process of strengthening of decentralized planning process was the

Government of India guidelines issued in 2015 in the form of a template for the

preparation of District Irrigation Plan (DIP) and State Irrigation Plan (SIP) as part of the

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) program and made the preparation of

DIP and SIP mandatory for the state to receive funds from the program. The present

District Irrigation Plan (DIP) report is a product of these long drawn efforts of

Government of India to strengthen the decentralized planning process in the country

focusing on the vital resource i.e., water.

Water is of vital importance for human & animal life, maintenance of ecological balance

and promotion of developmental activities. Considering its vital importance and ever

increasing demand for water in the face of population growth, urbanization &

industrialization &considerations of climatic change, making water, an increasingly a

scarce resource, available to multiple uses, planning and management of water resources,

utilization of water economically, optimally and equitably assumes greater importance.

8

According to the 12th Five Year Plan, the water budget estimates of India by Ministry of

Water Resources suggests an availability of 1123 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM) against a

current estimated demand of 710 BCM. The Standing Committee of the Ministry of Water

Resources estimates that this water demand will rise to 1093 BCM by 2025. Though the

existing water availability in the immediate future seems to be adequate, with the near

constant supply of water resources in the face of increasing demand on account of

population growth, urbanization and industrialization will strain the water supply-

demand balance.

The per capita water availability which stood at 5,177 cubic meters in 1951 was reduced to

1820 cubic meters in 2001 while the international prescribed limit is 1800 cubic meters.

The projected per capita availability of water is 1341 cubic meters in 2025 and 1140 cubic

meters in 2050 suggesting the shortage of water in the medium term3. Further, the all

India water balance estimates does not reflect the variations in water balance across time

and space- certain areas having a positive water balance and the others facing acute

shortage. The problems is further accentuated by water quality related issues.

With the abundant surface and ground water supply in the first five decades since

Independence, more than 80 percent of the total available water resources were allocated

for irrigation purposes and the rest meeting the domestic and industrial demands. In a

recent study4 on the demand for water from agriculture, domestic and industrial uses in

2000, 2025 and 2050 seems to suggest that domestic demand (34 BCM in 2000, 66 BCM

in 2025 and 101 BCM in 2050) and industrial demand (42 BCM in 2000, 92 BCM in 2025

and 161 BCM in 2050) for water will utilize the total balance water available while

agriculture demand for water will be (605 BCM in 2000, 675 BCM in 2025 and 637 BCM

in 2050). This change is partly because of the changing sectoral contributions of India’s

GDP but also partly because of dynamics of irrigation development in the country where

the initial expansion in area under irrigation is propelled by the availability of abundant

water resources and availability of good quality land. This is no longer the case in many

of the states where the availability of land and water are serious constraints for further

expansion of irrigation. Further, as per then planning commission up to March 2012 out

of 141 million hectares of net sown area in the country 114 (or 81%) million hectares is

Irrigation Potential Created (IPC) and 88 (or 62%) million hectares is Irrigation Potential

Utilised (IPU) leaving almost 20% of irrigated potential unutilized. This leaves 40 percent

of the net sown area in the country dependent on rainfall which makes farming a high risk

and less productive.

3 Ministry of Water Resources (2011), Strategic Plan for Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India, New

Delhi. 4 Amarasinghe, U.A., Shah T., Turral, H. and Anand, B.K. 2007. India’s water future to 2025-2050:

Business-as-usual scenario and deviations. Research Report 123, International Water Management

Institute, Colombo.

9

The competing demands for water resources and the emerging issues and concerns were to be addressed through certain basic principles and commonality in approaches in dealing with planning, development and management of water resources5 under an Integrated Water Resource Management framework. The main objectives of water resource management as delineated in National Water Policy 2012 are:

Planning, development and management of water resources need to be governed by common integrated perspective considering local, regional, State and national context, having an environmentally sound basis, keeping in view the human, social and economic needs.

Principle of equity and social justice must inform use and allocation of water.

Good governance through transparent informed decision making is crucial to the objectives of equity, social justice and sustainability. Meaningful intensive participation, transparency and accountability should guide decision making and regulation of water resources.

Water needs to be managed as a common pool community resource held, by the state, under public trust doctrine to achieve food security, support livelihood, and ensure equitable and sustainable development for all.

Water is essential for sustenance of eco-system, and therefore, minimum ecological needs should be given due consideration.

Safe Water for drinking and sanitation should be considered as pre-emptive needs, followed by high priority allocation for other basic domestic needs (including needs of animals), achieving food security, supporting sustenance agriculture and minimum eco-system needs. Available water, after meeting the above needs, should be allocated in a manner to promote its conservation and efficient use.

All the elements of the water cycle, i.e., evapo-transpiration, precipitation, runoff, river, lakes, soil moisture, and ground water, sea, etc., are interdependent and the basic hydrological unit is the river basin, which should be considered as the basic hydrological unit for planning.

Given the limits on enhancing the availability of utilizable water resources and increased variability in supplies due to climate change, meeting the future needs will depend more on demand management, and hence, this needs to be given priority, especially through (a) evolving an agricultural system which economizes on water use and maximizes value from water, and (b) bringing in maximum efficiency in use of water and avoiding wastages.

5 Ministry of Water Resources, National Water Policy, 2012, Government of India, New Delhi.

10

Water quality and quantity are interlinked and need to be managed in an integrated manner, consistent with broader environmental management approaches inter-alia including the use of economic incentives and penalties to reduce pollution and wastage.

