Innovative way of borewell recharging

Maharashtra-based Nanasaheb Dharmadhikari Pratishthan has initiated water conservation efforts in Karnataka with focus on borewell recharging. In Solapur taluk, the foundation has facilitated the recharging of 5,000 borewells. In Karnataka, the foundation is working in Kalaburagi, Raichur, Koppal, Vijayapura and Dharwad districts. The foundation has named this campaign as Jala Punar Bharan. So far, the foundation staff has prepared around 30 borewells for recharging. 

Initially, they dig a trench that is five feet deep and five feet wide. They then make 20 to 25 small holes on every side of the casing pipe. To avoid soil entering the pipe, they cover the pipe with jute bag or mosquito net. Then, they fill the trench with boulders, stones, sand and soil in different layers. In the next step, they construct structures to direct water from the fields towards the borewell. For this, they dig sloped trenches in three stages. In the first stage, the trench is shallow and it gets deeper as it progresses.

The members of the foundation do not charge for the technical assistance offered. Mahalingappa Lakkundi of Devaragudihal in Hubbali taluk had got a borewell drilled in 1983. The borewell stopped yielding water in 2002. Similarly another farmer, Sanjeev Ganvkar, had drilled a borewell to irrigate his farm. Now the water level has decreased from three inches to half-an-inch. Dharmadhikari Foundation puts in efforts to recharge such borewells.

The members of the foundation focus on regions that have scarce rainfall. Each team has 15 to 20 members, they work on voluntary basis and give demonstrations in the farmers’ fields. Vijayakumar Lakkundi, a member of the foundation, says, “Water flows from the upper side of the farm to the lower side. The rainwater erodes soil and there are chances of soil or mud entering the borewell along with water flow. This may block water entering into the casing pipe. To avoid this, water gets filtered in three phases along the flow. The three layers of filtering — first layer with boulders, second layer with stones and third layer with sand — at the trench ensures that water is devoid of soil sediments.”

Generally, rainwater can trickle down to 10 feet. But this method allows water to percolate down to the depth of the borewell. For example, if the borewell is 300 feet deep, water trickles down to 300 feet. While this method helps resurrect the borewell, it also ensures that the borewell doesn’t go dry in the future. Even though the foundation provides technical guidance free of cost, the farmers have to buy the required materials.  “The entire work may cost up to Rs 2000. If the farmers have the raw materials like stones and sand, then that cost will also be reduced,” says Vijayakumar. 

Though their focus is on rural areas, the volunteers of the organisation also provide guidance in urban areas. Both in urban and rural areas, they have given technical assistance to roof water harvesting.

Those who are interested to know about the method or initiative can contact Vijayakumar Lakkundi on 9867462066.

(Translated by AP)