While startup ecosystems are contributing innovative ideas for the sake of rural development, Sankalpa Rural Development Society, a startup and their projects including borewell recharging, roof water harvesting and purewater, are gaining relevance by solving water issues in rural areas. Sankapla is pointing out potential of technology innovation in rural areas. Their ‘borewell recharging’ project has helped in supplying water to 18,850 borewells from 10 states, says Sikander Meeranaik, founder of Sankalpa Rural Development Society.
Twin Ring system is employed to recharge borewells. Recharging of tube wells makes it possible to store rainwater. This is a low-cost technology. Even in wells which are 800 feet deep, there is no water. At a time when people have to pay Rs80,000 to dig new borewells, Sankalpa helps in recharging the existing ones for Rs30,000.
Recharging is possible when the bottom of the well is rocky. If there is arable land, there is a special area for water sterling. Recharging is not possible if the pipe well is located at high areas. Once the water source is located near the pipe well, it will be drilled in this kind of place with a casing pipe. After filling in these spaces with gravel and installing the casing pipe, cement rings will be placed in it.
Five rings will be placed in one and the other in a nearby well. After this, the pipeline will be connected to the first ring from a nearby water source. When the first well is filled, the second well will filter the water. The sound can be heard as the water reaches the wells. After filling up to 15 times in this manner, the well will drain properly. It is a very simple technology. When installing tubing wells, Rs 300 should be paid per feet. Sankalpa guarantees recharging of wells at a cost of Rs 30,000. The list of materials required for recharging will be sent via WhatsApp.
Company official will arrive on spot and complete the service within two days. The rural areas where we live are also facing shortage of drinking water. Over 18850 wells have been recharged across 10 states. We are headquartered at Hubli. We also have an office at Bengaluru.
Bengaluru has a lot of borewells which are draining up. Summer is peak season for Sankalpa. Sikander Meeranaik also points to the need to preserve rainwater and underground water. Groundwater is the property that our ancestors gave us, adds Sikander.
Sikander Meiranik was inspired to create Sankalpa Rural Development Society after he participated in the Deshpande Social Entrepreneurship Programme. The society, which Sikander launched with the aim to recharge the drained borewells, has so far helped hundreds of farmers in India. The project aims to reduce the country’s water shortage by 2030 through recharging 1000 bore wells per year.
