New Water Harvesting Model Launched in Rajasthan's Kukas Village
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Kukas village, Jaipur, Rajasthan |
| Initiative Leader | Vipra Goyal, IIT Kharagpur alumnus, former NITI Aayog official |
| Key Initiative | 50 climate-resilient farm ponds for rainwater harvesting |
| Rainwater Conservation | Aims to conserve 10 crore litres of rainwater |
| Project Scope | Expansion planned with 25 additional ponds, benefiting 50,000 villagers |
| Sustainability Focus | Year-round water supply, enabling crop diversification (e.g., groundnuts, cowpeas) |
| Groundwater Recharge | Ponds designed to recharge groundwater, crucial in areas lacking river or canal networks |
| Livelihood Enhancement | Supports livestock rearing, high-value horticulture, and potential for dairy farming |
| Groundwater Stress in Jaipur | 99.4% of cultivable land depends on groundwater; extraction rate 2.22 times recharge |
| Rajasthan Groundwater Issue | Extracted 149% of annual recharge in 2023; Jaisalmer worst-hit (3.56:1 extraction) |
| Recharge vs. Extraction | Annual recharge: 12.58 billion cubic metres (BCM); extraction: 17.05 BCM (2023) |