Reducing Underlying Risk Factors
India
Example of
constructed
culvert in
India
Culvert transforms lives during heavy monsoon (EFICOR)
The village of Navtoli is home to around 200 families, and is situated near the embankment of
the Kamala River. A 600m narrow path connected the village to the embankment and served as
an escape route during floods. However, this pathway was also the main cause of water logging in
Navtoli during the monsoon. Water used to enter family homes and often damaged the mudbuilt walls. Although the villagers knew that the path was obstructing drainage, nobody took the
initiative to solve this problem.
EFICOR’s intervention in this village began in 2006, with the formation of a Disaster
Management Committee. The DMC has slowly become more informed and empowered,
conducting monthly meetings and collecting Rs.5/- from each family to build up a flood
contingency fund, deposited in a local bank. They decided to address the water-logging problem
by constructing a culvert under the path, and sought assistance from EFICOR. The DMC
organised local labour, whilst EFICOR provided materials and technical guidance. The culvert
was completed before the monsoon season, at the same time raising the level of the path by 4ft.
During the 2007 floods, this road became a vital evacuation route.
This is the first time the people of the village have experienced dry homes, even in the heavy
monsoon. Life continued (almost) as normal with access to farm-land and free movement of
livestock.