1.0 Background 

Water is one of the most important basic needs for all the living being. Water is made up of molecules containing one atom of oxygen and two atoms of hydrogen (H2O). Fresh water resources in the world are unequally distributed. Water is the most important natural resource of the country. The economic development of the country largely depends on the development of water resource. Water is used for drinking, bathing, washing, cleaning, agriculture, industries, and hydropower generation, religious and recreational values such as swimming, boating, and different forms of eco-tourism. 

The major sources of water are glaciers, rivers, rainfall, lakes, ponds, and ground water. The sources of water aren’t properly utilized. Water supply situation both in rural and urban areas is worsening day by day. Due to rapid population growth industrialization and urbanization, the demand for drinking water is increasing whereas water sources are dying up due to deforestation and environmental degradation.

Kawasoti-14 is a developing village where we can find lots of resources. Water, forest, land, wild life, etc. are some of them. As we wanted to know about the water resource of this area, we choose Chatrawas chwadi (pond) which lies in Kawasoti municipality ward no. 14, Nawalpur district. It is located in 5 km south west from Kawasoti, Nawalpur.

2. objectives of field visit

The main objective of this study is to know the role of water resource in local development process. However, some other specific objectives are:

• To find out the available resource and its management system

• To identify the plan and process of resource conservation

• To find out the ways of utilization of water resource in local community

• To know the problems and issues related to water resource and the measures taken for the solution.

3. Methodology 

The methodology includes the methods, procedures, and techniques used to collect and analyze information about site and sample, methods of data collection and data analysis procedures. During our field visit to find out the facilities provided by Chatrawas chwadi we use following methodology.

• Observation

• Interview

• Questionnaire

4. Selection of observation

Among many other water resources, we choose Chatrawas chwadi because of the following reasons:

• Improve the economic condition and life style of local people

• Help in agricultural facilities such as irrigation facilities, household purpose (drinking, washing and other daily activities). 

5. Data collection

The study goal was to explore the main role of the water resource on the process of local development, impact on user group, and consequences after its use. The primary data was collected from the user group’s households. Similarly, the secondary data were used for the study which was collected from published or unpublished written documents from individuals and experts.

6. Geographical location

Chatrawas chwadi is located in Kawasoti municipality ward no. 14, Tribhuwantar, Nawalpur. 

7. Features of the locality

The features of observation site are:

• Different caste and ethnic groups

• Access to the natural resource.

8. Resource Management System

Nowadays, people are being more conscious about the resources, its utilization and management. Water resource here is managed by the local people of the community. They have made certain rules that every local people must follow like:

• People are allowed to use water from the pond for their household purpose and irrigation.

• People are not allowed to cut the trees around the pond.

• It is strictly prohibited to wash cloths near the pond.

9. Socio-economic status of area

The observation site is economically not too strong to utilize water resource in sufficient manner. Kawasoti municipality has provided 10lakh fund for the conservation of Chatrawas Chwadi. Different NGO’s has done agreement to work in favor of local people. It provides training to local people to uplift their livelihood and improve economic status. People here follow different occupations such as agriculture and labor. People here are of different caste and religion such as Newar, Chettri, Dalits, Brahmins and they follow Hinduism and Christianity. Infrastructures of development such as road, transportation, health service, education, etc are available. 

 10. Role of Chatrawas chwadi

The role of Chatrawas chwadi in socio-economic development of the community is given below:

• Unity in local people

• Income generation

• Centre of tourism attraction

• Sense of we feeling and ours

• Help in daily activities (washing, drinking, bathing)

• Recreational purpose.

 11. Positive and Negative impact

Positive Impacts:

• Employment generation

• Utilization of local resource

• Poverty reduction

• Community infrastructure development

Negative Impacts:

• Improper irrigation system has lead to over use of limited sorce of water

• Household wastes are thrown near the pond

• Water pollution

• Widespread of transferable diseases due to neglegency of local people.

 12. Findings

Throughout the field visit we came with the finding that Chatrawas chwadi is one of the active community water resource of Kawasoti. There is very active participation of local people in conserving the pond. Some of the major findings are:

• Use of pond in Tharu community is different than that of other groups. They use pond for fishing, drinking and running their daily life while other groups use pond for irrigation and washing cloths.

• Local people were not aware about proper/wise use of water resource and its conservation.

13. Recommendation

Above situations and findings from the study area make the following recommendations which could be suggested for the betterment of community water resource to get desired positive impact in local development:

• Close co-ordination between the related field office, village leader and user group is necessary.

• Local people must be aware about the importance of water resource in ecological balance.

• There should be the proper program for the management and conservation of water resources.

• Local people should make efforts to alleviate pollution and should use water in efficient and sustainable manner.

Abbreviation Used 

NGO – Non-governmental organization

Km – Kilometer 

VDC – Village Development Committee

Reference

<https://www.definitions.net/definition/socioeconomic>

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawasoti

FIELD VISIT QUESTIONNAIRE

Name of source of water -

Name of Interviewee -

Age -

Gender/Sex -

Occupation -

Religion -

Education -

Language -

Address -

Marital Status -

V.D.C/Municipality - Ward No. -

• For what purpose do you use water resource?

• What kinds of benefits are you gettin from this pond?

• How do you conserve this pond?

• How is this pond helpful for earning livelihood?

• How do you utilize the funds received form municipality?

• How much savings do you do in a year and where do you  put on the savings?

• What are the problems of Chatrawas Chwadi?

• What are the solutions for those problems?

• Have you taken any training related to water resource conservation?

• What are the reasons for water resource being polluted?

• At what distance is water resource from your house?

• How this pond is important in your daily life?

• What can be done for the decent utilization of resources?

• What is the main occupation of your community people?

• What are the issues related to pond and how do you settle them?