Building Progress on JalTara - Economical and Adaptable Answer for India's Groundwater Scarcity Predicament
In a bid to address the critical global issue of groundwater depletion, The Art of Living Social Projects, under the guidance of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, is working tirelessly to make India water-positive. One of their key initiatives, the JalTara project, has shown promising results in numerous water-stressed regions across the country.
The JalTara project employs a simple yet effective method for water conservation. By digging a small recharge pit at the lowest point of each farm plot and planting two fruit-bearing trees alongside it, they create a natural funnel that directs rainwater deep into the aquifers, efficiently recharging groundwater levels.
Key strategies and outcomes of the JalTara project include natural groundwater recharge, agroforestry integration, scalability, demonstrated impact, community empowerment, and low-cost sustainability. The project has been implemented on a large scale, with over 105,000 recharge structures built in water-stressed regions, and plans to scale up to 500,000 structures across 100,000 villages within five years.
The project's impact is evident in the rising water tables, improved agricultural yields, and increased economic wellbeing in rural communities. Water tables have risen by up to 14 feet in participating areas, crop yields have increased by 42%, farmer incomes have risen by 120%, waterlogging problems have been eliminated, and year-round employment has increased by 88%.
Farmer testimonials highlight dramatic improvements in agricultural productivity and water availability, transforming struggling farms into thriving fields. Ramchandra Mandale, a farmer from Shirur, has witnessed a return of water and a rise in crop yields due to the efforts of The Art of Living Social Projects. Similarly, Sulabai Chavhal, a farmer from Jalna, Maharashtra, has seen a significant increase in crop yields following the implementation of JalTara.
The organization's success is also attributed to their ability to mobilize communities, particularly women. Dr. K. Satyagopal, former Chairman of Tamil Nadu Water Resources Corporation, has praised The Art of Living's ability to engage communities effectively.
In addition to the JalTara project, The Art of Living Social Projects also construct recharge structures like check dams, contour trenches, and recharge pits to retain water and refill aquifers. Their efforts have rejuvenated 72 rivers/streams and tributaries and built over 1,05,050 groundwater recharge structures across 8 states.
The Water Conservation team of The Art of Living consists of experts in various fields, including retired ISRO scientists, hydrologists, geologists, civil engineers, and IT professionals. Their combined expertise is instrumental in designing region-specific models using geo-informatics, GIS mapping, and remote sensing to slow down rainwater, increase soil moisture, prevent erosion, and refill aquifers naturally.
The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) reports that several once "critical" regions now have "safe" water levels thanks to the interventions of The Art of Living Social Projects. In Vellore, Tamil Nadu, the water table rose by 12 feet, as verified by the state's Water Supply and Drainage Board. Across multiple states, groundwater levels have seen dramatic improvement due to the efforts of The Art of Living Social Projects.
In summary, the JalTara project’s core method is low-cost, sustainable groundwater recharge using strategically located recharge pits combined with fruit tree planting, which has proven highly effective in boosting water tables, agricultural yield, and economic wellbeing in rural communities.
- The JalTara project, an initiative in environmental science aimed at addressing climate change, employs a sustainable-living approach by creating natural funnels for rainwater recharge in home-and-garden settings, benefiting both the environment and lifestyle.
- The Art of Living Social Projects, a leader in sustainable-living practices, has demonstrated success in boosting groundwater levels through projects like JalTara, thereby contributing significantly to making India water-positive in the field of science.
- The JalTara project, a key strategy in combating groundwater depletion, has not only shown promising results in terms of natural groundwater recharge, but also in community empowerment, agroforestry integration, and promoting sustainable-living lifestyles.
