Agriculture University's new technique helps Rajasthan village meet its water demand

After suffering from water crisis for the last 25 years, Shri Karan Narendra Agriculture University situated in Jaipur's Jobner area found a way out of the crisis. The university installed three ponds along the Jwala hill, enabling the people to use the water which would otherwise get wasted. The new project helped recharge the groundwater in Jobner and adjacent areas, thus providing relief from the grave water shortage to people.

Jaipur: A popular saying in Rajasthan quotes as, ‘If one says that he knows the value of water, either he is lying or he is a native of Rajasthan'. Even the children of this state know the value of water and have to face all odds to get enough of it. It is said that if you wish to learn the true value of water, go and live in Rajasthan.

The people of the Jobner area in the capital city of Rajasthan have been suffering from a water crisis for 25 years. Even the Shri Karan Narendra Agricultural University had to order tankers to fulfil its water supply. But now, this university has found a technique which will not only benefit them but also the nearby areas.

The people of the western areas of the state like Barmer, Jaisalmer, Bikaner have to travel many kilometres just to try to keep up with their water demands. But now many other areas of the state have been categorised under ‘dark zones’. In such a situation, the scenarios of other districts of the state have also become like the border areas. Things are getting worse in the Jobner area, located just 40 km from the capital Jaipur. Here the groundwater level is continuously falling.

Increased the groundwater level by water harvesting

The oldest agricultural college in the country which was established before the independence of our country is in the Jobner area. Now, it is known as the Sri Karan Narendra Agricultural University. It is an agricultural university where students are taught about crops along with animals for practicals. Since many years, the college is suffering from a major water crisis.

The university is forced to get water from tankers since 1995. Now, due to the excellent water management of the university authorities, this crisis is over not just for them but also for the whole area. Due to the work done in water conservation by the university administration, the groundwater level in the surrounding areas has also gone up by 50 feet.

This university which spreads over 125 hectares had no problems with water until 1985. The university even grew crops. But after 1985, the water levels of the area kept decreasing. By the year 1995, the water was completely over. For 25 years the university suffered from lack of sufficient water and had to go through many odds to get enough.

The water is generated through sewers

In order to become independent, the college authorities with the help of the municipalities generated water from the extra water flowing on the hill of the nearby Jwala Mata temple. The university built 3 ponds of the capacity of 33 lakh litres and one other with a capacity of 3 crore litres. They have also made some other ponds near the area.

It is noted that the water that would flow down the hill and get wasted, now gets collected in a pond. It is then stored in some other pond. When the pond starts to overflow, the water is released into the Jwala Sea. The university manages to get enough water through the pond. The rest of the ponds recharge the groundwater supply in the area.

Have made 3 ponds of 33 litres: G.S Bangrava

The former dean of the university, G.S Bangrava who is the brain behind this project, tells us they have built 3 ponds with a capacity of 33 lakh litres. There is another pond with the capacity of 3 crore litres through which the university is able to generate enough water for its needs while the rest of the ponds recharge the groundwater level of the area. He says that this has not only benefited the college but also increased the groundwater level of the water by 50 ft. At first, no crops could be grown around this area but now there is enough water for irrigation and to make the land fertile.

Are water conservation methods like this important?

This method is important for Rajasthan because 185 out of 295 blocks here are in the ‘dark zones’. On 10 June 2003, the areas categorised in the ‘dark zones’ were 164 but now they have increased to 185. ‘Dark Zones’ have those areas where water is being generated from underground but it is not getting recharged.