"Barah mein se chaar gaye, to kitne bache? Sifar."
(If you subtract four from twelve, what do you get? - Zero)
If it doesn't rain for the four monsoon months in a year you would be left with no crop and no water. This is the story of Shekhawati in Rajasthan.
Churu
Cylindrical mud pots for drip irrigation. 70% sand + 30% clay.
It took them three failed seasons to get it to work effectively and it has paid off very well. There is organic farming of local fruits in 3x3x3 mt deep pits. Three years of care and the roots are strong enough to break through any rock in its way.
Banswara - (www.vaagdhara.org)
Community based innovative small farming practices
Trenches dug out to hold water to irrigate the adjoining land. Difficult terrain and a very beautiful place.
Banswara - (www.vaagdhara.org)
Guard at the Taanka.
The taanka (for harvesting rainwater) holds water for months after it has rained and provides drinking water for people and animals. The area has to be kept clean so the guard was appointed. He has been there for 40 years. His salary comes in the form of food grains.
Churu
Abandoned Taanka
With a sloping catchment area around it, it harvests 100,000 liters of drinking water. In an area where groundwater is scarce and/or saline, these 40-50 meter deep structures provide sweet water all around the year. Government launched ambitious schemes to provide drinking water to rural areas through pipes and canals that were hundred kilometers long. These traditional structures were left abandoned and fell apart. In Rajasthan one can see that governments plan has somewhat failed in terms of supply, quality and maintenance.
Churu
Government Water Supply tank.
Dirty, broken and dead. In the 1980's newspapers carried full page advertisements asking people to shun their 'traditional’ systems because the 'new' supply schemes would get them water.
It was a dream then. It remains a dream, still.
Churu
Drinking Water supply tap at a house.
Photograph taken from one of the six chambers in the village. It has really helped women as they do not have to carry water on their heads and walk for kilometers like before.
Khileriya village, Churu
Sarovar
A 10 mt deep water proof sarovar stores rainwater for a Gurukul, hospital, hostel and nearby villages. This photo was taken from a man-made mountain which is there as a result of the soil that was dug out to make the sarovar. To the right is the area where horses go for a spin.
Yoga in Life - Ashram, Pali
Jal. Jangal. Zameen. Jan. Janwar.
Ensure base flow + Construct recharge and storage structures + Conservation + Participation of local people = a river revival.
Naduwali River, Sariska's Buffer Area, Alwar
Canal irrigation
The Mahi canal stretched through out the area. Where ever we went we felt its presence around us. The tribal area is fascinating as the agricultural land is right next to their houses. So, the canal's water is for irrigation and hand-pumps are for drinking water.
Banswara
