Drought and famine hit Saurashtra, North Gujarat, year after year. The water level has been descending to lower and lower levels in the past several years. Only 15% of rain water percolates into the ground whilst the rest is washed away into the sea and salty water permeates the ground. Some 2.5 million acres of arable land in Saurashtra has been rendered unproductive due to the increased salinity and in addition about 40,000 wells have been flooded with salty, unusable water.

In some areas, wells have been drilled up to 500 feet to obtain drinking water, but the effort has not always proved fruitful. With conditions deteriorating, the ‘well-recharging’ method has evolved.

Well-recharging involves construction of a pooling tank in which surface water is drawn. Heavy particles and mud settle and when the water reaches a certain height it automatically drains into the nearby well through an underground connecting pipe.

In 1994, BAPS printed 20,000 information leaflets and fanned out in the worst hit areas with teams of sadhus and volunteers. 4,593 wells were recharged in 240 villages of North Gujarat. In total, BAPS donated 91, 860 feet of cement pipes and invaluable technical help for the good of the rural populace.

Wells Recharged in 1994

Wells recharged from 1994 onwards