A village called Bhunav, in Gujarat’s Mehsana district, demonstrates that water security is achievable through smart planning and community action. Its success can serve as a model for other villages looking to manage their water resources sustainably.
Water is not just a resource–it’s the foundation of life, livelihoods, and resilience. In the past year, India has faced alarming water-related challenges that underscore the urgency of building water security and resilience.
Devastating floods have displaced millions and claimed thousands of lives, while erratic monsoons and extreme weather have slashed crop yields, threatening food security and rural livelihoods. These events are not just isolated incidents. They are clear warnings that without sustainable water management, India’s resilience against climate change and economic stability will remain at risk.
Hindustan Unilever Foundation (HUF), in collaboration with the Development Support Center (DSC), has launched a programme in three water-stressed districts of Aravalli, Mehsana and Sabarkantha in north Gujarat.
These districts fall under arid to semi-arid climatic zones, with irregular rainfall and high rainfall variations over the years. Here, more than 90% of irrigation water comes from pumping shallow and deep groundwater sources from private and government group tube wells and open wells.
Continued usage of these groundwater sources over decades has led to these districts being categorised as overexploited zones.
The programme aims to inform farming communities about groundwater resources and equip them to manage these resources effectively, employing principles promoted by the Atal Bhujal Yojana.
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Bhunav, a small village in Gujarat’s Mehsana district, thrived on groundwater and rain-fed irrigation for generations. But as rainfall grew erratic and water levels declined, the village faced a looming crisis.
With rising irrigation demands and depleting resources, the community knew it was time for change. Embracing water budgeting, villagers came together to assess usage, conserve resources, and plan for the future.
A positive push came from the Atal Bhujal Yojana that empowered Bhunav’s community to adopt water budgeting by promoting groundwater monitoring, conservation practices, and efficient irrigation. Through this initiative, villagers actively participated in managing their water resources, ensuring long-term sustainability.
Bhunav, with 3,530 residents and 1,630 livestock, spans 516 hectares, heavily dependent on irrigation. Despite 750 mm of annual rainfall, most water is lost to evapotranspiration and runoff, leaving only 20% for groundwater recharge.
With a total water potential of 774,000 tankers and a demand of 348,231 tankers–mostly for irrigation–the real challenge was efficiency, not scarcity. Through water budgeting, the village identified a surplus of 54,205 tankers, proving that strategic planning could secure its water future without overexploiting resources.
Guided by trained para-geohydrologists, Bhunav’s villagers took charge of their water future. They assessed consumption, storage, and recharge potential, adopting drip and sprinkler irrigation for efficiency, groundwater and rainfall assessments for better planning and check dams, ponds, and recharge wells to harness rainwater.
This collective effort turned water budgeting into a movement, ensuring sustainability for generations.
To balance water supply and demand, Bhunav embraced key strategies such as recharge structures (percolation ponds, borewells, and expanded village ponds with a 170,236 tanker capacity); sustainable farming practices like crop rotation, mixed cropping, and low-water crops; community leadership with village water groups and partnerships with NGOs and government bodies for funding.
Through these efforts, Bhunav is securing its water future, one drop at a time.
By training leaders in water budgeting, promoting water-efficient farming, implementing village-wide rainwater harvesting, and strengthening local water governance, communities can build resilience against water scarcity. Sustainable water management begins with collective action, and Bhunav is paving the way for others to follow.
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The lead image on top depicts villagers at Bhunav involved in an interactive discussion to map and implement water budgeting. (Photo courtesy the Development Support Centre)
Praveen Prakash is the Head of Operations at HUF.
Kumud Joshi is a Programme Manager at HUF.
