SYNOPSIS

SYNOPSIS

Marathwada Centre for

Development Studies

Introduction
Overview
The past decade has gone through with a lot of turmoil for our homelands. The
earlier history doesn’t disagree. Marathwada has been that sibling amongst all, who
always gets the leftovers or used stuff from its elders. The people here have always
been underprivileged with the resources that have been sourced, the schemes that
have been approved and the lifestyle that has been imbibed into them.

The worst part, however, is that the deprivation comes for the very basic needs;
namely, water, food, sanitation, etc. The major factor that has been the root of all
these problems is the drought that has been scavenging the lives of all the people
around this division. Lack of rainfall, eventually leading to water and resource
scarcity is the prime reason for the drought. And this drought is not to be revived
completely for the next decade or two.

But, the most overlooked reason for the successive and ever increasing problems for
this division are we, ourselves, the people. It is our negligence that has led to ever-
increasing problems and the overspreading drought. Illiteracy has a lot to do with
these issues. And the highly educated are also a part of the illiterate clan, because
the education is coming of no use to solve the very problems for which it was taken.

Hence, it is the need of time to educate people; irrespective of any classification to

help create a better and sustainable lifestyle for present and mainly for the future.

1
 SYNOPSIS

But this shall be done keeping in mind the context of the people of Marathwada.
The centre shall be so developed as to resemble and reciprocate with the
demographic, ecological, social, economic and cultural viewpoints.

Need of the project

Marathwada consists of 8 districts in the heart of Maharashtra: Aurangabad, Beed,
Latur, Osmanabad, Parbhani, Jalna, Nanded and Hingoli. The region has a
population of about 1.87 crores and a geographical area of 64.5 Thousand sq. km.

Nearly the entire region, barring parts of Beed, Latur and Osmanabad, falls in the
Godavari basin. This has historically been a rain shadow region with average rainfall
of about 700 mm, but in districts like Beed, it dips down to 600 mm. Apart from
Godavari, no major rivers originate or flow through Marathwada.

Since the past 4 years, Marathwada has been facing exceptionally cruel weather.
The June-September Monsoon, which is the lifeline of most of this rain fed region, has
been playing truant. Last year, the region experienced highest rainfall deficit in the
past 10 years at -42%. In two districts it was much more than 40%, leading to a severe
water crisis. To give an example, the JJAS (June, July, August, and September)
rainfall in Parbhani in 2014 was just 346 mm, barely 4 mm more than rainfall during
the horrifying 1971 drought! These two are the lowest rainfall figures for Parbhani
since 1902, for more than 113 years!

In addition to the dismal rainfall, Marathwada, like the neighbouring Vidarbha, has
been battered by unseasonal rainfall and hailstorms in 2013 and 2014 in February,
March and November, destroying Rabi plantations. For example, Ausa Taluka in
Latur District of Marathwada received 146% of its highest recorded rainfall and
higher than 100 year recorded rainfall in March 2014, within a matter of days,
destroying standing crops.

After a satisfactory June 2015 rainfall of about 81%, Kharif crop sowing was
undertaken by farmers on approximately 33 lakh hectares of the region. Main crops
were cotton, soya bean, pulses and some limited oilseeds. Most of the sugarcane
was already planted in October-November 2014. The satisfactory rains were indeed

2
 SYNOPSIS

welcome as compared to last year. In 2014, the June rainfall was barely 20% of the
normal.

But satisfactory June rainfall this year was not a boon. Although it led to record Kharif
crop sowing, almost all of this is lost in face of extended dry spell that lasted a year
more. Kharif crop is almost lost for Marathwada. This demands major research
regarding the agricultural nature at the grass root level and its implementation by
locals.

The major observation that comes out of all this datum is that the entire depravity of
Marathwada is interlinked to certain reasons. The rainfall deficit has led to poor
agricultural yields. This has been a major reason for farmer suicides in the division,
with around 1,450 suicides in the past year. These statistics are much high as
compared to other parts of the state where the suicide rate is very low.

This can be related to the fact that the agricultural practices, which have been
hampered by rainfall, need to be revived. Proper implementation of such practices
has not been done which has also resulted in the scarcity of food and resources for
the region. This, in turn has affected the socio economic status of the division. The
most affected section because of this is the farmer and the people dependant on
the outcome of agriculture, i.e. people in the rural areas.

The reason for their economic crisis and in turn the suicides is the unawareness and
lack of feasible back up plans. The overall empowerment of these people is
necessary to develop a healthy future, even when nature might be a bit
unsupportive. Hence, educating the people and providing options for self-
sustenance can be a relief.

Context

3
 SYNOPSIS

Aim
To program and develop an institute that shall help in developing a think tank for the
technical and practical know how for the revival of the land, water, agriculture and
the socio-economic status of the people of Marathwada.

Objectives
 To undertake energy conservation and alternate energy development (with
emphasis on water management and treatment)
 To initiate efficient agricultural practices
 To enhance economic studies
 To facilitate women empowerment through self-help groups
 To help create the development of small scale industries of local and
adapted skills
 To facilitate personality development and vocational skills.

4
 SYNOPSIS

Scope and limitations

The centre shall be divided into two major parts, an institute and a development
centre that shall initiate the practices with the involvement of people. The institute
may or may not be gated, but shall function according to the needs of the people.
The centre shall thus function on research and the incorporation of that research
according the context.

The design shall be cost effective so as to compliment the economic conditions and
the effort towards development by setting an example for further inspiration.

The design shall be influenced with the extensive use of local materials across the
region and will be focused towards green architecture, as it aims at the revival of
the region. Emphasis will also be given on reducing the extensive carbon footprint,
adopting energy efficient techniques and solutions. Also to focus on alternate
renewable energy resources to run the site.

The centre shall be designed to cater to all age groups and physicality to support
the wholesomeness and will be designed holistically, considering the otherwise
vague and dull social approach in the region.

The design will be focused on reclaiming the land that is being deteriorated due to
extensive sand mining. This shall be done by effectively managing the watershed.

5
 SYNOPSIS

Methodology

TOPIC
SELECTION
To program and develop an institute  To undertake energy conservation

that shall help in developing a think tank and alternate energy development

for the technical and practical know
how for the revival of the land, water,
agriculture and the socio-economic
status of the people of Marathwada.
SCOPE & LIMITATION
AIM & OBJECTIVES (with emphasis on water
management and treatment)
 To initiate efficient agricultural
practices
 To enhance economic studies
 To facilitate women empowerment
through self-help groups
 To help create the development of
small scale industries of local and
SITE SELECTION
adapted skills
 To facilitate personality
development and vocational skills.

SITE JUSTIFICATION

Primary Data Collected from DATA COLLECTION Secondary Data

Site analysis- Collected From-

Physical analysis -Case studies

Climatic analysis - Internet

- Books
Visual analysis DATA ANALYSIS

 ZONING
DESIGN PROPOSAL  CONCEPTUAL DESIGN
EVOLUTION
 SITE PLANNING
 DETAILED DRAWINGS
CONCLUSION

6
 SYNOPSIS