TEERTHPURI: Women’s collectivestrength works wonders, and turns impossible into possible. Thevillage Bhaigavhan (Tal. Ghansavangi in Jalna district), with a smallpopulation of 1500, was recently witness to such a constructive womenforce, when members of ‘Tanishka Foundation ’ decided to tackle thechallenge of acute water shortage. They have adopted the ‘Shirpurpattern’ of water conservation for the village and have alreadylaunched the project.

Reeling under a severe drought, thecrops have withered in the entire district, and orchards ruined. Withall the water sources going dry, the district is faced with acutewater shortage. The Bhaigavhan villagers think ten times beforeoffering a glass of drinking water, if any guest asks for it.

Members of the ‘Tanishka Foundation ’resolved to find a permanent solution to the problem, rather thansuffering mutely. They held a meeting with villagers at the Marutitemple. The meeting decided to adopt the ‘Shirpur pattern’ toenable percolation and conservation of rain-water at Bhaigavhan.

The project would be implemented on theriver that flows from the west of the village. Accordingly, two smallconcrete dams, at a distance of 500 meters each, would be constructedwith the height of 15 to 20 feet, and the width of 30 to 35 feeteach. Each would have the water storage capacity of 18 crore litres.

On completion, the project is expectedto fulfill the drinking water needs of the villagers.