– 27 hand-dug and 12 deep wells in three soums repaired and restored –
A new large development programme is currently taking place in the Gobi. However, this time, we are not talking about construction of buildings or infrastructure. This current development is to restore watering points and irrigate pastureland. Long overdue work, forgotten due to lack of funding, has begun in recent years to restore watering points and irrigate pastureland. Today, many Gobi herders have pastureland that they can not use because of a lack of wells and water.
Oyu Tolgoi LLC, as part of its Pastureland Management Programme, is repairing, restoring and improving broken and unused wells…Gobi herders primarily use hand-dug wells and are working with the programme to repair and restore deep wells and increase number of watering points. Between 2011 and 2012, Oyu Tolgoi has repaired and restored 38 hand-dug water wells and two water holes used by herders from Khanbogd soum. Local herders and community members are delighted with the standard of the work. In 2013, the work was extended to Manlai and Bayan-Ovoo soums and a further 27 hand-dug and 12 deep wells across the three soums were restored this year. L.Bayarbatar, Programme Officer of the pastureland Management Programme said: “This is a joint effort by Oyu Tolgoi’s Pastureland Management Programme, local herders, the soum administration and Oyu Tolgoi’s contractor companies. As a result, the water supply for herders is being improved. The repaired wells are then assessed independently and issued with documentation.”
To select wells and water pointd for work in the coming year, the herders will make a request to the soum governor. Discussions will then take place to consider issues such as when the well was broken, the pastureland conditions and the number of families whose livestock is affected. A general agreement will then be reached and will be discussed and approved by the bag meeting. At a new well in Bayan-Ovoo soum, we can see herders watering their livestock. The soum herder Ts.Enkhtaivan said: “We now have a well with abundant water. Herders already began benefitting from it. This work is really useful for us herders and we are very pleased.”
At some wells, no work had taken place to to fence and protect them during the last 50-60 years. At some wells, fences were broken, water levels had dropped and the water recovery process had deteriorated. Therefore, at buried wells, all works, such as digging and fencing and installation of well screens, protection and casing, have taken place.
The herders actively participate themselves in work to monitor and repair wells. Herder B.Delgersuren from Bayan bag of Khanbogd soum, who has had his well repaired, said: “There is a great need for more wells in the Gobi. For herders it is difficult to repair broken and buried wells due to a lack of manpower, equipment and capital. This work has been very useful for us.”
Work to repair and restore wells was conducted by contractor companies 'Us erdene', 'Geomandal' and 'Bolor us'. Master specialist Ts.Battulga of 'Us erdene LLC' said: “After repairing wells, we give herders manuals on well maintenance and care. In addition, at the request of the herders we built embankment dams to protect from floods and sand movement. We also provide a ten year guarantee for the deep weels”.
D.Khurelbaatar, head of the Veterinary and breeding unit of Khanbogd soum explains: “When wells which are used by herders are buried in sand, they use pasture near the well for three seasons. This increases pasture degradation. Repair of buried wells enables migration in search of better pastures and recovery of pastureland through alternating use of pasture.”
Oyu Tolgoi LLC in agreement with herders is undertaking work to repair and restore wells which provide drinking water for Gobi residents and their livestock. While this work takes some time and incurs high costs, Oyu Tolgoi regards this work as of great importance. With pasture and water secured, livestock numbers increase. Herders with livestock will have incomes and their living standards will increase, leading to economic benefits as well.
Mongolians have a saying: “everyone in a family lives together and the minds of neighbours are together too.” The meaning of this saying is being realised through this work. In the future, we will work together in many more endeavours.
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