Dimbhe dam - the displacement and livelihood

issues:

Dimbhe dam was built on Ghod river over 2200 hectares and it submerged more than
19 tribal villages and a stretch of 8 km.
Tribal people were landless as in, land was not in their name, and so even though they
came under Land for land and R&R policy schemes of government, they could
not be compensated. Shashwat intervened and they got their land but the lands were in
rocky hilly terrain.
The rocky hilly terrains were definitely not suitable for any kind of agriculture and
hence not suitable for their livelihood too. Shashwat helped in coming up with
alternate options of livelihood like fishery.
Even though case-fishing is expensive (initial investment of 5 lac), it was explored
and recommended since the natural conditions were/are not conducive for breeding of
fish(es) since it is rocky terrain and there arent any vegetation. Also during JulyAugust flooding is done which hits the survival rate (only 10% of fish survive) of
fishes.
Some facts about fishery/cage fishing as a means of livelihood:
a) Nets are available is various sizes they are called 18 mm (18 mm by 22 mm),
35 mm, 150 mm and 180 mm. They use what is called cage and pen technique
of collective management which sets the net size regulation for various
seasons. They also ensure there is no over fishing and hence fish stocks are
replenished.
b) If someone tries to use a different net size other than the recommended net
size for that period then a fine of INR 1000 is imposed.
c) 15th Jun to 15th August is the breeding time period
d) For 16 cages, initial investment was INR 5 lacs
e) Nine lac seeds (spawns) are usually needed which mainly comes from Satara,
Raigad. Lot of seeds die during transit
f) They use sendriya khat (like bajra) as fish food.
g) During first year of fishery, each fish weighed about 1 Kg.
h) After 6 and half years each fish weighed anywhere between 2Kg to 15Kg and
sometimes even 20 Kg.
i) Problem of not informing well in advance before opening of dams still
persists. About 10 lakhs fish died after two days of opening of dam.
j) This years yield was 27 tonne of fish and INR 19.5 lakhs in terms of revenue.
k) They believe in community work. There are 89 Katkari familes and 214
fishermen.
l) Wholesale rate and other rules get decided at committee level during annual
meeting.
m) Projection/expectation of 50 tonnes in weight and INR 50 lakhs in revenue is
expected.
n) Earlier tribal used to search for temporary jobs but now they have permanent
job. This has helped in controlling migration problem.
o) Staying at one place also helped in sending girls to school for education

p) Earlier they had to go to various markets to sell their fish and they used to get
poor money for their yield and added to their woes was transport cost and
difficulty but now eleven businessmen come to dimbhe and take their fishes at
INR 92 per Kg.
For people who opted for agriculture/cultivation; 180 engine pumps were provided.
Their cultivation is based on flooding and then waiting for the flood water to drain
off. This year they had a yield of 780 quintal of bajra over 450 ha of land.