Centre for Water
Resources Management

Harvest is a department of the Auroville Water Service created on 15th August 1996 to combat a seawater intrusion and promote sustainable water management. Its activities -first centered on tank rehabilitation- have diversified to other related fields, and embrace today the broader topic of sustainable integrated development.

The main area of operations extends to the entire Vanur and Tindivanam Taluk of Tamilnadu, covering more than 35 village Panchayats. However, project works are calling for Harvest’s intervention throughout India.  

To the extent possible, the actions undertaken by Harvest are collaborative endeavours with the people, the civil society and public departments.

Manned by a multidisciplinary staff of 40, Harvest is sub-divided into five teams:

1. Tank Rehabilitation (comprising of Social and Engineering Sections)

2. Ground Water (including a Database and Mapping section)

3. Irrigation

4. Aquaculture

5. Ecological Farming

Ad-hoc experts, volunteers and students complements the permanent human resource

Harvest intervenes in the following types of activities:

• Groundwater Studies: to survey and analyse a sensitive situation, assess the risks and devise solutions

• Water Resources Development: rehabilitation of surface water bodies, artificial groundwater recharge and water conservation works

• Sustainable Socio-economic Development: consultancy to industries, ecological farming extension and training programs, environmental awareness and education, aquaculture.

To contact us

e-mail: harvest@auroville.org.in

Harvest
Centre for Water Resources Management
Naidu House
Kottakarai
Auroville - 605101
Tamil Nadu
India

tel: +91 (0)413 622333 /  622687

fax: +91 (0)413 622690 / 622274

To get there:

Coming from the Auroville Visitor's Centre, take the nearby tar road right towards Kottakarai village.

At the first Y intersection, take a steep turn left towards Irumbai village (NB: the twin overhead tanks of the village are located at this intersection). Harvest is 300 m away, the 2-storeys traditional white house on the right hand side, a little away from the roadside (NB: opposite, on the left side of the road, there is a tiny Ganesh temple, under the shade of a large banyan tree)

Coming from Pondicherry, either take the coast road, and once in Auroville follow the above; or take the Jipmer-Tindivanam Road. Once in Kootroad town, take a turn right towards Irumbai village. After passing Irumbai village, the road is bordered by coconut trees. At their end, Harvest will be the first house on the left hand side.

There is a direct and regular bus service stopping in front of Harvest, to commute to/from Pondicherry, from 6 am to 9 pm. The bus stop precedes Kottakarai village, namely "Society, Harvest".