The impact of climate change on water resources availability must be factored into water management related decisions. Water using activities need to be regulated keeping in mind the local geo climatic and hydrological situation.

The National Water Policy 2012 drives the water resource management program planning

and management in the country. Government of India launched Pradhan Mantri Krishi

Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) to address the constraints to providing assured irrigation as

well as increasing efficiency and productivity of current water use to bring more

prosperity to the rural areas. Priorities of Government of India was reflected in the

Hon’ble President’s address to the joint Session of the Parliament of 16th Lok Sabha where

he indicated that “Each drop of water is precious. Government is committed to

giving high priority to water security. It will complete the long pending

irrigation projects on priority and launch the ‘Pradhan Mantri Krishi

Sinchayee Yojana’ with the motto of ‘Har Khet Ko Paani’. There is a need

for seriously considering all options including linking of rivers, where

feasible; for ensuring optimal use of our water resources to prevent the

recurrence of floods and drought. By harnessing rain water through ‘Jal

Sanchay’ and ‘Jal Sinchan’, we will nurture water conservation and ground

water recharge. Micro irrigation will be popularised to ensure ‘Per drop-

More crop” .

PMKSY has been approved with an indicative outlay of Rs.50,000 crore over a period of

five years from 2015-16 to 2019-20. The programme is an amalgamation of on-going

schemes of Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation,

Ministry of Agriculture & Cooperation and Ministry of Rural Development. The existing

schemes AIBP, CADWM, MI, SWMA, Watershed & Convergence with MGNREGA were

brought together under the umbrella program of PMKSY. Further the scheme seeks

convergence with scheme like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee

Scheme (MGNRES), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), Jawaharlal Nehru National

Solar Mission and Rural Electrification programmes (JLNNSM&REP), Rural

Infrastructure development Fund (RIDF), Member of Parliament Local Area

Development Scheme (MPLAD), Member of Legislative Assembly Local Area

Development Scheme (MPLALAD), Local body funds (LBF), Working Plan of State Forest

Department (WPSFD) etc.

The PMKSY will be implemented in an area development mode only by adopting a

decentralized state level planning and projectised execution structure that will allow the

11

state to draw up their own irrigation development plans based on DIPs and SIPs with a

horizon of 5-7 years. The program will be supervised and coordinated utilizing the existing

mechanism and structure available under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) program

with state agriculture department acting as the State Nodal Agency for implementation of

PMKSY. However, the implementing departments for the four components like AIBP,

PMKSY (Har Khet Ko Pani), PMKSY (Per drop more crop) and PMKSY (watershed

development) will be decided by the respective program ministry/department.

The funds under this program would be provided to the states as per the pattern of

assistance of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) decided by the Ministry of Finance and

NITI Aayog. During 2015-16 the existing pattern of assistance of ongoing scheme will be

continued. An outlay of Rs. 50,000 crore has been approved for 2015-20. The financial

assistance provided to the state governments from this centrally sponsored scheme is

subject to fulfillment of certain conditions. Firstly, a state will become eligible to access

PMKSY fund only if it has prepared the District Irrigation Plans (DIP) and State Irrigation

Plan (SIP), excepting for the initial year, and the expenditure in water resource

development for agriculture sector in the year under consideration is not less than the

baseline expenditure, which is defined as the average of the expenditure in irrigation

sector irrespective of the department in the state plan in three years prior to the year

under consideration. Secondly, State will be given additional weightage for levying

charges on water and electricity for irrigation purposes, so as to ensure sustainability of

the programme. Thridly, inter state allocation of PMKSY fund will be decided based on

(i) share of percentage of unirrigated area in the state vis-à-vis national average including

prominence of areas classified under Dessert Development Programme (DDP) and

Drought Prone Area Development Programme (DPAP) and (ii) increase in percentage

share of expenditure on water resource development for agriculture sector in State Plan

expenditure in the previous year over three years prior to it (iv) improvement in irrigation

efficiency in the state.

ii. Vision

The overreaching vision of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) will be to

ensure access to some means of protective irrigation to all agricultural farms in the

country, to produce ‘per drop more crop’, thus bringing much desired rural prosperity.

iii. Objective The objective of the PMKSY program are to :

a) Achieve convergence of investments in irrigation at the field level (preparation of

district level and, if required, sub district level water use plans).

b) Enhance the physical access of water on the farm and expand cultivable area under

assured irrigation (Har Khet ko pani),

12

c) Integration of water source, distribution and its efficient use, to make best use of water

through appropriate technologies and practices.

d) Improve on-farm water use efficiency to reduce wastage and increase availability both

in duration and extent,

e) Enhance the adoption of precision-irrigation and other water saving technologies

(More crop per drop).

f) Enhance recharge of aquifers and introduce sustainable water conservation practices

g) Ensure the integrated development of rainfed areas using the watershed approach

towards soil and water conservation, regeneration of ground water, arresting runoff,

providing livelihood options and other NRM activities.

h) Promote extension activities relating to water harvesting, water management and crop

alignment for farmers and grass root level field functionaries.

i) Explore the feasibility of reusing treated municipal waste water for peri-urban

agriculture, and

j) Attract greater private investments in irrigation.

