How India is reviving ancient water systems to beat a modern crisis

Communities across India are reviving centuries-old water structures, including stepwells, johads and tankas, to combat worsening water scarcity driven by climate change.

In Alwar, Rajasthan, the restored Moosi Rani Sagar stepwell now holds water depths of up to 30ft, having been rehabilitated from a contaminated state since 2021.

According to BBC, India holds 18% of the world’s population but only 4% of its freshwater resources, prompting renewed government and community investment in traditional groundwater recharge systems that had fallen into disuse over the past two centuries.