Chhareda Panchayat Water Conservation Model
Kartavya Desk Staff
Context: Rajasthan’s Chhareda panchayat in Dausa district has become a model for water conservation, where farm ponds have boosted agricultural output and farmer income.
• IIT-Kharagpur alumnus Vipra Goyal’s initiative has led to the construction of 250 farm ponds, helping mitigate groundwater depletion and water scarcity.
About Chhareda Panchayat Water Conservation Model:
• What it is? Rajasthan’s Chhareda panchayat water conservation model focuses on constructing farm ponds to harvest rainwater, reducing dependence on deep, contaminated groundwater.
• Rajasthan’s Chhareda panchayat water conservation model focuses on constructing farm ponds to harvest rainwater, reducing dependence on deep, contaminated groundwater.
• How Farm Ponds are Aiding to Face Water Crisis in Rajasthan?
• Rainwater Harvesting: Farm ponds store rainwater, reducing dependence on overexploited and contaminated groundwater. Year-Round Water Supply: Ponds ensure water availability for both kharif and rabi crops. Groundwater Conservation: The initiative has conserved around 30 crore litres of groundwater annually. Income Generation: Farmers shifted from subsistence farming to cash crop production, increasing household incomes collectively by ₹5 crore. Reduced Water Pollution: Avoids irrigation with groundwater contaminated with arsenic and fluoride. Sustainable Agriculture: Provides a long-term, climate-resilient solution in water-stressed areas. Cost-Free for Farmers: Ponds constructed through CSR funds and government schemes without farmer expenses.
• Rainwater Harvesting: Farm ponds store rainwater, reducing dependence on overexploited and contaminated groundwater.
• Year-Round Water Supply: Ponds ensure water availability for both kharif and rabi crops.
• Groundwater Conservation: The initiative has conserved around 30 crore litres of groundwater annually.
• Income Generation: Farmers shifted from subsistence farming to cash crop production, increasing household incomes collectively by ₹5 crore.
• Reduced Water Pollution: Avoids irrigation with groundwater contaminated with arsenic and fluoride.
• Sustainable Agriculture: Provides a long-term, climate-resilient solution in water-stressed areas.
• Cost-Free for Farmers: Ponds constructed through CSR funds and government schemes without farmer expenses.
Relevance in UPSC Exam Syllabus:
• GS Paper 1 (Geography): Issues of water scarcity and sustainable water resource management.
• Issues of water scarcity and sustainable water resource management.
• GS Paper 2 (Governance): Role of community participation and CSR in rural development.
• Role of community participation and CSR in rural development.
• GS Paper 3 (Environment & Agriculture): Water conservation techniques, sustainable agriculture, and rural livelihoods.
• Water conservation techniques, sustainable agriculture, and rural livelihoods.
• Essay Paper: Topics on rural transformation, climate change adaptation, and grassroots water management initiatives.
• Topics on rural transformation, climate change adaptation, and grassroots water management initiatives.