NGO rejuvenates 5,000 wells in Solapur

Nanasaheb Dharmadhikari Pratishthan, an NGO, won the praise of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for recently rejuvenating 5,000 wells in one week in the dry district of Solapur. Mr Fadnavis hailed the efforts of the group for working to find a solution to water scarcity in Solapur by strengthening groundwater.

“One week, 5,000 wells recharged, 110 villages supported, lakhs of people contributed, Congratulations to Nanasaheb Dharmadhikari Pratishthan,” Mr Fadnavis had said, hailing the efforts of the group through social media. The movement celebrated its completion of the programme on May 23.

Sadashiv Chaugule, a member of the group and a resident of Solapur, said the programme was focused towards strengthening the groundwater reservoirs at different spots in Solapur district. While the activity was planned for only a day, he said that due to their strong local connect, residents soon transformed the activity into a movement. “Lakhs of residents joined hands to clear the groundwater reservoirs and rejuvenate them. With the help of experts, we planned the practice accordingly to ensure that the reservoirs will now be permanent solutions for the locals for fresh water,” said Mr Chaugule, who also took part in the event.

The Revdanda-based group, with the help of its 2,05,000 volunteers including residents and multiple other local welfare associations, had collected three tonnes of garbage on November 16, 2014. It found its way to the Limca Book of Records for this effort, cleaning 5,645 roads of the state in one day.

The group has previously been involved in water cleaning events in Mumbai and surrounding areas to resolve drinking water problems. Its work in Wadala and the Dhansar Lake at Panvel, well cleanings at Warangi village of Mahad and recreation of Karjat Lake has proved to be helpful to hundreds of residents staying in the areas and their vicinity.