iv. Strategy/approach To achieve these objectives PMKSY adopted strategies that include

a) Creation of new water sources; repair, restoration and renovation of defunct water

sources; construction of water harvesting structures, secondary & micro storage,

groundwater development, enhancing potentials of traditional water bodies at village

level like Jal Mandir (Gujarat); Khatri, Kuhl (H.P.); Zabo (Nagaland); Eri, Ooranis (T.N.);

Dongs (Assam); Katas, Bandhas (Odisha and M.P.) etc.

b) Developing/augmenting distribution network where irrigation sources (both assured

and protective) are available or created;

c) Promotion of scientific moisture conservation and run off control measures to improve

ground water recharge so as to create opportunities for farmer to access recharged water

through shallow tube/dug wells;

d) Promoting efficient water conveyance and field application devices within the farm viz,

underground piping system, Drip & Sprinklers, pivots, rain-guns and other application

devices etc.;

e) Encouraging community irrigation through registered user groups/farmer producers’

organizations/NGOs; and

f) Farmer oriented activities like capacity building, training and exposure visits,

demonstrations, farm schools, skill development in efficient water and crop management

practices (crop alignment) including large scale awareness on more crop per drop of water

through mass media campaign, exhibitions, field days, and extension activities through

short animation films etc.

13

v. Programme Components PMKSY has the following four programme components

1 Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme(AIBP) a) To focus on faster

completion of ongoing Major and Medium Irrigation including National Projects.

2 PMKSY (Har Khet ko Pani) a) Creation of new water sources through Minor

Irrigation (both surface and ground water); b) Repair, restoration and renovation of water

bodies; strengthening carrying capacity of traditional water sources, construction rain

water harvesting structures (Jal Sanchay); c) Command area development, strengthening

and creation of distribution network from source to the farm; d) Ground water

development in the areas where it is abundant, so that sink is created to store runoff/

flood water during peak rainy season. e) Improvement in water management and

distribution system for water bodies to take advantage of the available source which is not

tapped to its fullest capacity (deriving benefits from low hanging fruits). At least 10% of

the command area to be covered under micro/precision irrigation. f) Diversion of water

from source of different location where it is plenty to nearby water scarce areas, lift

irrigation from water bodies/rivers at lower elevation to supplement requirements

beyond IWMP and MGNREGS irrespective of irrigation command. g) Creating and

rejuvenating traditional water storage systems like Khatri, Kuhl etc. at feasible locations.

3 PMKSY (Per Drop More Crop) a) Programme management, preparation of

State/District Irrigation Plan, approval of annual action plan, Monitoring etc. b)

Promoting efficient water conveyance and precision water application devices like drips,

sprinklers, pivots, rain-guns in the farm (Jal Sinchan); c) Topping up of input cost

particularly under civil construction beyond permissible limit (40%), under MGNREGS

for activities like lining inlet, outlet, silt traps, distribution system etc. d) Construction of

micro irrigation structures to supplement source creation activities including tube wells

and dug wells (in areas where ground water is available and not under semi critical

/critical /over exploited category of development) which are not supported under AIBP,

PMKSY (Har Khet ko Pani), PMKSY (Watershed) and MGNREGS as per block/district

irrigation plan. e) Secondary storage structures at tail end of canal system to store water

when available in abundance (rainy season) or from perennial sources like streams for

use during dry periods through effective on-farm water management; f) Water lifting

devices like diesel/ electric/ solar pumpsets including water carriage pipes, underground

piping system. g) Extension activities for promotion of scientific moisture conservation

and agronomic measures including cropping alignment to maximise use of available

water including rainfall and minimise irrigation requirement (Jal sarankchan); h)

Capacity building, training and awareness campaign including low cost publications, use

of pico projectors and low cost films for encouraging potential use water source through

technological, agronomic and management practices including community irrigation. i)

14

The extension workers will be empowered to disseminate relevant technologies under

PMKSY only after requisite training is provided to them especially in the area of

promotion of scientific moisture conservation and agronomic measures, improved/

innovative distribution system like pipe and box outlet system, etc. Appropriate Domain

Experts will act as Master Trainers. j) Information Communication Technology (ICT)

interventions through NeGP-A to be made use in the field of water use efficiency,

precision irrigation technologies, on farm water management, crop alignment etc. and

also to do intensive monitoring of the Scheme.

4 PMKSY (Watershed Development)

a) Effective management of runoff water and improved soil & moisture conservation

activities such as ridge area treatment, drainage line treatment, rain water harvesting, in-

situ moisture conservation and other allied activities on watershed basis. b) Converging

with MGNREGS for creation of water source to full potential in identified backward

rainfed blocks including renovation of traditional water bodies

vi. Rationale/ Justification Statement In reference to the status and need of irrigation, the water resource management

including irrigation related priorities was identified for Chamba district by the peoples’

representatives of district with support from administration and technical experts. For

instance the reports of Strategic Research and Extension Plan (SREP) prepared under

ATMA program, Comprehensive District Agriculture Plan (C-DAP) prepared as part of

Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), Potential Linked Credit Plans (PLP) of NABARD

and the Integrated District Development Plan etc identified number of irrigation related

issues for Chamba district including the (i) protection of crops from abiotic stress factors

including flashfloods; (i) promoting water use efficiency through sprinkler and drip

irrigation; (iii) promoting protected polyhouse cultivation to minimize risk factors and

enhance quality and productivity; (iv) Improvement of on-farm water delivery and

efficiency of existing irrigation systems; (v) promotion of soil conservation of arable &

non-arable land through engineering measures; (vi) creation of new water harvesting

structures, check dams, ponds, tanks, etc and (vii) land improvement measures.

vii. Methodology During the course of preparation of District Irrigation Plan (DIP) the team visited

Chamba district to collect data and have interaction with all the stakeholders.

