Vulnerability assessment and climate change adaptation in water sector in a Gram Panchayat of District Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh

Student name: Ms Dhairya Jain and Ms Garima Chotani
Guide: Dr Chubamenla Jamir
Year of completion: 2017
Host Organisation: CTRAN Consulting Ltd.
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Dr Barendra Krushna Sahoo

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Abstract: Himachal Pradesh is a mountainous state with highly varied and diverse climate that is changing rapidly. Ever increasing temperature and irregular rainfall patterns makes the availability and accessibility of water an issue in rural parts of Himachal Pradesh. A poor vulnerable farmer whose survival depends on rain fed farming is hit the hardest due to changing climate. This study is carried out in four Gram Panchayats (Nichli Bhated, Kandrour, Amarpur and Fatoh) in a dry temperate District of Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh. The study focuses on assessing the vulnerability of four Gram Panchayats, finding out the most vulnerable one (Kandrour) and proposing climate change water adaptation measures to deal with that vulnerability. Participatory tools like PRA, FGD, KII, field observations and vulnerability assessment tool CBVA were used to assess the vulnerability and finding out the vulnerability index. Indicators and variables of vulnerability are also assessed to identify the hotspots which are used to devise adaptation measures. Watershed development Project focusing on increasing drought resiliency is proposed as per the technicalities, suitability and need of the people. The study also suggests inclusion of awareness and capacity building strategies to increase adaptive capacity and also seeks to converge with the ongoing schemes in the area.