Participatory Water Resource Management in the Bhutan Himalayan Foothill Environment of Baksa District, Assam

Abstract

Participatory water resource management assumes great significance in the changing context of fresh water availability and use. The forces of market economy, in most cases, have transformed the rural social scenario in such a way that community participation in resource management has become almost a far cry. But the Himalayan foothill area in Assam sets a good example of management and sharing of water resources by the communities living in the area in eco-friendly and socially just ways. This study is an attempt to analyse the traditional management practices called dong-bandh system evolved by the local people to harvest and share the stream water for agricultural and domestic purposes. Based on data collected from secondary sources and generated through primary survey, the study focuses on the organizational set-up of the community participation, water distribution policies, conflict resolution and perception of the people on dong–bandh governance. The challenges faced by this traditional system during the recent period have also been discussed.