South Asia // SDG 6: Clean Water
South Asia // SDG 6: Clean Water
Ar. Priya Sharma
Architectural Historian
In the arid stretches of Rajasthan, where temperatures regularly exceed 45°C and annual rainfall has declined by 23% over the past two decades, communities are turning to an unlikely source of salvation: their ancestors.
The stepwells of Western India—elaborate subterranean water harvesting systems built between the 9th and 18th centuries—are being restored and studied as modern bore wells and pipelines fail to cope with the deepening drought.
These architectural marvels, some descending seven stories underground, were designed not merely as water storage but as complete hydrological systems. They captured monsoon rainfall, filtered it through layers of sand and gravel, and maintained cool temperatures year-round through their descending geometry.
"Our grandparents understood something about water that our engineers forgot: you cannot take more than the earth gives."
The restoration movement has gained momentum as three consecutive failed monsoons have left modern water infrastructure dry. Engineers are now collaborating with historians and local knowledge keepers to understand and replicate the principles behind these ancient systems.
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