WATER!!! Conventional well or Borwell?

October 2009 onwards.....

I had never imagined that managing to GET WATER, on a RIVER BANK, could at all be be a problem. But yes, as river dries up by February, the good earth appears thirsty and says NO as to yields. So we thought of digging a well. Question: Conventional well or Drilled well? Answer: How will you get the heavy drilling vehicle here?.... and we went against convention of having a tube well. Digging a well is quite different from remaining well during digging process.

So we began. Gaikwad, the 'Water Diviner', appeared to be quite a character. Dressed in a grey-blue safari suit, wearing a black cowboy hat, and with an absolutely positive outlook towards well and water and wellbeing, he wished us ''suprabhat' and straight away got on with the job. His equipment consisted of Mataji's photo, a coconut, various items for pooja, and a mettle disc.... First things first, he uttered and began by facilitating for pooja. I was asked to perform it, and indeed I went ahead per directions. Malini was around to oversee my performance. Had it been lacking, I would have seen it on her face. Soon as I finished, she announced.... "We will get water" this man certainly knows his hows.... I wonder how she foretold....

Gaikwad then asked Balu and Bhagwan to walk with a coconut each ...... Wish I could find the video....it was quite a process and ultimately he zeroed down on a point where he said you will get water at 7th feet.... we got it at the 7th feet.... he said the well will be full of water all round the year.... so it is full, all round the year.... in the second year too.... I have the digging video and a recent one to show the actual product of our efforts....

Dhani and Aadit had also accompanied us that day... Aadit had dug a well at the site with his beach equipment that he had carried along.... he maintains that he is the one who has dug up this massive well.....

bulldozing the well....

 

Here is the result

The well remains like this all round the year..... Aadit takes credit for having dug it up, Malini 'always' knew it would be so.... and of course the 'cowboy Gaikwad' for having located a site with his 'innovative' and novel water divining procedure that we would need again aqs we build a house somewhere near.....

Daswadkar, Kunk and Bhalghares......

26 October was the day of signing, negotiating and entering into multiple philosophical bouts. We had to manage bringing six Bhalghares and the MNS strongman Daswadkar together to settle their old VISARA issue.

To our utter surprise, Daswadkar talked 'sense'! And nicely too... He acceded to all the Bhalghares' requests directed towards reduction of refundable amount that included a whooping per cent towards 'INTEREST'. I still don't believe, that he actually let-off Bhalgares by reducing interest levels within 'permissible and reasonable' limits. Perhaps that is the difference between a 'strongman' acting for self and the one who 'collects' on behalf of a ' Town place Money Lender' ....

Now my plans seem to be taking a shape..... I may actually be able to grow bamboo on my land..... Still at least one 'if' remains to be taken care of.

Kunk is another chapter..... He actually tried to create a 'public opinion' on whether I should buy land from Bhalgares. No one was able to explain it to him that the deal is subject to approval from the authorities.... He must really be living in to 'Peshawaai' raaj.

My dilemma:

Which Portion of Land do I begin with, given the following facts:

1. The whole land is fit for bamboo growth.
2. I do not know the part of land that I will eventually own up.
3. At 53, I am running short of time for establishment of a sustainable farm.

Let me count on my blessings.....

• Supportive wife and daughters.
• Challenging environment at Home.
• Encouraging friendship.
• Financial security.

Now, I am just waiting for the news about land that I have selected for building house......

Organised visit, at last.....

The farmland visit on 20 September was quite tiering, none the less, it was equally satisfying. Perhaps for the first time we had been able to adhere to the schedule and complete the work. We had picked up about 80 plants comprising of Jackfruit, Cashews, Mango and Amla, at 8.30 am. To my surprise, Arun Dal, the nursery head, was ready with his ware. He took us around the half acre nursery that housed about 120,000 seplings.

Earlier, we had halted at Khandala over night and set off for Bhor at 6.15am. Malini and Hansa had cooked and packed enough food for 6 people. On the way, we picked up some more food for the farm workers. The agenda was quite hectic:

• Demonstration of planting method.
• Selection of the nursery site.
• Malini taking Sarita's interview.
• Meeting Dhumal for new land deal.

