Johad

Johads can be of several types, such as dug out in areas to which rainwater can be easily channeled. Alternatively, simple mud and rubble barrier check dams may be built across the contour of a slope with a high embankment on the three sides while the fourth side is left open for the rainwater to enter. These catch and conserve rainwater, leading to improved percolation and groundwater recharge. They are very common in most villages of states of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and the Thar desert of Rajasthan in India.[1][2][3][4]

2019 Atal Bhujal Yojana (Atal groundwater scheme), a 5 years (2020-21 to 2024-25) scheme costing INR 6 billion (US$85 million) for managing demand side with village panchayat level water security plans entailing johad rejuvenation (wetland) and groundwater recharge, was approved for implementation in 8,350 water-stressed villages across 7 states, including Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.[8]

Johad at Rithal village of Rohtak district of Haryana

In 2007, Haryana Irrigation Department spent INR435.26 crore (INR4.3 billion or US$7 million) to renovate and restore water bodies in the state for the conservation of water, recharging of ground water, preservation of environment and enhancement of tourism.[9] A study by the Panjab University found 60 fish species of 19 families, 11 commercial and 6 exotic species, in the water bodies of Haryana.[10] Water bodies remain under risk from encroachment, shrinking of catchment area and pollution.[11] In 2010, India's first ever diatom data basing was done in ten different water bodies at ten different stations in Haryana.[12] A 2015 study of 24 water bodies of Haryana, found 39 morphologically different types of diatoms.[13]

In 2016, the Government of Haryana announced a plan to map the district-wise map of water flow and to create a database of all water bodies within the state.[14] These water bodies have contributed to the economic development through fisheries in the landlocked state of Haryana. Haryana ranks second in India in terms of the average annual fish production per unit area in the country with 7000 kg per hectare average annual fish production.[15] Fish production has increased from 600 tonnes in 1966-67 at the time of formation of Haryana to 121000 tonnes of fish during the year 2015-16, providing a livelihood to over 30000 families in fisheries sector.[16]

On 1 November 2017, Chief Minister of Haryana Manohar Lal Khattar announced that Government of Haryana will form the Haryana State Waterbody Management Board to rejuvenate and manage 14,000 ponds in Haryana by digging the silt out every year. This includes development of 50 to 60 lakes in National Capital Region falling within the Haryana state.[5][6]

As of 2020, Government of Haryana is reviving various johads of Gurugram. In June 2020, for the revival of pond at Gwal Pahari, the estimates were being prepared to undertake erection of boundary wall, building a walking track around the johad, clearing of bushes and planting of trees and to connect the seasonal rivulet to the johad to ensure it retains water year around.[17]

In 2021, Haryana will undertake a survey based on 1957 revenue records and satellite survey to identify the ponds, remove encroachments and among those in first phase rejuvenate 1868 ponds by the end of 2022 to use water from pond to irrigate 50 acre land per pond or targeted irrigation of total 93400 land from the rejuvenated ponds.[18]

Rajendra Singh, founder of Tarun Bharat Sangh NGO explaining the use of johad to the students of TERI University in Alwar district of Rajasthan

There was a severe drought in Alwar district in Rajasthan during 1985-86. In 1985, volunteers from the Tarun Bharat Sangh (TBS), a voluntary organization led by Rajendra Singh, came to Alwar. The Alwar District had once thrived, but logging, mining, and other industrial activities resulted in land degradation that intensified flooding and droughts. The traditional water management system using johads was abandoned. TBS revived the tradition of building johads, an example of traditional technology that provided water for use and recharging ground water. Now smaller cemented johads are popularly known as tankas in most parts of the arid state of Rajasthan.[19][20]

The water revolution spread by tanki and johads in the Alwar district has spread far and wide. Now there are around 5,000 johads all over Rajasthan and this has greatly helped in reducing water shortage and improving water quality.

Taanka or Tanki is a rain-fed water storage in the arid areas of the Indian subcontinent, such as Rajasthan, specially in the bagar tract.

Diggi is a canal-fed water works for rural drinking water supply.[21] It is usually a purpose-dug open pond, smaller than the typical johad, often concretised to prevent the water loss.