Methodology adopted to prepare DIP is outlined in brief as under:

Collection of primary and secondary data from multiple sources including Season

and Crop Reports, Statistical Handbook, District Census Handbook and other

published documents and websites of different departments.

15

Meetings with state government departments and related institutions were held and

meeting through VC was also held with state level authorities.

GIS maps of the area’s/clusters were studied to understand the land morphology,

topography of the district.

Discussions and interviews were held with officers of agriculture department,

horticulture department, sub division soil conservation office, Agriculture

Technology Management Agency (ATMA), District Watershed Development Agnecy

(DWDA) of District Rural Development Authority (DRDA), Animal Husbandry

department, Irrigation and Public Health department and identified the key issues

and key focus areas of the region. Discussions were also held with officers of the

Himachal Pradesh Crop Diversification Promotion Project (HPCDPP) funded by

Japan International Cooperation Agency – Official Development Agency (JICA-

ODA). Discussion with District Development Manager of NABARD for Chamba

district was also held during the visit.

Team members also participated in the State Level workshop and held active

discussions with GoI officers, State Level officers and scientists of various

institutions including Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and Soil Survey

and Land Use Planning Survey (SSLUPS) office etc.

Meeting with Block Develoment officers, panchayat samiti members at three blocks

namely Mehla, Chamba and Salooni were conducted on the suggestion of Honble

Deputy Commissioner to sensitize panchayat representatives about DIP and

incorporate their suggestions.

The irrigation assets like check dams, roof top water harvesting structures,

community ponds etc created under Integrated Watershed Management

programme (IWMP) were visited in the villages of pukhri, chamera and few

villages of salooni block to gauge the irrigation potential, utilistaion and feasibility

of such structures.

On the basis of detailed discussion and analysis of data, the team arrived at the projections

of various components of PMKSY and Department wise plan for four years from 2016-17

to 2019-20 was prepared which is given in Annexure V

16

1.1 District Profile

Chamba, an ancient town of Himachal Pradesh, is the headquarters of district Chamba

which was also the capital of the erstwhile state of Chamba. Located at an altitude of 996

metres above the mean sea level the town is situated on the banks of the Ravi River at its

confluence with the Sal River. The Chamba district is one of the twelve administrative

districts of Himachal Pradesh. The Chamba district in the present form came in to

existence on 1st November 1966 which is bounded on North-West by Jammu and

Kashmir, on the North-East and East by Ladakh area of Jammu and Kashmir state and

Lahaul and Bara-Bangal area of Himachal Pradesh, on the SouthEast and South by the

district Kangra of Himachal Pradesh and Gurdaspur district of Punjab. The district is

situated between North latitude 32° 11΄ 30″ and 33° 13΄ 06″, and East longitude 75° 49΄

00” and 77° 03΄ 30″ . The north eastern side of the district is surrounded by high altitude

Himalayas with deep narrow valleys lying between ranges of varying elevations. The

biggest river of the district is Ravi flowing from south-east to north-west entering the J&K.

The district has experienced floods from the Ravi river in the past.

Map 1 Location Map of Chamba

Chapter 1 General Information of the District

17

Table 1-1 District Profile

S. No. Name of the District

District Code

Latitude Longitude

1 Chamba 23 32° 11΄ 30″ and 33° 13΄ 06″, North

75° 49΄ 00” and 77° 03΄ 30″, East

Source: Official website of Chamba

Administrative Set Up of Chamba

Chamba district comprises of 7 tehsils and 4 sub-tehsils and has 7 Community

Development blocks with headquarters at Chamba, Mehla, Brahmaur, Bhattiyat, Chuari

Khas, Tisa, Saluni and Kilar. The names of C.D. blocks are also the same except in case

of Chuari Khas and Kilar which are headquarters of Bhattiyat and Pangi C.D. blocks

respectively. The district has seven subdivisions headed by the Sub-Divisional Officers

(C). Pangi and Dalhousie subdivisions each has its jurisdiction over a single tehsil of the

same name while Chaurah sub-division comprises 3 tehsils of Salooni, Bhalai and

Chaurah. Bhattiyat sub-division extends over Sihunta sub-tehsil and Bhattiyat tehsil.

Chamba sub-division has tehsil of Chamba and its urban area while Brahmaur is

comprised of Holi sub-tehsil and Brahmaur tehsil. The general administration of district

is looked after by the Deputy Commissioner and is assisted by Additional Deputy

Commissioner and Asstt. Commissioner besides other district officers. Law and order in

the district is maintained by Superintendent of Police. District has also one A.S.P. and

D.S.P. Head of sub-division is Sub-Divisional Officer (C) whereas at tehsil level, Tehsildar

and Naib-Tehsildar are posted. Incharge of sub-tehsil is Naib Tehsildar who is assisted

by Kanungo.

