Over the years, the ground water scenario in Bundelkhand region of India has become very depressing. While the demand for the use of water, both for domestic and irrigation needs has been increasing manifold as a result of population growth, the level of ground water is decreasing with alarming speed. On an average, the region has an average annual rainfall of 850 mm. However, intermittent but successive years of drought and over -abstraction of ground water have resulted in water scarcity in the last two decades. As per observations of the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) of India, during the last decade, a significant decline in the ground water levels in the region, especially during the pre-monsoon period, has been observed. In case of Chhattarpur District of Madhya Pradesh State in India, one of the Districts in the Bundelkhand region, 62% villages have a water table in the range of 10 meters, and 38% between 10 to 30 meters. In the Nowgaon Block of Chhattarpur District, groundwater exploitation has reached 'semi critical' levels of above 70% exploitation (Bundelkhand, 2009).
Entire Bundelkhand region including district Mahoba & Chhatarpur is worst affected by recurring drought and water scarcity and Handpumps have been promoted and installed as the only source of water. Other than this HARITIKA has done its intervention on supply of Safe drinking water by constructing Water Supply Schemes in 37 villages of Chhatarpur District and 15 villages of Mahoba District with the support of Just a Drop, Coca-Cola India Foundation, Water-Aid, KTCT, MRDF, St. Lazrus Charitable Trust etc. Generally source installation is responsibility of the UP Jal Nigam and operation and maintenance of the created water sources or water supply schemes in the rural areas is the responsibility of village Panchayats. In our Water Supply Schemes, Sustainability is responsibility of Village Water & Sanitation Committee. For coping with water quality problem in the villages with the support of Aqua- Tech, RO plant has been established in Chandanpura village and with the support of Livepure Foundation RO plant in Agra & Kishangarh village of Bijawar Block, MP has been installed.
