Strengthening Rural Water Security: Lessons from Pond Rejuvenation in Sathivada, Andhra Pradesh.
This blog highlights how rejuvenating traditional ponds in Sathivada is strengthening rural water security, improving groundwater recharge, and creating a scalable model for climate-resilient communities.
Water has always been at the heart of India’s rural life. In villages across the country, ponds serve as lifelines, sustaining agriculture, livestock, fisheries, and the very social fabric of communities. Yet, decades of neglect, rapid urbanization, and unsustainable practices have pushed many of these age-old water bodies into decline. Against this backdrop, the rejuvenation of ponds in Sathivada village, Vizianagaram District, Andhra Pradesh, offers a sustainable model of how traditional wisdom combined with modern science can restore both ecosystems and livelihoods.
Why Village Ponds Matter for Rural Water Security
Village ponds are much more than water-holding structures. They are multifunctional assets that:
- Store water for irrigation and livestock.
- Recharge groundwater aquifers through natural percolation.
- Support fisheries and aquatic biodiversity.
- Provide spaces for domestic use, cultural traditions, and community gatherings.
According to the National Institute of Hydrology, nearly two-thirds of India’s rural population depends directly on ponds and tanks for agriculture and household needs. Yet, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) notes that over 60% of monitored water bodies in India are at risk due to sedimentation, encroachment, and pollution. Left unchecked, this degradation undermines rural water security, particularly in rain-fed agricultural regions.
The Sathivada Pond Rejuvenation Initiative
Recognizing the urgency, Dr. Reddy’s Foundation (DRF) launched a comprehensive pond rejuvenation program in Sathivada. The approach blended indigenous ecological knowledge with advanced watershed and aquifer management practices, focusing on nature based soulutions (NBS):
- Desilting to remove accumulated sediments and restore pond depth.
- Reinforcing embankments to prevent erosion and ensure long-term stability.
- Optimizing inflow and drainage to maintain water quality and reduce stagnation.
- Bund planting along pond peripheries to improve green cover, reduce soil erosion, and promote habitat diversity for pollinators and birds.
This integrated approach directly improved hydrological functions, ensuring that the ponds could sustainably support agriculture, fisheries, biodiversity and domestic needs.
Quantifiable Impacts on Rural Water Security
Hydrological assessments revealed substantial gains in both depth and storage capacity:
- Ananthasagar Pond
- Surface area: 137,000 m²
- Depth increased: 1.4 m → 2.4 m
- Storage capacity: 191,892 m3 → 328,958 m3 (+71%)
- Jaggasagar Pond
- Surface area: 108,000 m²
- Depth increased: 1.8 m → 3.0 m
- Storage capacity: 195,060 m3 → 325,101 m3 (+67%)
Together, these ponds now benefit nearly 1,000 farming families, strengthening rural water security by providing dependable water for agriculture even in erratic rainfall years. Revitalized ponds have also boosted fisheries, biodiversity and related livelihoods, offering new streams of income and strengthening household resilience.
Beyond Hydrology: Reviving Culture, Community, and Water Security
Water bodies in India are often deeply tied to culture. In Sathivada, ponds have long served as gathering points for festivals, rituals, and community events. Their restoration has reignited a sense of pride and stewardship among villagers, while also encouraging intergenerational knowledge sharing about water conservation.
Studies by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) highlight that community-driven water projects not only improve resource security but also reinforce social cohesion outcomes that Sathivada is now witnessing first-hand.
A Scalable Model for Rural Water Security
The pond rejuvenation initiative in Sathivada demonstrates that restoring traditional water bodies is not just an ecological necessity but a socio-economic investment. By increasing water storage, enhancing groundwater recharge, and revitalizing communal spaces, the project strengthens resilience in the face of climate variability. Its outcomes underscore the power of integrating evidence-based watershed management with local wisdom and community ownership. With systematic monitoring and timely maintenance, this model offers a scalable blueprint for rural India, to advance rural water security, livelihoods, and culture for generations to come.
By
Dr. Sreedhar Kuntamalla | Technical Associate – Water (ACE)
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