Table 1-2 Administrative set up of Chamba

Administrative set Up

Name of Tehsils/Subdivisons/ Blocks

Sub-Divisions 7(Chamba, Dalhousie, Tissa, Chowari,

Bharmour, Pangi,Salooni)

Tehsils 7 (Chamba, Dalhousie, Tissa, Chowari,

Bharmour, Pangi, Salooni)

Sub-Tehsils 4(Bhalei, Sihunta, Holi,Dharwala)

Development Blocks 7 (Chamba, Mehla, Tissa, Bhattiyat, Bharmour,

Pangi, Salooni)

Panchayats 270

Villages 1591

Source: District Census Report 2011, Chamba

18

Towns and Villages

The district has 1,591 villages and 5 urban units. The urban units of the district are namely

Dalhousie (C.B.), Dalhousie (M.Cl.), Bakloh (C.B.), Chuari Khas (N.P.) and Chamba

(M.Cl.). Out of the 1,591villages only 1,110 are inhabited while remaining 481 are un

inhabited.

Figure 1.1 Percentage of Inhabited-Uninhabited Villages in Chamba

Source: District Census Report, 2011

1.2 Demography

Chamba district occupies the 7th rank among the districts in terms of population. As per

2011 census, the total population of the district is 5,19,080 persons. Bhatiyat block has

the maximum number of persons (25 percent of the district population) in the district

followed by Chamba and Mehla, which are the second and third most populous blocks of

the district. Chamba district occupies the 4th / in terms of sex ratio among the districts of

the state with a sex ratio of 986 females per 1,000 males as compared to 972 females per

1,000 males of state average. The literacy rate of the district for male population is 82.59

percent, while for female it is 61.67 percent as compared to the state literacy statistics of

89 percent for male and 75.9 percent for female.

Figure 1.2 Block wise Male, Female Children Population in Chamba (No.s in 000’)

Inhabited70%

Un-inhabited

30%

22.5

67.4

49.643.0

10.4

40.932.6

21.5

63.6

46.241.2

9.4

38.932.0

4.814.4

10.2 12.63.3

11.9 10.8

0.0

20.0

40.0

60.0

80.0

Bharmour Bhattiyat Chamba Mehla Pangi Salooni Tissa

Male Female Child

19

Source: District Census Report, Chamba

Chamba district holds the 1st rank in terms of scheduled tribe population in the state. It

has reported 125,324 persons as scheduled tribe (24 percent of total population).

Bharmour block (27 percent) has the highest number of tribal people followed by Bhattiat

(21 percent) and Mehla block (16.3 percent). The district has a population density of 80

persons per sq.km and ranks 9th in the state. There are 1,04,180 people belonging to

scheduled caste in the district, which is 20 percent of district’s population. Salooni block

has the highest SC population followed by Tissa block.

Figure 1.3 Block wise SC, ST, General population and Households in Chamba (No. s in 000’)

Total number of household in the district is 81,294 out of which Bhatiatt block has about

27 percent of households followed by Chamba and Mehla blocks having 20 percent and

17 percents of the households in the district.

Table 1-3 Demography Details

Name of the Block

Population SC ST General Total

M F CH To NH NM NH NM NH NM NH NM

Bharmour

22459 21487 4772 43946 980 5952 5756 34539 586 3455 7322 43946

Bhattiyat

67399 63625 14382

131024

3079 18676 4417 26502 14341

85846 21837

131024

Chamba

49554 46153 10212

95707 3597 21823 2614 15679 9740 58205 15951

95707

Mehla 43009 41209 12591

84218 2675 16229 3416 20497 7944 47492 14035

84218

Pangi 10378 9440 3344 19818 166 1010 2945 17676 190 1132 3301 19818

Salooni 40881 38877 11947

79758 2383 21689 801 4811 8515 53258 11699

79758

Tissa 32616 31993 1081 64609 2324 18801 702 5620 4123 40188 7149 64609

5.76

4.42

2.613.42 2.95

0.80 0.700.59

14.34

9.74

7.94

0.19

8.52

4.12

0.00

2.00

4.00

6.00

8.00

10.00

12.00

14.00

16.00

0.00

20.00

40.00

60.00

80.00

100.00

120.00

140.00

Bharmour Bhattiyat Chamba Mehla Pangi Salooni Tissa

SC_NM ST_NM General_NM SC_NH ST_NH General_NH

20

2

Total 266296

252784

71404

519080

15204

104180

20651

125324

45439

289576

81294

519080

Source: Census of India 2011,M-Male, F- Female, CH- Children 0 to 6 yr, To: Total; NH- no. of Household, NM-

no. of members

1.3 Biomass and Livestock

Livestock rearing is the third most important occupation of Chamba’s economy after

agriculture and horticulture. In addition to providing milk, meat, hide and wool for

commercial purposes the livestock are also used as beast of burdens and for

transportation in Chamba.

Table 1-4 Livestock Details of Chamba

Name of Block

Ducks Pigs Goats Sheeps Ind. Cow Hybrd cow

Indscriptive Buff.

Draft Animal

Bharmour - - 61,748 61,828 17,648 3,077

13 -

Bhatiyat 47 8 42,761 24,113 41,549 12,802

8,204 82

Chamba 224 - 17,694 31,169 51,596 11,920

5,176 87

Mehla 75 - 26,545

29,060 34,397 7,948

3,451 25

Pangi - - 12,185 22,816 6,598 3,971

- 212

Salooni 48 - 20,730

29,556 47,480

6,712

4,700 45

Tissa 11 - 22,848

56,057 63,248

4,316

10,921 45

Total 405 8 2,04,511

2,54,599

2,62,516

50,746

32,465 496

Source: Department of Animal Husbandry, Chamba

As per 2011 Livestock Census, the total livestock population of Chamba is 8,05, 746.

