Developing Ground water level in Banda By Dr. Heera Lal

1. CASE STUDY: BANDA
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Most of the hand pumps, ponds and wells
in Banda district were lying in a state of
neglect as the community connect to
preservation and upkeep of these
community water sources has been lost
culturally. This led to a major slum in
groundwater levels, especially during
summers, writes Dr Heera Lal, Additional
Mission Director, National Health Mission,
Uttar Pradesh.
EFFECTIVE WATER MANAGEMENT:
BANDA’S SUCCESS STORY
DR HEERA LAL
Additional Mission Director
National Health Mission, Uttar Pradesh
Dropping Groundwater Levels in Banda
The groundwater fluctuations and groundwater depletion rates
are high in Banda due to neglection from the locals and this
resulted in seasonal acute water scarcity in most parts of the
district. The scenario had unreliable hand pumps, dried ponds and
wells, particularly during summer months adding to the agony of
people facing water stress for household and community needs.
As per Ground Water Year Book published by Central Ground
Water Board (2015-16), there are 14 observation wells in Banda.

2. CASE STUDY: BANDA
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The maximum range of fluctuation is 3.20 m of inclination in
the level and a drop of 5.26 m annually indicating high
seasonal variability in the availability of water in wells. Overall,
about 71 percent of the wells are showing groundwater
depletion with 50 percent wells showing 0-2 m, seven percent
showing 2-4 m and 15 percent showing more than 4 m
depletion annually. Thus, the situation related to groundwater
usages and effects was truly alarming in Banda and requires a
massive awareness, campaign and interventions for
groundwater recharge to reduce the threats to groundwater
security.
Corrective Measures
The initiative of ‘Bhujal Badhao’, ‘Peyjal Bachao Abhiyaan’ and
‘Kuwa Taalab Jiao Abhiyaan’ successfully induced a socio-
behavioural change among the masses, taking roots as ‘Jal-
Aandolan’ and transforming into a ‘Jan-Aandolan’. The
movement helped to achieve all the set objectives and our
sustained efforts will completely eradicate the water crisis in
Banda.
At the inception of ‘Bhujal Badhao’, ‘Peyjal Bachao Abhiyaan’,
Banda adopted a water budgeting tool developed by WaterAid
India and Akhil Bhartiya Samaj Seva Sansthan (NGO) under
the campaign by the District Administration. The water
budgeting tool uses ‘ Jal Chaupal’ model.
The campaign which was conducted between January to
March 2019 saw a participation of 34,732 people who
participated in ‘Jal Chaupal’ from all eight blocks. The
participants were directly made aware about their water
budget (demand and supply), rates of groundwater depletion
of various strata and changes in rainfall patterns observed by
the community over a period of last 20 years. This also
triggered the community action towards ‘shramdaan’ for
digging contour trenches for groundwater recharge around
wells and hand pumps as per technical designs prepared
under the Phase -1 of the campaign. As a result 2605 contour
trenches have been constructed by community members
around 260 wells and 2183 hand pumps across 470 Gram
Panchayats in Banda district.
Further, the district administration made giant efforts to
upscale the campaign, buoyed by the success of Phase-1 of
the campaign. Therefore, Phase-2 of the campaign which was
conducted between April to February 2020 namely ‘Kuwa
Taalab Jiao Abhiyaan’ started targeting massive campaign and
‘Jal Chaupals’ around wells and Ponds by the team of district
administration and different stakeholders.
In the Phase-2, ‘Jal Chaupals’ were conducting puja and
reviving a culture of respect towards water bodies in rural
masses, which was a part of the long cultural history of
Bundelkhand. Technical models for the construction of
contour trenches, rainwater harvesting in wells and
rehabilitation of ponds were developed and disseminated
through public campaigns, booklets and posters in simple
language so that we can educate the community at the
grassroots level.
Different activities for creating awareness, motivating and
engaging communities with water were organised in the
district such as ‘Jal March’, ‘Deep Daan’, ‘Jal par Kavita &
Mushaira Sammelan’, Tree plantation & ‘Medbandi’, River Ken
‘Aarti’, ‘Jal Hasya Charchaetc’.
As a result of the Phase 2 Campaign, rehabilitation and digging
of 572 minor irrigation ponds/gram panchayat’s ponds (under
MGNREGA and Gram Nidhi), construction of 840 farm ponds
(Khet Taalaab), 82 rooftop rainwater harvesting cum recharge
pit structures at different government buildings, 1536 trench/
recharge pits at primary/upper primary school buildings/
degree college buildings, 1311 Medbandi related work at
agriculture land conducted, community action towards digging
of ponds and wells was also triggered.
Banda Campaign work has been acknowledged at different
platforms at the national level:
l Best Water Project - Smart Cities India Awards
l Habitat for Humanity India Innovation & Impact Award
l Limca Books Of Records
l Rajat Ki Boonden National Water Award
l Elets National Water Innovation Awards
To ensure its success, Banda administration has adopted a
collaborative approach and prioritized mass-ownership as the
fundamental strength, starting-off by creating a formal
district-level Water Committee comprising of key officials
from all water-related departments, civil society members and
technical water experts.
The initiative of ‘Bhujal Badhao’,
‘Peyjal Bachao Abhiyaan’ and
‘Kuwa Taalab Jiao Abhiyaan’
successfully induced a socio-
behavioural change among the
masses, taking roots as ‘Jal-
Aandolan’ and transforming into a
‘Jan-Aandolan’.