An oasis in Dewas: case study of Mahukheda
“Mahukheda ki ghati, mare raand, jeevit mati” goes a local saying here. It implies “in the valley of Mahukheda, the women die and the men prosper”.
“Mahukheda ki ghati, mare raand, jeevit mati” goes a local saying here. It implies “in the valley of Mahukheda, the women die and the men prosper”.
Basindra Village, Ratlam District, Madhya Pradesh, is watered by the perennial Jhamand River. The river flows about 100 ft below the village and was once its only source of water. The 2-3 handpumps installed here in the 1970’s by the Public Health and Engineering Department (PHED) used to run dry in the summer. When the river would shrink in the summer, people would dig holes in the riverbed to procure water for their daily needs.
This publication documents traditions, practices technologies and policies of water harvesting in the country. It also assesses state government efforts to deal with drought. The book has a clear message for the thirsty times ahead: Water must be made everybody's business.