Delhi grid - Momnathan Trip Report (3.8.09)

Trip Report


Visited : Momnathan village in Tilwara GRID

Date: 3 August 2009

Project: River Health Index

Members:

Manoj Misra
Pushp Jain
Bhim
Sudha Mohan

Minutes

The village was visited in the afternoon as per the advice of the contact person, as the villagers were busy with agricultural activities in their fields during the forenoon.

As soon as we reached a number of villagers gathered as our visit had been informed in advance. We broke in two groups with one visiting the nearby river Hindon and the other initiating the dialogue with the villagers. The quality of the hand pump water as also the water from river Hindon (major tributary of river Yamuna) was also tested with the kit provided by the CPCB.

Observations:

- It is one of the oldest villages in the area. It was reported that Mughal time utensils were unearthed during a nearby recent excavations.
- Hindon meanders close to it.
- The village lies within the right bank embankment created recently by the authorities
- A temple boundary lies close to the river across the river from the village
- A nalla joins the river and widens the river channel close to the river
- There are about 80 – 85 households in the village
- There are on an average 10 members per HHs (very high population?)
- Jatav, Valmiki and Jats constitute the three main caste composition in the village
- The entire village subsists on agriculture
- Adult literacy is low
- It was reported that in recent past the river Hindon has changed its course thrice, once when it flowed even left of the village, as compared to its present flow which is to its (village right)
- It was reported that the water in river Hindon was of bathing quality if not exactly potable till the early 1990s
- Tractors are to be seen in almost every HHs
- The young generation does not even know how to plough using a bullock or a buffaloe
- There are no functional dug wells remaining in the village
- It was reported that the water quality of low depth hand pumps is extremely poor
- Bore wells could be seen pumping out water at almost every agricultural field
- The village is electrified, has a cement road running through it and now a black topped road over the RME originating from the Greater NOIDA expressway
- Many houses in the village are made of cement and brick, though thatch roof huts are also present
- It was reported that there is little love lost with the river Hindon. As its water quality is very poor, and it often floods (During floods in 2008 it flooded right upto the village from back flow in river Yamuna). Little prodding resulted in the villagers agreeing that their bore wells have abundant water just because of the river.
- A poorly laid and incomplete side drain (along the cement road) was cited as one of the greatest curse to visit the village as it has resulted in stagnant waste water, resulting in it becoming as a breeding ground for the mosquitoes. (last year one person in the village suffered from Dangue too). There was no response when they were asked, as to why they donot get the drain repaired on their own?
- The women folk in the village appeared a suppressed lot (observing pudah), but willing to come out and lead.
- The villagers agreed to form a Sangathan of some sorts.
- It was reported that although the quantity of food grains has increased as a result of mechanisation and massive doses of chemical inputs, but the quality has gone down drastically. (One estimate put it at less than 25% of its earlier quality)
- Despite visible signs of prosperity in the village, it was reported that for lack of educational opportunities in the village (There is only one primary school in the village) there was hardly any adult from the village earning a salary and agricultural earning is not enough since the average size of the HH is so large !!
- Villagers liked the CD that we carried and provided to them with songs composed and sung by Sri Kishori and others.
- One social and economic need of the village is a bridge (or even a causeway) across the river Hindon so that they can easily connect with the facilities like hospital, markets etc.




List of villagers present during the discussion:

S.No.
Name
Male/Female
Contact No.
1.
Ramdass
Male

2.
Dharamvir
Male

3.
Neem Singh
Male

4.
Hukam Singh
Male

5.
Mukesh
Male

6.
Ravi
Male

9.
Bijender
Male

10.
Jitendra
Male

11.
Saroj Bala
Female
09310479190
12.
Rakhi
Female

13.
Shantha
Female

14.
Mukesh
Female

15.
Uman
Female

16.
Simla
Female

17.
Rakesh
Female

18.
Krupali
Female



The Result from water test is given below in table.


Test


Hand Pump (Village)

Hindon

Permissible Standard*
Color
Transparent
Straw Yellow

Taste
Slightly Salty
NT

Odour
Normal
Unpleasant

Suspended Solids
Nil
High residue

pH
Between 7-8
NT
7
Residual Chlorine
Nil
NT
NK
Total Iron
0.5 mg/l
1.5 mg/l
0.3 to 1.0 mg/l
Fluoride
0.5 mg/l
1.0 mg/l
1.0 mg/l
Amonia
NT
More than 3.0 mg/l
Toxic for marine life
Phosphate
NT
0.6 mg/l
NK
NT : - Not Tested * CPCB
NK: - Not Known