Ancient Wells Revived as India's Water Crisis Deepens

As India grapples with a worsening water crisis, a centuries-old solution is being revived: ancient stepwells. These intricately carved wells, built during the 17th and 18th centuries, were once a common sight in many parts of the country, providing clean drinking water to local communities. However, as urbanization and modernization took hold, many of these stepwells fell into disrepair, becoming dumping grounds for rubbish and forgotten relics of a bygone era.

But as India's water crisis deepens, with some cities facing "day zero" when no water will be available, the country is turning to these ancient structures as a potential solution. In Hyderabad, the 17th-century Bansilalpet stepwell has been restored to its former glory, providing clean drinking water to the local community for the first time in four decades.

The restoration of the Bansilalpet stepwell was a labor of love, with a team of workers and volunteers laboring for 18 months to clear out 3,000 tonnes of rubbish and restore the stone walls and adjacent area. According to Hajira Adeeb, a 45-year-old resident of Bansilalpet, who grew up seeing the well become transformed from the community's water source to a dump, "It was such a joyous moment to see water collecting into the stepwell after clearing 40 years of garbage."

The restoration of the Bansilalpet stepwell is not an isolated incident. Across India, efforts are underway to revive and restore ancient stepwells, with many organizations and individuals working to clear out debris, repair damaged structures, and rejuvenate these ancient water sources. According to experts, these stepwells have the potential to provide clean drinking water to millions of people, particularly in rural areas where access to clean water is limited.

The need for such initiatives is dire. India is facing a severe water crisis, with many parts of the country experiencing drought-like conditions and water scarcity. The country's water table is declining at an alarming rate, with the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) warning that 21 cities, including Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, will run out of groundwater by 2025, affecting 100 million people.

The restoration of ancient stepwells is not a new concept in India. In the past, many of these structures were restored and maintained by local communities, who recognized their importance as a source of clean drinking water. However, as urbanization and modernization took hold, many of these stepwells fell into disrepair, and the traditional knowledge and skills required to maintain them were lost.

Today, efforts are underway to revive this traditional knowledge and skills, with many organizations and individuals working to document and preserve the history and architecture of these ancient stepwells. According to experts, the restoration of these structures is not just about providing clean drinking water, but also about preserving India's cultural heritage and promoting sustainable water management practices.

As India's water crisis deepens, the restoration of ancient stepwells is a timely reminder of the importance of preserving traditional knowledge and practices. These ancient structures have the potential to provide clean drinking water to millions of people, and their restoration is a crucial step towards addressing India's water crisis.