Indigenous cows are the main livestock reared in Chamba as they account for 32.5 percent

of the total livestock population of the district. In terms of population cows are followed

by Sheeps and goat which account for 31 percent and 25 percent of the livestock

population. The rearing of milch animals like cow and goats has resulted in considerable

increase in the socio-economic status of the people. Draft animals and ducks form a

negligible share of the total livsetock of chamba with 0.06 percent and 0.05 percent

respectively. Tissa, Bharmour and Bhatiyat are the blocks with highest percentage of

livestock.

1.4 Agro-Ecology, Climate, Hydrology and Topography

On the basis of altitude, topography, thermal regime, soil type, hydrological features,

21

precipitation and land use, the Chamba district has been divided inti five agro-ecological

situations as under:

AES-I: Low Hills and valley areas

This AES includes the valley areas having elevation up to 900 m amsl. The average

annual rain fall. Is about 1000 mm. The topography of AES-I is gentle and slopy. The

mean temperature during summer winter and rainy season is 20.520 C, 15.860 C and

25.730 C respectively.

AES-II: Lower Mid Hills

This AES includes the areas having elevation ranging from more than 900 m to 1300 m

amsl having annual rain fall of about 1100 mm. The topography is hilly and mountainous.

The mean temperature during summer winter and rainy season is 20.520 C, 15.860 C and

25.730 C respectively.

AES-III: Upper Mid Hills

This AES includes the areas having elevation ranging from more than 1300 m to 1800 m

amsl having annual rainfall of about 1200 mm. Topography is hilly and mountainous.

The mean temperature during summer winter and rainy season is 19.680 C, 15.250 C and

24.580 C respectively.

AES-IV High Hills Wet

This AES includes the areas having elevation of more than 1800 m amsl but having annual

rain fall of about 1150 mm. the topography is hilly terrain. Heavy snowfall with mono

cropping is a characteristic feature in some of the areas of this AES. The irrigation

facilities are inadequate.The mean temperature during summer winter and rainy season

is 16.90 C, 4.90 C and 12.730 C respectively.

AES-V: High Hills Dry

This AES includes the areas having elevation of more than1800 m amsl but having annual

rain fall of about 250 mm and experiencing heavy snowfall. The topography is hilly

terrain. The entire Pangi block is covered under this AES. Heavy snow fall with mono

cropping is a characteristic feature of this AES.6

6 Strategic Research Extension Plan, Chamba

22

Table 1-5 Agro Ecological Situation In Chamba District

Agro

Ecological

Zone Type

Average monthly Temperature ( 0C)

Period

Summer Winter Rainy

(April-May) ( Oct-Mar) (June-Sept.)

Min. Max. Mean Min. Max. Mean Min. Max. Mean

Low hill &

Valley Area

12.85 28.3 20.58 9.19 22.54 15.86 19.28 32.18 25.73

Lower Mid

Hills

12.85 28.3 20.58 9.19 22.54 15.86 19.28 32.18 25.73

Upper Hills 11.46 27.9 19.68 8.4 22.1 15.25 18.1 31.05 24.58

High Hills

Dry

9.6 24.2 16.9 1.2 8.78 4.99 6.78 18.76 12.73

High Hills

Wet

NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

Topography:

Chamba district presents an intricate mosaic of mountain ranges, hills and valleys. It is

primarily a hilly district with altitudes ranging from 600 m amsl to 6400 m amsl.

Physiographically the area forms part of middle Himalayas with high peaks ranging in

height from 3000 to 6000 m amsl. It is a region of complex folding, which has under gone

many orogeneses. The topography of the area is rugged with high mountains and deep

dissected by river Ravi and its tributaries.

Climate:

The climate of different parts of the district is largely dependant on the altitude which

varies from 600 to 6400 metres. The climate of the lower tracts resembles that of the

plains of the Punjab, though the heat in summer is less intense. The summer season is

from March to about the middle of June. Thereafter, the southwest monsoon season

commences and lasts till about the middle of September. The period from the middle of

September to the middle of November constitutes the post monsoon season. The winter

season is from mid November to end of February7.

Rainfall:

In the region of the Ravi valley, the rainy season is well marked and rainfall in

considerable. In the southwestern half of the district the average annual rainfall is 1355.1

mm. In the Chenab valley in the northwestern part of the district, the rainfall is scanty

and heavy rain is unusual. There are two rainy seasons in the year, one from December to

7 The Climate of Himachal Pradesh, Indian Metrological Department

23

March associated with the passage of western disturbances and the other in the southwest

monsoon season. Some rain is also received in the post monsoon month of October.

Nearly half of the annual rainfall is received in the southwest monsoon season, while the

winter rains amount to a little less than a third of the annual rainfall. The precipitation is

often in the form of snow in the high altitudes, the snow line coming down occasionally

to 1200 m. Heavy snowfall occurs in winter in the higher ranges2.

Figure 1.4 AES wise Normal annual rainfall in Chamba

Source:

Strategic Research Extension Plan, Chamba

Hydrology:

The Ravi is the main river of Chamba district and is the heart and soul of the Chambyals.

