Call it a miracle! Desilting brings abandoned Bidar wells back to life
BIDAR: A strange phenomenon is happening in this historic city which is in the throes of a severe water crisis due to inadequate rains during the last couple of years.
While it is battling the water crisis due to drying up of borewells and natural water streams, age-old open wells which had been abandoned due to silting, have now started yielding water in Bidar after the district administration launched a massive de-silting programme. Called Meethi Paani Ki Bawdi (Sweet Water Well), one well situated in city’s Gole Khana Area is the latest and perhaps the deepest open well which has started yielding water after the desilting process began. Its depth is about 120 feet after the desilting was done.
Obviously people of the area, who were struggling for a pot of water, are ectastic over the appearance of sweet water in the well. Bidar city, which is situated on laterite rock, is famous for its open wells, which have been meeting the needs of people for centuries. Most houses, including some modern ones, have open wells which are fitted with motors to draw water. Besides, the city is dotted with community wells which are providing water to people. The water table used to rise so sharply during the rainy season that one could lift water from the wells with a bucket. But over the years, these wells were left unused due to different reasons.
There are many open wells named Meethi Paani Ki Bawdi in the old city area. They are called so because in these wells, the water tastes sweeter than in surrounding wells. As of now 106 wells have been located and the district administration has initiated desilting work in 45 wells. Twenty one have already started yielding water which is a phenomenal success.
Steps are afoot to test the water samples from these wells, after which people will be allowed to use it. The district administration is hopeful that the other wells identified will also start yielding water once the cleaning and desilting process is completed.
