How did Rajasthan harvest rainwater after 2023 early monsoon? | Climate Opportunity
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Published 2024-02-14
The districts of western Rajasthan generally experience drought. But this time the rains of May and June broke the records of the last hundred years of these districts. And the villagers turned this havoc of rain into an opportunity instead of a disaster.
Generally, after so much rain, a scene of flood is created in the plains, but in the desert, as soon as the water falls, the dry land absorbs it. Same thing would have happened in this situation also but the people of these villages living in the Aravalli hills diverted this water towards traditionally built ponds, nadis and beri.
Generally, at least six types of water harvesting sources are constructed in western Rajasthan to harvest rain water. Like Ota, Bairi, Diggi, Nadi, Field Pond, Anicut, Tanka etc. The structure of Anicut is quite interesting. In this area, ponds are made in several levels to stop the water coming from the hills. This is called anicut. There are total 4 Anicuts in Bar village of Beawar district. Due to excessive rainfall, for the first time, 3 anicuts have been completely filled, while water is coming slowly in the fourth one. The water capacity of one anicut is 0.5 crore litres. As a result of accumulation of water in the anicut, 1,345 wells built in the fields of the village have been recharged. 45 feet of water has come in 60 feet deep wells.
While due to this water, the problems of farming and drinking water have been relieved for some time, women living in rural areas have also got relief to some extent. Migration also stopped in some villages of the district because work was available in the village itself and there was a possibility of better income.
Experts say that a major reason for monsoon winds not stopping in Rajasthan is the tampering with the Aravalli hills. At present, a total of 12 katans (gaps) have emerged in Aravali. These cuts are not just one or two kilometers long but 10 to 12 kilometers long. These erosions have created unfavorable conditions for rain. But according to the Meteorological Department, in 2023, Rajasthan received such heavy rainfall due to prolonged western disturbances and anti-cyclonic circulation.
Down to Earth is Science and Environment fortnightly published by the Society for Environmental Communication, New Delhi. We publish news and analysis on issues that deal with sustainable development, which we scan through the eyes of science and environment.
0:00 Introduction
1:30 Western Rajasthan and its water crisis
2:43 Traditional Water Harvesting Systems
5:07 What is Anicut
6:35 Impacts of Rain Water Harvesting
All Comments (21)
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Rajasthan has always worked from centuries to store water.Always been a leader.
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Very nice reporting. Congratulations and thank you for bringing such amazing videos for the viewers.
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Now this is the amazing journlism i subscribed this channel for. I hope villages can implement such techniques and get their ground water levels recharged. Further, this reminds me of the Paani foundation work in Maharashtra. Both incredibly useful and amazing.
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बहुत बहुत धन्यवाद ऐसा हमारा मीडिया नही दिखाता आपका बहुत बहुत धन्यवाद 👍👍👍 ईश्वर करे आपका चैनल 10 मिलियन पर जाए 👍
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The "gaps" Being created by anthropogenic reasons in the Aravali range, which are 10-12 km wide, are tampering with monsoon winds. This is a major leading factor for monsoon winds not being stopped in Rajasthan. This is something we need to do collectively. Thanks a lot to DTE for such a piece of information.
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I am rajasthani. I am proud on Rajasthan.
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Nice to see Bharat's millennia-old expertise in managing monsoon water reestablishing itself.
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Wonderful! Great to learn the real stories of rural India and the genius of local people in rainwater harvesting.
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This is the kind of content that I look for on YouTube. Keep bringing these stories to us. Inspiring!
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Wonderful video. Thanks down to earth
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Great video! Super content, information and cinematography. Thanks for this 🤗
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Great work done by villagers and members of local administration. Water conservstion is one of the most required work that need to be done on top priority basis.
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धन्यवाद राजस्थान के खनन अरावली का भी एक वीडियो बनाए
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Only those who do not have rain knows the value of the water ... see the karnataka and Tamilnadu they are fighting for kauvery ... but nobody is talking about saving the rainwater from the other part of the states to solve this problem.
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Water is life so savings it the sensible thing to do. Great efforts by the villagers.in Rajasthan there are lots of places where they save &r restore the water for long time.
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How did they build these structures should be reported too. That will make greater story. How did they get money, resources, manpower, coordination, etc, how did they execute it, would be amazing to hear. I can't imagine from where we come from people making anything together for common good.
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This is really good, at least you guys had wonderful mansoon, down here in South we are struggling for drinking water.
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बढ़िया जानकारी|
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Glad to see my place getting recognition 🌸🌸
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Good story :)