This project assessed the challenges facing traditional Himalayan watermills known as gharats. We conducted site assessments at 21 gharats and interviewed both mill owners and local grain farmers to explore the social, technical, economic, and environmental reasons for mill abandonment. Additionally, we examined the factors causing diminishing demand for gharats’ services. We developed recommendations for watermill owners, and initiated a pilot renovation on an abandoned mill to test innovations that can maintain the gharat’s tradition.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Lentz, Mitchell Andrew
• Leiro, Alejandro Emmanuel
• Paredes, Luis Diego

Subject

• Environment
• Water
• Sustainability
• Energy

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-050115-024528

Palabra Clave

• Water resources development

Award

• President's IQP Award

Advisor

• Shockey, Ingrid K.
• Higgins, Lorraine D.

Year

• 2015

Center

• Mandi, India Project Center - IQP

Sponsor

• Indian Institute of Technology - Mandi (IIT-Mandit)

Date created

• 2015-05-01

Ubicación

• Mandi

Resource type

• Interactive Qualifying Project

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Última modificación

• 2023-01-18