The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity TEEB HIWARE
The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) HIWARE BAZAAR – A VILLAGE OF MILLIONAIRES, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA Kossi Hator and Lawrence Haseley
Hiware Bazaar, a village located in the province of Maharashtra, India faced an environmental crisis from the early 1970 s to the early 1990 s. Due to a high level of deforestation the village saw its water sources significantly depleted causing a series of social and economic problems.
When water sources became scarce it left the land unproductive for agriculture and cultivation, leading to a series of social and economic problems.
In 1989, Popatrao Pawar was elected leader of the village council and brought political change to the village. The new government developed a 5 year plan with Water Conservation as the primary focus. The plan forbid a variety of things such as the sale of liquor, cutting trees, and free grazing.
In 1995 the government initiated another 5 year plan with ecological regeneration as its primary focus. The plan saw the development of things such as contour building, drain building, and tree plantation, each with the goal to preserve, contain, and restore water sources of the village.
PROGRESS AND RESULTS There number of wells also increased from 97 to a total of 217 in 1999 Under the first initiative that began in 1990, in 1993 there was enough water to increase irrigation area from 20 hectares to 70 hectares.
From 1995 -1998, the number of families living below the poverty line fell from 168 to 53, resulting in a 73 percent reduction in poverty. Today, a quarter of the village´s 216 families are millionaires The village of Hiware Bazaar acts a shining example of how government and people, with a well thought out plan can produce results and improve livelihoods.
TODAY Since 2002, Hiware Bazaar has been doing an annual budgeting of water assisted by the Ahmednagar districts’ groundwater department. The total amount of water available in the village is measured, uses estimated and then agricultural cropping to be taken up is prescribed. All of this is conducted by the Village Council.
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