Solving the Water Crisis, One Hand Pump at a Time

On August 19, 2025, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Assembly Speaker Ritu Khanduri Bhushan launched the “Direct Injection Water Source Recharge Scheme” at Vidhan Sabha Bhawan, Bhararisain. The initiative is a collaborative effort with Swami Ram Himalayan University, Jolly Grant.

Aimed at addressing the state's escalating water crisis, the scheme focuses on sustainably increasing groundwater levels. It involves injecting treated rainwater into inactive hand pumps—reviving them while simultaneously recharging underground aquifers. In its initial phase, the scheme will reactivate 20 hand pumps across the Gairsain and Chaukhutia development blocks.

CM Dhami highlighted the state government’s commitment to embracing technological innovation for water conservation, calling the scheme a crucial step toward sustainable resource management. Speaker Bhushan emphasized that water conservation is not just an environmental imperative but a “future lifeline” for Uttarakhand.

An MoU in support of the initiative was signed on July 8, 2025, between the International Institute of Parliamentary Studies, Research and Training, Bhararisain, and Swami Ram Himalayan University. During the launch event, a technical team demonstrated how the system filters and injects rainwater directly into groundwater reserves.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.