00:00There is enough water in Balapuram, for drinking, for household use and above all for the fields.
00:07But that wasn't always the case, as villager Ramya tells us.
00:12There was a time when water scarcity was at its peak and we were struggling even for a single pot
00:17of water.
00:22Balapuram lies in the far north of Tamil Nadu.
00:26For years, rainfall has been decreasing.
00:30The villagers once had to walk many kilometers to fetch water.
00:39We stopped farming as there was no water even for daily use.
00:44Summer was even harder as the bore well didn't work and it was completely dry everywhere.
00:50Months of water scarcity made us question our existence.
00:54Tenna Risi could no longer stand by and watch.
00:57A few years ago, he was president of the Panchayat, the local village council.
01:02And he took action.
01:06As water is the most basic and essential thing for humans to survive, I was determined to solve the shortage
01:11once and for all.
01:12So we collaborated and drilled 11 bore wells to tackle aridity.
01:17I spent my own money on it personally.
01:23What makes the project special is that everyone in the village got involved.
01:27They built dams and dug ponds.
01:31They also planted trees to help the soil store the little rain water more effectively and for longer.
01:41Together, we cleaned and rejuvenated ponds and other bodies of water, which enabled effective rainwater harvesting and storage.
01:48As a result, groundwater levels improved.
01:52Bore wells began to yield water again and farmers returned to cultivation with confidence.
01:56The long-standing water scarcity gradually disappeared, transforming our region into a water-abundant and thriving place.
02:04Now we have water in both mornings and evenings and we are so grateful.
02:11The groundwater level here has recovered significantly in the past five years.
02:18Before, groundwater was only available at a depth of about 100 feet, but now we can access it at just
02:2450 feet.
02:25This is not just a miracle, it's an idea we got from a farmer who suggested that Czech dam construction
02:31would improve groundwater availability for agriculture.
02:35In November, Tenarasi accepted an award from the government on behalf of the village at the 6th National Water Awards,
02:42for outstanding achievements in the water sector.
02:48The award I received is truly a recognition of the collective effort of our entire village.
02:53It came into the limelight and people from the surrounding area congratulated us on the achievement.
03:00Knowing that Balapuram village has set an example to so many others is a satisfying moment.
03:07Especially with the recognition by the government of Tamil Nadu as the best village.
03:17Everyone in the village is proud of the recognition, including Ramya, who no longer worries about her daily water supply.
03:25Being a small panchayat village and receiving an award is a pride for us.
03:30Balapuram became the talk of the district after the recognition.
03:35New dams and ponds, maintaining old reservoirs and new trees to store water in the soil.
03:43Balapuram has found its own ways to respond resiliently to climate change.
03:47Crowley will make an introductory project itself.
03:47What paths perform the costume depending on the landscape of the village.
03:50Frust Prec beginner.
03:50High-end VIP- ты集-oeste history,
03:52You
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