Breve descrição da melhor prática
'Gharats' or water flour mills run on a stream's kinetic energy to turn the shaft of the grinding mill. The water is diverted from the stream or river along a channel or canal to the water wheel. The force of the water's movement drives the blades of a wheel or turbine, which in turn rotates an axle that drives the mill's other machinery. The water leaves the wheel through the continuation of the channel. This may in-turn feed another mill. The passage of water is controlled by sluice gates that allow maintenance.
The project undertook the task of rebuilding and rejuvenating these watermills as these Gharats had low efficiencies ranging from 10%- 15% only.
Under the project this abundant and renewable waterpower resource was exploited more effectively with appropriate and modernized equipment, and concrete structures which required less maintenance cost every year. These changes increased the processing capacity of the Gharats from 5-6 kg to 10-15 kg of wheat per hour. This played a key role in driving sustainable economic development in the hilly regions Improving the food quality of the milled cereals available to the inhabitants of this project area was another major concern. We know that the flour from these water mills is rather coarse as compared with the ones from the power mills of the plains and has more roughage (fibre content) hence, considered healthy. Operationalization of large number of Gharats is a indicator that eco-system services have improved (water flow).
Localização
Nainital and Augustyamuni, Divisions of Uttarakhand|
Breve descrição do ambiente natural dentro do local especificado.
Warm temperate conditions prevail in the Middle Himalayan valleys, with summer temperatures usually hovering about the mark of 25° C and cooler winters. Cool temperate conditions dominate the higher areas of the Middle Himalayas, where the summer temperatures are usually around 15 to 18° C and winters drop below the freezing point.|
In the north, the soil ranges from gravel (debris from glaciers) to stiff clay. Brown forest soil—often shallow,
gravelly, and rich in organic content—is found farther to the south.
There are three distinct topographical belts - the Shivaliks in the sub Himalayan tract (300-600m amsl), the Himachal ranges in the lower Himalayan region (1,500 2,700m amsl), and the Himadri ranges in the upper Himalayan region (4,800-6,000m amsl). The Garhwal and Kumaon regions of the State together form approximately 350km of the 2,500km long Himalayan range. The middle hill region that lies between 1,800-3,000m is mostly forested, thinly populated and has poor water supply.|
Condições socioeconômicas prevalecentes das pessoas que vivem no local e/ou nas proximidades
Main income sources- are through sale of farm produce, livestock products, livestock and other non farm based activities. |
Com base em quais critérios e/ou indicadores (não relacionados com a Estratégia) a prática proposta e a tecnologia correspondente foram considerados como "melhores"?
• Revival of traditional practices
• Eco friendly.
• Decrease in fuel consumption for grinding purposes.
• Increase in Income of local people.
