A New Chapter in Groundwater Replenishment: A Historic Initiative for Water Conservation in Uttarakhand

Aug 2025 : A historic initiative for water conservation in Uttarakhand began with the launch of a new chapter in groundwater replenishment from Gairsain. To address the challenge of water scarcity in Uttarakhand, a historic initiative was launched on [date] at a program held at the Vidhan Sabha building in Bhradisain. Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Smt. Ritu Khanduri Bhushan inaugurated the “Direct Injection Water Source Replenishment Scheme” in collaboration with Swami Ram University, Jouli Grant. On this occasion, a photo collection titled “Vibrant Bird of Kotdwar” was also released.

Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami stated that the state government is committed to adopting technical innovations to address the water crisis in the state. He said that this effort is a good initiative in the field of water conservation. Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Smt. Ritu Khanduri Bhushan said that water conservation is not only an environmental necessity but also a lifeline for Uttarakhand’s future. She stated that groundwater replenishment will form the basis of future water security and that this scheme will be a milestone in the direction of sustainable water management and conservation in Uttarakhand.

During the program, it was informed that an MoU was signed on July 8, 2025, between the International Parliamentary Institute for Study, Research, and Training, Bhradisain, and Swami Ram Himalayan University for the effective implementation of this project. Under the Direct Injection Water Source Replenishment Scheme, treated rainwater will be injected into inactive handpumps to increase the groundwater level. This technology has been developed by experts from Swami Ram Himalayan University, Jouli Grant. In the first phase of the scheme, 20 selected handpumps in Gairsain and Chaukhutia development blocks will be replenished and made functional again.

This effort is considered a milestone in the direction of a sustainable solution for water management in Uttarakhand. On this occasion, the technical team of the university, including Professor H.P. Uniyal, Nitesh Kaushik, Sujit Thapliyal, Rajkumar Verma, Atul Uniyal, Abhishek Uniyal, and Shakti Bhatt, gave a detailed presentation on the technical process of the scheme. They explained how this technology filters and treats rainwater and directly reaches the groundwater reservoir, making dry handpumps functional again. A documentary prepared by the university was also screened during the program, showcasing the technology implemented in villages in the Gairsain area and its results.

On this occasion, Forest Minister Shri Subodh Uniyal, Agriculture Minister Shri Ganesh Joshi, MLAs, secretaries of various departments, and senior officials of the Legislative Assembly Secretariat, along with officials of Swami Ram University, were present.