How water conservation efforts have helped turn fortune of a Jharkhand village

The reservoir — as well as the larger water conservation project in the area — has been credited to Naman Priyesh Lakra, a 2015 Jharkhand cadre IAS officer and the Deputy Commissioner of Giridih in Jharkhand who has won The Indian Express Excellence in Governance Award 2024 in the water category. According to Lakra, a total of 57 water bodies have been rejuvenated under NITI Aayog’s Rejuvenation Window-II over the last two years.

Giridih Deputy Commissioner Naman Priyesh Lakra

But the project involves not only building reservoirs but also other water conservation methods such as Trench Cum Bunds (TCBs) – which involves digging trenches along a line near an incline to help capture rainwater runoff – and soak pits, a porous-walled chamber built into the ground designed to allow water to seep into the ground. The type of conservation method, according to authorities, depends on the needs of the area.

For the villagers in Jitkundi, the reservoir, built around 100 metres from an existing shallow but mostly dry pond, comes as a massive relief — especially in the summer.

“Drought was very common here,” says Jageshwar Rana, a 68-year-old farmer from the village whose family lives metres from the reservoir. “However, since the new reservoir was built, we now have a reliable water source year-round. It sustains the village year-round. Even during the summer, the water level never drops below six feet.”

Another resident, 68-year-old Lattu Mandal, explains how the structure works.

“Several trenches dug into the nearby hills redirect rainwater into the reservoir. When the reservoir overflows, the excess water flows into the lower fields and then down to other fields via dedicated channels,” he says.

Residents such as Rana claim the reservoir has had a major impact on the village, especially on agriculture.

“Last year, I harvested 75 kg of paddy… in 2023, it was only 30 kg. Not only has the quantity increased, but the quality has improved too. Earlier, the grains were small due to lack of water… now, they’re bigger and longer,” he says.

According to Lakra, the project was undertaken because Giridih faced significant water-related challenges. “The project was important to address these critical issues impacting the livelihoods of farmers and the overall well-being of the community,” he said. “The potential to improve the livelihoods of the rural population, who heavily rely on agriculture and groundwater resources, have been a significant driving forceFurthermore, the recognition of the ecological and cultural significance of the rivers and water bodies in the region, such as the Barakar River and Usri River, and the desire to set an example for sustainable water management and environmental conservation in the region and potentially beyond have been additional sources of inspiration.”