With its tributaries, it drains the whole of Chamba valley importantly between

Dhauladhar and Pangi range and thus commands the largest and most important part of

the district. The river originates from Bara Bangahal area of Dhauladhar. The Main

tributaries of Ravi are Budhil, Tundah, Beljedi, Sal, Siul, Siowa The river Chenab or

Chandrabhaga rises from the mountains of Baralacha pass by two heads, the stream with

its source on south-eastern side of the pass being called the Chandra and the other one

which rises from north-western side is called the Bhaga. After the confluence of these two

sister streams at Tandi, the river is generally known as Chenab. There are no large-sized

lakes in Chamba district. However, a few water bodies namely Khajjiar Lake,

Manimahesh Lake, Chamera Lake, Lama Dal, Gadasru Lake, Maha Kali Dal exists.

1.5 Soil Profile Chamba district comprises of four major soil classes namely Clay, Sandy, Loam and Sandy

loam soil. Sandy loam soil covers the maximum geographical area of the district (47

percent) followed by Loam soil (25 percent), sandy soil (21 percent) and clay soil (8

percent). So, in Chamba, soil is generally sandy loam in texture with a little more

percentage of clay on the higher altitude as well as on the lower elevations. The soil is well

10001100

1200 1150

250

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

Low hill & ValleyArea

Lower Mid Hills Upper Hills High Hills Dry High Hills Wet

Normal Annual Rainfall in Mm

24

supplied with organic matter. Its extent is low at mid-elevation and minimum at low-lying

valleys. The block wise spread (area in hectares) of the major soil classes in the district is

depicted in figure below:

Figure 1.5 Block wise Soil classes in Chamba ( Area in 000’ Hecatres)

As per SREP, Chamba, various Agro ecological situations have different type of soils. The

AES IV High hill dry and V High hill wet have medium and shallow type of soil. The AES

III have Alfisols and Inceptisols whereas AES I and AES II have combination of Entisol-

Inceptisols and Entisols-Mollisols (Entisols are soils with little or no morphological

development, Mollisols are grassland soils with high base status) and Inceptisol type of

soil.

The soil type and class of an area are pertinent to gauge the absorption of water, Moisture

in the soil, percolation rate of water in soil. The description of soil and their characteristics

have been mentioned below8:

Table 1-6 Soils of Chamba

New Soil Unit

Description Area (ha)

SOILS OF GREATER HIMALAYAS

SOILS OF SUMMITS AND RIDGE TOPS

1 Rock outcrops covered with glaciers; associated with: Shallow, sandy-skeletal soils with severe erosion and strong stoniness

55375.54

SOILS OF MOUNTAINS AND VALLEY GLACIERS

2 Rock outcrops and valley glaciers; associated with Shallow, sandy-skeletal soils with severe erosion and moderates stoniness

1011.747

SOILS OF SIDE / REPOSED SLOPES

3 Rock outcrops ; associated with : Medium deep, loamy- skeletal soils with 14054.09

8 Agriculture Contingency plan, Chamba

16

3 38

07

16

64

611

30

0

15

32

15

1 2 3

104

2 5

87

916

52 56

25

53

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Bharmour Bhattiyat Chamba Mehla Pangi Salooni Tissa

Clay Soil Loam Soil Sandy Soil Sandy Loam Soil

25

New Soil Unit

Description Area (ha)

severe erosion and moderate stoniness

4 Rock outcrops ; associated with : Shallow, loamy- skeletal soils with severe erosion and moderate stoniness

64564.31

5 Rock outcrops ; associated with : Medium deep, loamy- skeletal calcareous soils with severe erosion and strong stoniness

4469.156

6 Rock outcrops ; associated with : Deep, loamy- skeletal soils with severe erosion and strong stoniness

133729.3

7 Shallow, loamy soils with severe erosion; associated with: severe erosion and strong stoniness

104038.7

8 Deep, loamy soils with very severe erosion: associated with: Deep, sandy- skeletal soils with very severe erosion and moderates stoniness

6614.506

SOILS OF GLACIO—FLUVIAL VALLEY

9 Deep, coarse- loamy soils with moderate erosion 31701.35

SOILS OF LESSER HIMALAYAS

SOILS OF SUMMITS AND RIDGE TOPS

10 Shallow to medium shallow, loamy soils with severe erosion 6533.494

SOILS OF SIDE/ REPOSED SLOPES

11 Rock outcrops; associated with: Medium deep, loamy- skeletal soils with severe erosion and moderate stoniness

6292.202

12 Deep, loamy-skeletal soils with severe erosion and slight to moderate stoniness; associated with: Loamy soils

631.3674

13 Shallow, loamy-skeletal soils with severe erosion and strong stoniness; associated with : Rock outcrops

107626.9

14 Deep, loamy soils with severe erosion 7504.967

15 Shallow to medium deep, loamy soils with moderate to severe erosion and slight stoniness

54811.21

16 Medium deep to deep loamy soils with moderate to severe erosion 18250.16

17 Deep, loamy over sandy soils with very slight erosion and moderate stoniness; associated with: Shallow, loamy soils with moderate erosion and moderate stoniness

4902.286

SOILS OF SIDE / REPOSED SLOPES

18 Medium Deep to deep, loamy-skeletal Soils Moderate to Severe erosion; Associated with: Loamy soils with moderate erosion.

