The availability of water, or the lack of it, shapes lives in drought-stricken Bundelkhand.
Bundelkhand is a dirt-poor region where people are now desperately scratching the dirt for water. Only a few farmers have enough money to dig more than 50 metres and pump water out of the few aquifers that have not gone dry. A few others have built check dams and embankments to hold the rain where it falls, and their farms remain profitable. But such oases are too few and far between.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
The village well in Paldev Ka Purwa village in Banda district of Uttar Pradesh dried up three years ago, bringing cultivation to a virtual halt.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
A neighbouring well in the village just holds a few inches of water that's not fit to drink.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
The drying up of wells in Paldev Ka Purwa has meant unsowed, barren fields.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
The pond near Galha village in Banda district lost all its water two years ago and even watering the animals have since proved to be a challenge to the local peasantry.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
The only farmer in Galha village, Munna Nath (pictured), has been able to cultivate his fields only because he has a bore well and pump.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Years of inadequate rain has reduced the Baghain river in Bundelkhand to a sad trickle, and the lift canal (pictured) in the Narayani block of Banda district runs mostly dry.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
The pond dug a few years ago in Jignanda village of Hamirpur district still holds plenty of water despite scanty rainfall.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
The water in the pond has ensured that owner Gaya Prasad Tiwari has harvested a good crop despite the drought.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
A micro watershed intervention by building tiny check dams such as this near Salaiya Pamar village in Datia district of Madhya Pradesh have yielded positive results.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
A well is being dug in Salaiya Pamar to take advantage of the raised groundwater level.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
An agricultural field has been embanked in the Noner mouza of Datia district to catch the rain where it falls.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
An old pond in Hamirpur district still holds water despite the drought because it was built keeping the contours of the land in mind.
Read part 1 of this series here, and part 2 here.
Tomorrow: Linking Rivers Will Not Save Bundelkhand
This photo feature was first published on www.indiaclimatedialogue.net
Follow Soumya Sarkar on Twitter: www.twitter.com/scurve
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Like Us On Facebook |
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Follow Us On Twitter |
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Contact HuffPost India
Also see on HuffPost:
Bundelkhand is a dirt-poor region where people are now desperately scratching the dirt for water. Only a few farmers have enough money to dig more than 50 metres and pump water out of the few aquifers that have not gone dry. A few others have built check dams and embankments to hold the rain where it falls, and their farms remain profitable. But such oases are too few and far between.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
The village well in Paldev Ka Purwa village in Banda district of Uttar Pradesh dried up three years ago, bringing cultivation to a virtual halt.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
A neighbouring well in the village just holds a few inches of water that's not fit to drink.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
The drying up of wells in Paldev Ka Purwa has meant unsowed, barren fields.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
The pond near Galha village in Banda district lost all its water two years ago and even watering the animals have since proved to be a challenge to the local peasantry.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
The only farmer in Galha village, Munna Nath (pictured), has been able to cultivate his fields only because he has a bore well and pump.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Years of inadequate rain has reduced the Baghain river in Bundelkhand to a sad trickle, and the lift canal (pictured) in the Narayani block of Banda district runs mostly dry.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
The pond dug a few years ago in Jignanda village of Hamirpur district still holds plenty of water despite scanty rainfall.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
The water in the pond has ensured that owner Gaya Prasad Tiwari has harvested a good crop despite the drought.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
A micro watershed intervention by building tiny check dams such as this near Salaiya Pamar village in Datia district of Madhya Pradesh have yielded positive results.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
A well is being dug in Salaiya Pamar to take advantage of the raised groundwater level.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
An agricultural field has been embanked in the Noner mouza of Datia district to catch the rain where it falls.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
An old pond in Hamirpur district still holds water despite the drought because it was built keeping the contours of the land in mind.
Read part 1 of this series here, and part 2 here.
Tomorrow: Linking Rivers Will Not Save Bundelkhand
This photo feature was first published on www.indiaclimatedialogue.net
Follow Soumya Sarkar on Twitter: www.twitter.com/scurve
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Like Us On Facebook | Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Follow Us On Twitter | Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Contact HuffPost IndiaAlso see on HuffPost: