APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY FOR DEVELOPMENT OF HIILY PEOPLE –A CASE STUDY OF BAGAR-MICRO UPGRADED WATER MILL OF UTTARAKHAND

Uttarakhand in spite of being a small state, rich in water resources as well as Hydropower potential. However, development has predominantly been observed in the plains, and the hill districts have been left behind. The mountainous regions are locked with huge distances between the markets and resources. Because of these constraints, traditional agriculture will not be the lead sector for their development. Due to which, many people migrate from the hills to plains for their livelihoods. Thus the state faces the challenge of promoting livelihoods for hilly habitants. To minimize migration, Government is trying income generation opportunities for these hilly people and to improve the living standrad of life of people living in remote villages. The Water mills (Gharats) will protect, conserve and ensure sustainable use of natural resources like water and maintain ecosystem services to of the remote mountainous areas. Technological up gradation and development of a watermill helps in development of the hilly remote villages and also for the self dependence of villages. A water mill is a traditional machine with local technology constructed by connecting a waterwheel to a millstone. Uttarakhand is rich in watermills, i.e. more than 15,500 traditional water mills which include functional as well as non functional ones. The traditional water mills have low output with primarily use for grinding of wheat etc. The technological up gradation and improvement of these water mills is an effective and sustainable way for meeting the energy needs of a major section of the hilly people locally. A Micro–Hydro Power Plant (MHP) which was constructed by Uttrakhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (UREDA) during the year 2002-03 on rivulet of Saryu river at Baghar for supply of electric power to the Baghar village of Bageshwar District of Uttarakhand State is taken for this study. This power project is of 50kw capacity. Baghar is a remote village situated in Kapkot block. It is around 6 km foot track to reach from a village Bharari. Saryu river provides irrigation facilities to the farmers in its catchment. Apart from irrigation facility, it also acts as a source of hydro-electric power. This project has benefited around 60 families of Baghar village. In the detailed presentation, we plan to discuss the traditional working components of water mill, up gradation of Bagar Micro water mill, beneficiaries, problems faced after up gradation, evaluation of performance using performance indicators are also highlighted, so that collaborative research opportunities with Iranian institutions can be explored for further development of the hilly people.

Keywords:

Micro hydro power , Water Mill , Appropriate Technology , Hill area development