Water In The Thar Desert
Using solar power to provide water to the people of Thar Desert
The Challenge
The Thar Desert is the largest desert in Pakistan extending into Rajasthan, India. Access to a reliable water supply has always been a struggle for the isolated villages. This area of the Thar desert may not receive any rainfall for 2-3 years making agriculture incredibly challenging. Moreover, these drought periods cause undue famine for the villagers and livestock. The scarcity of drinking water and lack of sufficient water supply for agriculture and livestock severely limits the economic development and sustainability for the people of Thar. Currently, villagers access water by digging hand pump wells, but with global warming the water table has become increasingly deeper and drawing the water manually is very cumbersome – and at times not even accessible. While the Thar desert may not receive steady rainfall, the land itself can be productive. Therefore, a reliable access to water for irrigation can increase self-sufficient farming. A stable water supply will also sustain livestock for food, labor and commodities – effectively enhancing the economic progress for the villagers.
The Innovation
By digging deeper wells which tap into the lowered water table, inhabitants in the Thar desert can reliably access water. No more will a group of villagers be required to manually pump water from these deep wells because newly installed solar powered pumps will systematically draw up the water. Since this type of pump operates during daylight only, a large water tank built above ground will serve as storage and supply at any hour. Unavoidable spillage during the filling of individual containers will be channeled into an inground trough for domestic animals and agricultural purposes.
Long Term Impact
A solar powered deep well water pump is a shared community water resource which will provide clean drinking water to all villagers equally. Increased food security as well as economic development will positively impact many lives as this readily accessible water will irrigate the small plots of farming land for personal consumption and fodder for the goats and other domestic animals. A mechanism as simple as a solar powered water well will increase efficiency, sustainability and security for those living in the Thar desert for years to come.
The Sumar-Lakhani Foundation has dedicated the construction of this Solar Powered Water Well to Karim Lakhani, a kind and generous man gone too soon