16312.34

19 Deep, loamy soils with moderate erosion and moderate stoniness; associated with : Medium , deep, loamy soils

14375.67

Total Area 652799.3

Source: Agriculture Contingency Plan, Chamba, 2010-2011

The soils of Greater Himalayas (high reaches of Chamba district particularly Pangi tehsil)

belong to Alpine Humus Mountain Skeletal Soils while those of Lesser Himalayas and

Shiwalik regions come under Brown Forest and Humus and Iron Podzolic Soils. Majority

of forest soils (Brown Forest Soils) are characterized by the presence of mollic and argillic

horizons. The soils are sandy loam to clay in texture and slightly acidic to neutral in

reaction. The soils belong to Hapludalfs, Hapludolls and Eutrochrepts. Some forest soils

also belong to Humus and Iron Podzols. Humus and Iron Podzols are predominantly

formed under the process of podzolisation. Dark coloured A-horizon is enriched with

organic matter and reddish brown to yellowish brown B-horizon contains free Fe and Al

26

accompanied by organic matter. Typical ashy grey albic horizon (E horizon) is rather

uncommon in such podzols. Profiles are marked by distinct spodic horizon underlying

mollic or umbric epipedon. Soils are acidic in reaction and contain high amounts of

organic matter. Sandy loam to sandy clay loam or clay loam textures is common. The soils

of Chamba district are medium to high in available nitrogen whereas available

phosphorus and potassium status is low to medium. The organic carbon status is medium

to high. The soil map of Chamba has been depicted below:

Map 2 Soil Map of Chamba

27

In Chamba, approximately 90 percent of the land has a slope greater than 25 percent as

a result, although the district has a plenty rainfall and snowfall, most of the precipitation

is lost as run off. Also, the steep slopes in the district makes water harvesting interventions

like creation of check dams unfeasible. The slope of Chamba is depicted below:

28

Map 3: Slope Map of Chamba

As is evident from Map 3, 90 percent of the area in chamba has a slope greater than 25

percent, 9 percent has a slope between 8-25 percent. Only 1.05 percent of land area in

Chamba has a slpe between 3-8 percent and 0.4 percent area has a slop between 0-3

percent. These areas where the slope is less than 15 percent are most suitable for creating

water harvesting structures cetirus paribus.The block wise slopes in district has been

depicted in Figure 1.6.

29

Figure 1.6 Block wise slope in Chamba (Area in 00’ Hecatres)

1.6 Soil Erosion and Run Off

Soil is a vital natural resource which acts as a crucial life-supporting system and is

pertinent for the socio-economic development of any country. As per the soil survey by

NBSS & LUP (1997), more than 75 per cent of the geographical area of the State is

suffering from one or other soil degradation problem. The major degradation problems

observed are water erosion including topsoil loss and terrain deformation, flooding and

acidity. Therefore, major challenge before us is to reduce these problems up to the

tolerance limits for the sustainable agricultural development in Chamba. The soils are

prone to water as well as wind erosion particularly in Bharmaur and Pangi areas of the

district9.

There are number of problems in different categories of land as depicted through Table

1.7. The major problems are undulating topography leading to more soil erosion and

landslides, lack of sufficient tree cover in barren lands, infestation of pasture with

obnoxious weeds, uncontrolled grazing, lack of improved grasses and fodder trees. The

major problem encountered in management of culturable, fallow as well as cultivated

lands is lack of irrigation impeding their productive use. This may require substantial

investment on reclamation, fencing/bunding and development of irrigation. The vast

forest and pasture lands require conservation and can be developed into rich repository

of timber trees, walnuts, wild apricot, temperate grasses and high value medicinal herbs.

9 District Agriculture Plan, Chamba

13.9 21.9 3.2 14.0 5.1 4.8 6.2

153

188

37 80 45 28

65

14441322

563549

676

305

983

0.00

200.00

400.00

600.00

800.00

1000.00

1200.00

1400.00

1600.00

1800.00

Brahmaur Pangi Salooni Bhattiyat Mehla Chamba Tissa

0-3% (Ha) 3-8% (ha) 8-25% (ha) >25% (ha)

30

It needs to be mentioned here that the district harbours rich repository of medicinal herbs

and vast summer green pastures sustaining large number of shepherds (Gaddi tribe) and

migratory Gujjars.

Because of both natural and man made factors, the threat of soil erosion looms large

which not only degrades the land but also endangers hydro-power generation due to high

sedimentation rate of the reservoirs.

However for the purpose of making the agriculture sustainable and scientific land use

planning each block has been divided into various watersheds. The details of the same are

as mentioned below:

Table 1-7 Block wise micro watershed details- Chamba

Block Name of Watershed:-

Bharmour 1. Suppa 2.Sirdi 3.Badgran 4.Kuthar 5.Auhraphati 6.Sahli 7.Durgethi 8.Chobhia

9.Kugti 10.Paranghala 11.Ghared 12.Bharmour 13.Sachuin 14.Khani 15.Sinyur

16.Ullansa 17.Garola

Bhattiyat 1.Behali 2.Malunda 3.Samleu 4.Kaniyadka 5.Mornu 6.Nainikhad 7.Bailli

8.Tunuhatti 9.Chuhan 10.Balera

Chamba 1.Padhar 2.Protha 3.Saloh 4.Rajindu 5.Sara 6.Paliur 7.Tipra 8.Sungal 9.Baror

10.Kaila 11.Paluhin 12.Silla 13.Sirh 14.Jhulada 15.Dulahar 16.Masroond

17.Prahnui 18.Dulahr Bhanota 29.Khajjiar 30.Kiani 31.Sadah 32.Tikri 33.Rupni

34.Rajnagar 35.Dradha 36.Rinda 37.Saach 38.Draman 39.Kohladi 40.Auda

41.Jadera19.Chandi 20.Pukhri 21.Hamal 22.Rajpura 23.Haripur 24.Sarol

2