From depleting groundwater level to borewells’ rejuvenation, Shindi village’s success story

 

 

A small innovative step by a group of volunteers of The Art of Living has brought a big change in the lives of otherwise distressed villagers and farmers of Shindi Bhujro Khurd (Shindi BK) in Amravati district. For, their River Rejuvenation Project at Lendeshwari, a tributary of Chandrabhaga river in Shindi BK, has not only solved the water problem of the villages but also helped farmers come out of deep financial losses. Amol Charhate, a farmer from Shindi Bhujro Khurd village in Amravati district, had a 250 feet deep borewell at his farm. He owned 500 orange trees and also was into dairy business with 10 cows and buffaloes. But as the borewell ran dry, with not a single drop of water available during one summer, he decided to invest Rs 10 lakh and increase depth of the borewell to 1,000 ft. And all hell broke loose. The orange trees started to wither; buffaloes fell sick due to poor quality ‘hard’ water drawn from the deepened borewell. This compelled him to sell all of his buffaloes and close down the dairy operations leading to Rs 10 lakh loss.

 

 

That was until The Art of Living volunteers and teachers from Nagpur and Amravati districts undertook the River Rejuvenation Project at Lendeshwari, a tributary of Chandrabhaga river in Shindi BK village. Shindi BK village almost entirely relied on borewells for its drinking water needs. The crisis arose for the village when the water levels of the borewells plummeted to deeper than 300 feet, which resulted in drinking water crisis for the villagers. They were getting water after digging borewells deeper than 300 feet but it was ‘hard’ water and unsafe for drinking. Meanwhile, villagers started developing health issues including kidney stones. Many would have to skip work to fetch water standing in queues all day long. Even, with the help of administration, 60 wells dug up to 300 ft at the cost of Rs 2 crore could not solve the water scarcity problem. “Due to shortage of water, I lost my earning source. I was completely shattered, distressed and incurred a loss of Rs 10 lakh,” said Amol Charhate to The Hitavada. The villagers were aware about the project initiated by The Art of Living river rejuvenation work in neighbouring villages like Anjangaon. Then they sought the help of The Art of Living volunteers to alleviate the water crisis. This project began with a comprehensive approach to restoring the river’s flow and capacity.

 

The team, from Nagpur and Amravati undertook a significant task of removing silt and encroachments from the riverbed. They spent two years excavating vast quantities of silt, deepening the riverbed, and creating ponds to help recharge the groundwater and prevent flooding and soil erosion. “We completed all these works before the start of monsoon. It helped to accumulate water in the river and artificial ponds,” said a volunteer of The Art of Living. The efforts bore fruits as the water table increased to 145 feet from the depths of 1,000 feet, which translated into the reactivation of borewells which either were dry or producing ‘hard’ water at low levels. The village, once dependent on water tankers and facing rationing, now enjoys a steady and reliable water supply.

 

The volunteers removed accumulated silt to the tune of 3 lakh cubic meters. Using the silt of yellow soil, which is known for its high load-bearing capacity, the volunteers and villagers together built five kilometre-long roads. Despite only 30% of the average rainfall, rivers are flowing more efficiently, and all 60 borewells have been successfully rejuvenated. About 40 houses in the village are getting water for 5 to 6 hours daily, eliminating water-related conflicts and stress. “Due to the project, my orange trees are now healthy and I have resumed my dairy business with 15 buffalo and cows,” shares Charhate. The project is combination of technical expertise, community involvement, and a commitment to sustainable resource management. The project has demonstrated how innovative water solutions can transform lives and create a lasting impact in rural areas. The team of Art of Living is planning to implement the project at Bhuleshwari, another tributary of the Chandrabhaga river.