Support a Pond is the dedicated discipline for undertaking the restoration and rejuvenation of enclosed water bodies in a local community with an understanding between government departments, corporates, communities and individuals, in a systematic and holistic fashion. 

 

Background:

Johads (Ponds) have lost their existence and cultural significance due to the rapid urbanization and unregulated water resource exploitation. Traditionally they were of high relevance to the community nearby for their animals, especially cattle rearing and bathing in the agrarian state of Haryana. With time, the farmers switched to mechanisation and ponds along with the cattle became insignificant. What we all as a society failed to realize is that these water bodies were acting as natural major recharge grounds for groundwater. Now most of the ponds in Haryana are either dry or have sewerage water flowing in them.

On the other hand, we are highly dependent on ground-water for our day to day consumption and agriculture. 

Borewells and tube wells are common across the district. As per a report published by CGWB, there are areas in Gurugram facing 308% groundwater extraction. Due to such non-judicious consumption and no proper recharge the groundwater level is falling by almost 2-5 meters per year in the district, making all the blocks in the critical and exploited category.

 

Most of the traditionally existing water bodies have either been encroached or levelled in the shadow of urbanisation. According to a study from Revenue Records and GIS mapping done by Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority, the number of water bodies in the district has been reduced from 644 to 124 in the last six decades (1994 – 2019).

The brighter side is there are almost 320 Johads in the Gurugram district which can still be revived.

Objectives:

Under our Support a Pond vertical, we have taken upon ‘Restore Johad’, which is envisioned to be a collaborative undertaking between the Government Departments, Corporate CSR, Communities and Individuals, with the sole objective is to rejuvenate the ponds. Our objective is to:

  • Restore 320 water bodies across district
  • Do complete Pond profiling to enable collaboration
  • Facilitate the government departments and the local community in              reviving the water bodies.
  • Helping the CSR partners, take up pond rejuvenation and maintenance.

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