Digging a well is a form of art - especially when it is dug by hand. The Manu vaddars are a community of people who have been traditional well diggers for the last 800 - 1000 years. With the advent of bore well technology, this community has been sufferring from a loss of livelihood. Vishwanath has been engaging them to solve the worsening water crisis in Bangalore, by creating wells for ground water recharge.
Why is an open well a better idea than a bore well? Why is recharge important? How does one manage groundwater ? Can urban communities be water sufficient ?
Vishwanath answers questions like these and lays out a vision for water management in the urban Indian context. His experience in engineering and urban planning, as well his deep understanding of human nature, enable him to bring people together to tackle community issues that can only be solved through self discipline and cooperation. |