India’s combat towards water shortage has been marked by outstanding transformations — tales the place people and communities have turned arid, barren lands into thriving ecosystems. Listed here are 5 compelling before-and-after tales that showcase the ability of collective motion, conventional knowledge, and progressive pondering.
1. Patqapara village’s pond restoration
Earlier than: Patqapara, a distant village in West Bengal, grappled with extreme water shortages. Its ponds had change into wastelands, and agricultural output had dropped drastically.
After: In partnership with NGOs, the villagers restored 15 uncared for ponds by eradicating silt and deepening them. These rejuvenated ponds now present year-round water for farming and fishery actions, revitalising the native financial system.
2. Badi Dani’s revival of the Bartasar Pond
Earlier than: In Badi Dani, a drought-prone village in Rajasthan, the traditional Bartasar Pond had dried up. Water shortage had brought on crop failures and compelled individuals emigrate in the hunt for work.
After: The area people got here collectively to deslit and strengthen the pond’s embankments. This initiative helped recharge groundwater, safe irrigation wants, and restore the village’s pure ecosystem.
3. Surgana Taluka’s complete water conservation
Earlier than: In Nashik’s Surgana taluka, persistent drought left fields barren and villagers depending on distant water sources.
After: Supported by the Naam Basis and NHPC Ltd, communities adopted strategies like trenching, bunding, and rainwater harvesting. These efforts raised groundwater ranges and boosted agricultural productiveness, turning the villages into fashions of water administration.
4. Rajendra Singh’s revival of Rajasthan’s rivers
Earlier than: Within the Eighties, Rajasthan’s Alwar district confronted excessive drought. Rivers had dried up, wells have been empty, and agriculture had come to a standstill. With livelihoods misplaced, many villagers migrated, abandoning a parched and desolate land.
After: Rajendra Singh, affectionately referred to as the ‘Waterman of India’, led a motion to assemble johads (conventional earthen dams). Working alongside native communities, he helped construct over 8,600 johads throughout 1,200 villages, rejuvenating 5 rivers, together with the Arvari and Ruparel. His work revived groundwater ranges, restored agriculture, and introduced prosperity again to the area.
5. Aabid Surti’s campaign towards leaky faucets
Earlier than: Within the busy suburbs of Mumbai, 1000’s of households ignored the quiet drip of leaking faucets, resulting in huge water wastage every day.
After: Aabid Surti, an octogenarian author and artist, based the Drop Useless Basis. Each Sunday, he personally visited houses and provided free faucet repairs. Over 15 years, he mounted leaks in over 13,000 houses, saving hundreds of thousands of litres of water and elevating important consciousness about on a regular basis conservation.
These tales show that native motion can result in lasting change. By combining conventional practices with trendy options and group participation, these areas have turned dry, despairing lands into thriving ecosystems — securing water and hope for generations to return.
Edited by Khushi Arora
