Rejuvenating Rajasthan's water bodies: The story of Purani Nadi

The Hindu

28-07-2025

In the heart of Jaipur's Tunga block, the village of Peelarama has rewritten its water story through the revival of its centuries-old pond, Purani Nadi.
What set Purani Nadi's transformation apart was the extent of community involvement and speed of implementation. In just two weeks, 10,100 cubic metres of silt were excavated using two machines, one of which the Gram Panchayat funded. Of this, 7,064 cubic metres were used for public infrastructure works such as bunding of waterbodies, levelling of kuccha roads (unpaved roads) and community spaces, while 3,036 cubic metres of fertile silt were voluntarily carted by farmers to enrich their fields.
The impact of this swift, participatory effort was tangible (real) Jagdish Kumar, a farmer who transported 50 trolleys of silt to his fields, shares, 'The silt from Purani Nadi has transformed my field. My wheat and mustard crops grew taller and healthier. I used nearly 50% less chemical fertilisers and water, thanks to the moisture and fertility retained in the silt.' Jagdish also applied the silt around his fruit trees, blending it with compost. He says, 'There's a visible improvement in fruit size, colour, and yield especially in guava, papaya, and pomegranate. I feel more confident now to try new horticulture crops.' He is now experimenting with papaya, pomegranate, and Thai apple.
Encouraged by this early success, the community pushed further, requesting an additional 5,000 cubic metres of desilting the next year to enhance year-round water retention. The community's proactive approach led to co-created design to protect and provide easy access to livestock.
Today, over 900 residents and their livestock in Peelarama and the neighbouring village rely on this pond. Improved irrigation application of fertile silt has allowed a few farmers to shift from double to triple cropping near the waterbody. Women, who played an active role in the initiative, now gather at the pond for prayers and to ensure its ongoing sustenance.
Peelarama's transformation is more than a local success story—it is a model for rural water stewardship. It demonstrates the power of community ownership, corporate social responsibility, and responsive local governance in tackling India's water crisis.
The Rejuvenation of Waterbodies (RWB) Model: Enabling Water Security at scale
The model is not Jaipur-specific and has in fact been successfully implemented across Rajasthan. Since 2021, organisations like ATECF, TCHFL, Indira Foundation, Caring Friends, NITI Aayog, local NGOs, and village communities have together rejuvenated over 1,100 waterbodies across 12 districts in Rajasthan – with 9% of the waterbodies rejuvenated under the NITI Aayog Aspiration Districts Programme. These efforts have added an estimated 1,191 crore litres of surface water storage (equivalent to over 10 lakh water tankers) and improved water access for nearly 1.7 million people in 1,700 villages.
Around 2,000 farmers have carted and applied silt to their fields, turning previously barren land arable, improving yields, and increasing income. Nand Lal, a farmer from Shahabad village in Baran district, Rajasthan, shares: 'My 1.5-acre farmland was rocky and barren. After applying 50 trolleys of silt, I've grown coriander and expect at least ₹15,000 more in annual income, due to better yields.'
This model is fundamentally community-led, cost-effective, and time-efficient. It focuses on reviving existing water bodies using machine-led desilting to increase surface storage and recharge groundwater where feasible. The model also leverages technology for site identification, prioritization, and real-time monitoring.
'There is immense potential to scale this work through public-private partnerships,' says Amrtha Kasturi Rangan, Head of the Water and Agriculture Vertical at A.T.E. Chandra Foundation. 'This initiative answers Hon'ble PM Narendra Modi's call to 'catch the rain, where it falls, when it falls' and could be replicated across Rajasthan's ~50,000 waterbodies, benefiting 26,000 villages and creating an additional 33,210 crore litres of surface water storage,' she adds.
The pond today stands rejuvenated, thanks to a collaborative effort by the Community, Dhara Sansthan (local NGO), Tata Capital Housing Finance Limited (TCHFL) and A.T.E. Chandra Foundation (ATECF) between 2023-25, under a broader initiative to restore 194 waterbodies across seven blocks of Jaipur district.
The Path Ahead: Realising Jal Suraksha through Jan Bhagidari
With the launch of Mukhyamantri Jal Swavalamban Abhiyan (MJSA) 2.0, Rajasthan has a unique opportunity to scale this model. At a cost of ₹31 per cubic meter for excavation and with up to 60% savings through community-led silt transportation the economics are sound. Organizations like ATECF and Piramal Foundation are ready with the technical tools and expertise required to implement the model at scale.
This model works successfully when implemented by the government as well. States like Maharashtra, and agencies like NITI Aayog, have already incorporated elements of this model into government schemes, emphasising community participation and technology-led monitoring. For Rajasthan, water security is not only an environmental concern—it is central to agricultural productivity, rural development, and economic resilience.
The evidence is clear, the model is proven, and the resources are available. Peelarama's story shows what is possible when people and partnerships come together. If adopted across the state, Rajasthan can lead the way in achieving 'Jal Suraksha through Jan Bhagidari.' (transl. Water protection through people's participation)
(Moumita Mukherjee is a Deputy Manager with the Water & Agriculture vertical at the A.T.E. Chandra Foundation)