The distance between BHOR and SANGVI took the just required time... 75 minutes. As we aet off for Sangvi, Parshuram phoned to confirm our visit. Poor chap must have walked a couple of kms to be in the cell range. By the time we reached, he had transported the villegers across the river and parked the roe boat near the school. The walk to boat was very little and almost comfortable. All the plants and the food were shifted from my vehicle into the boat. The usual four, Parshuram, Kisan, Jadhav and the last one(?) were quite co-operative. For Malini, it was the first ever boat ride to farmland. The sky was clear and sunny. The river was full. It has rained above avrage in this part of Maharashtra. Come elections, and Sharad Pawar will 'snatch' all the water from Bhatghar Dam for his 'Sugar Lobby'. The villagers were quite unawar of this political compulsion. The were quite certain that the river wont dry up till mid February. Dal, the nursery head, had different view. He's quite certain about Sharad Pawar's political compulsion. bagu... (Let's see....), Kisan spitted, and said without any trace of concern. It took us 45 minutes upstream. We were npw at the land. What a sight under the sun. As enchanting, if not any more, as the earlier foggy boat ride experience.

.......

My Land by River.... and stream from within the land....

Boat ride from Sangvi to Bope, up stream and against the wind, was simply enchanting. The wild growth of bamboo trees is soothing...It took four men to row. A motorboat would do wonders here. look at the fog settled around....

Does he want to dispose?

Yesterday, Balu Kachre had called up to say it's still raining cats and dogs at Bope. He had been to the land two days back. His observation:

1. About half of the Agave plants appear to be up rooted.

2. Chillar has grown in between spaces.

3. Stylo Grass is seen at various places.

I will believe what I see on the 3 August visit....

Bhagwan Balkawade called up this morning and reported:

1. The rains are still harsh...

2. He has provided adequate support to the Suru, Gulmohar and Agave...

3. He predicts 75% of plants would survive...

4. The river is full and flowing wild.....

Let's see on the 3rd August...

Fence placed... waiting for it to grow....

The plants don't 'GROW' as fast as kids, although you care for them as good... I think it may take some more time to get an answer to this thought....

The delayed rains have at long last made surrounding lively at Bope. The Jungle has come back to life! It appears to be waking up with a renewed freshness. The thick fog and the lazy surroundings are quite similar to the Mahabaleshwar climate but there is a remarkable and striking difference in the greens, the dampness, the density and the chill in the weather around. The fog just wants to be immobile in despite of wind. The muddy river wears a distinct brown colour while flowing wild.

I had to leave the jeep at the river crossing that otherwise (February till it rains) provides me an entry to my land on the other side of Bope. The walk along river bank itself was a sort of adventure trail. Two locals and I made it to a point from where I could see a foggy jungle across the river. Tens of streams were giggling down slop to make their silt contribution in the river. On couple of places I saw natural water filters in action.... the water following out of 'leakages' in the pitched areas. Now that white and the muddy brown makes an unbelievable combination! Besides, the filtered clean water (a tasteless liquid) has a delicious 'mineral' taste.

With just a few glimpses of my land I was barely able to make out the Agave + Suru and Gulmohar line that we had planted only a couple of weeks before. The local said about 75 per cent of plants may survive....

Indeed, I hope so!

Fencing - dealing with wind and animals.

There is no farm with a proper fence in Bope. There may be paucity of resources to build a 'dead' fence, but the villagers could certainly grow a 'live' fence with just a little effort. Neither they have any inclination to do it, nor do they consider the acknowledged fact that a fence would provide them protection against strong winds and the animals. It seems they don't need one... I don't know why... Perhaps they have no program for the animal pasture or sheds... They have enough manpower to watch the fields...It will ever remain a mistry to me. I have asked this question to a few villagers. They wear a typical look that can be interpreted any which way. 'Kashala Paije? (Why do I need it?)

I venture to explain... See the animals eat up your crops. You will have to make extra efforts to guard the crops. Strong winds too can damage crops...

They seem to be thinking deeply, perhaps agreeing with my views. Suddenly, they spit, and then nod with a smiling face, as if knowingly... BUT that's about all. No further question or expression. As if I had raised a 'non' issue... perhaps they think I will get tired of building a fence on the 4 km periphery.... They don't discourage me though... They're looking forward to some employment perhaps.

With this background I have proceeded with growing my fence. With the evident lethargy amongst villagers, I have hired contract labour through a 'taut' who claims to have completed many such 'projects'. As I have now come to know, he has sub contracted the job involving making 1'x1' channel on the periphery, filling it up with the silt from nearby river bank, and plant the Agave and other plants.

The channel took about 15 days. It is a fairly good job. The five workers have worked from sun rise to sun set without rest save the lunch. Quite surprisingly, the tout's subcontractors turned out to be an experienced lot.