<p>Wells and tanks near Kumudavathi riverbed are filling up indicating an increase in the groundwater level in the area. This is due to the restoration work taken by the Art of Living International Centre, said a representative from the organisation.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The 45% of the restoration work is said to be completed till now. <br />As a part of this programme, more than 900 restoration wells have been built and 39,000 saplings have been planted. This has helped 66,504 villagers. However, the aim of the project is to help 2.5 lakh people living in 278 villages, the representative said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Kumudvathi river, that originates in Shivaganga hill joins Arkavathy river via Thippagondanahalli. Since some parts of the river also flow through Nelamangala, the organisation has also selected Nelamangala district for the river restoration programme.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The project was started in February 2013. Dr Y Lingaraju from the organisation had initiated the project with the help of localities and volunteers.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"In the beginning, all villagers had a doubt about volunteers. They were even destroying all the restoration drawings overnight and used to steal all materials which were used for restoration. We had to repeat the same work every day because the villagers would have been destroyed by night. However, when they realised the problem of water, they joined our hands," said Panduranga, a representative from the organisation.</p>
<p>Wells and tanks near Kumudavathi riverbed are filling up indicating an increase in the groundwater level in the area. This is due to the restoration work taken by the Art of Living International Centre, said a representative from the organisation.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The 45% of the restoration work is said to be completed till now. <br />As a part of this programme, more than 900 restoration wells have been built and 39,000 saplings have been planted. This has helped 66,504 villagers. However, the aim of the project is to help 2.5 lakh people living in 278 villages, the representative said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Kumudvathi river, that originates in Shivaganga hill joins Arkavathy river via Thippagondanahalli. Since some parts of the river also flow through Nelamangala, the organisation has also selected Nelamangala district for the river restoration programme.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The project was started in February 2013. Dr Y Lingaraju from the organisation had initiated the project with the help of localities and volunteers.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"In the beginning, all villagers had a doubt about volunteers. They were even destroying all the restoration drawings overnight and used to steal all materials which were used for restoration. We had to repeat the same work every day because the villagers would have been destroyed by night. However, when they realised the problem of water, they joined our hands," said Panduranga, a representative from the organisation.</p>