Venkata Rama Mohan Ramachandrula,Venkata Rama Mohan Ramachandrula, Centre for World Solidarity (CWS), Sustainable Livelihoods, rvrm2@yahoo.com
Abstract
Gonchi seepage channels in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, India are traditional forms of diversion channels used by farmers to divert seepage water from streams and rivers to cultivate food crops. Each such Gonchi channel runs for about 3 to 7 km and typically each irrigates 200 to 300 acres. Farmers benefiting from these channels are traditionally organized into strong informal groups and local regulations on allocations and use are still in place in most of the villages. Paddy is the predominant crop cultivated in these areas during October to January period every year. A field study done on 37 such channels in Pennar river basin revealed that most of them are being maintained well by Gonchi committees but few require renovation works that are beyond the capacity of these committees. These channels once used freshwater from rains and seepage flows in streams and river Pennar. After the construction of Mid Pennar Reservoir (MPR) at Penakacherla in Anantapur district in 1968, these seepage channels got rejuvenated by increased inflow of irrigation drainage its command areas. Many seepage channels in Anantapur district may be renovated through systematic re-use of such drainage water from command areas of modern irrigation projects.
Key words: Gonchi, Seepage channels, reuse of irrigation drainage