Farmers Bring Centuries-Old Water Network Back to Life

In Raia, a remarkable restoration effort has brought a centuries-old irrigation system back to life after nearly forty years of disuse. The traditional Ganvkari irrigation network, which once channeled water from surrounding hills and springs, had collapsed. The Raia biodiversity management committee and village panchayat have successfully revived approximately half of this vital system.

This revival involved repairing ancient canals and rebuilding three traditional bandharas, small dams crucial for regulating water flow and enabling rabi season irrigation. With support from the water resources department and the village panchayat, about one lakh square meters of previously unused farmland is now under cultivation. Efforts are also underway to restore four more bandharas.

Alongside agricultural infrastructure, the initiative is preserving Rakthashali, an indigenous rice variety facing extinction. Cultivation is currently focused on creating a seed bank to multiply and distribute this nutrient-rich red rice. The goal is to prevent the loss of this traditional variety, with plans to introduce two more indigenous rice types next year.