K village is located in the state of Uttarakhand, India, which has small areas of irrigated farmland. However, the village itself has large areas of irrigated farmland. We interviewed the villagers regarding the water that they utilize for drinking and irrigation on a daily basis, while observing the actual situation on the ground. Through interviews, we noted that less than 50% of the people perceive issues of water shortage during dry season and water pollution. In addition, by direct observation on the field, we traced the pipeline between KT Hamlet of K Village and Sariyatal lake, which lies to the north of this village. We also surveyed the causes of water shortage and water pollution. In this fieldwork, we did not observe any water shortage. However, we did observe several causes of water pollution, including the garbage generated by tourists, detergent used for washing cars, and bloated algae. However, villagers were not aware of these causes. Through this paper, we hope to inform the villagers of probable health issues to animals and human beings, indirectly caused by water pollution. In addition, it is very important to communicate to the villagers that the results of our survey are significantly different from their perception.

Special Issue
“Developmental Challenges in Rural India: A Village Level Examination in Himalayan Mountains”