J ohad, also known as a pokhar or a percolation
pond, is a community-owned traditional harvested
rainwater storage wasteland principally used
for effectively harnessing water resources in the states
of Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab and western Uttar
Pradesh of North India, that collects and stores water
throughout the year, to be used for the purpose of
recharging the groundwater in the nearby water wells,
waby humans and cattle]]. Some johads also have
bricked or stones masonry and cemented ghat (series
of steps /or ramp).
Johads also cater to resident and seasonal migrant
birds as well as wildlife animals from the nearby bani
(forest). State Fisheries Department also promote the
use of these johads for raising fishes on contract basis
for commercial fishing . Johads are often seen
surrounded by embankment, with water well and trees
around them. In many parts, specially in dry state of
Rajasthan the annual rainfall is very low (between 450
and 600 mm) and the water can be unpleasant to drink.
Rainfall during July and August is stored in johads and
used throughout the year. Johad in Haryanvi
language and Rajasthani language are also
called sarovar, taal and talab in Hindi language and
water pond or lake in English. A similar structure to a
johads, called a khadin, consists of a very low and long
earthen bund in the Jaisalmer distruct Over 4,500
working johads in Alwar district and surrounding
districts Rajasthan were revived by the NGO Tarun
Bharat Sangh by Dr Rajendra Singh.
Starting from a single village in 1985, over the years
TBS helped build over 8,600 johads and other water
conservation structures to collect rainwater for the dry
seasons, has brought water back to over 1,000 villages
and revived five rivers in Rajasthan, Arvari, Ruparel,
Sarsa, Bhagani and Jaharwali.
After the recurrent spells of weak monsoons, a big part
of the country’s population, are affected by a severe
drought obliging India to walk towards a water-stressed
future. The drought has dried up wells and other water
reservoirs already stressed by overuse resulting into
crop failure to a reasonable extent of more than 60 per
cent. The current water management systems
particularly in rural areas are poorly equipped to deal
with the issue in significant part because they do not
promote distributed water collection, water
conservation, and water reuse. Providentially, a
combination of often forgotten traditional water
practices and more recent innovations in water use and
management can help resolve this growing water crisis.
These include rainwater capture, water recycling and
reuse, and innovative technologies to purify water.
India’s history is witness to how well-planned cities of
our ancient civilization were equipped with outstanding
systems of water harvesting and drainage. These
ancient structures synergized with well validated water
practices were the strong support systems during the
times when the modern infrastructural marvels did not
exist, but they were more than efficient in managing
the water resources even at the time. Today the
traditional water practices and ancient but ignored
water sources of the country are yearning to discharge
the ancient traditions to revive the glorious history of
their past for the dire need of the hour. If water
strategists aim to spread the message of water
conservation to the common people and want to ensure
that every drop of water is conserved, then the proven
and scientifically validated Indian traditional water
culture will have to be revived. Coincidently, customary
water bodies have always been subject of reverence for
Indians, reviving these traditional water bodies by
involving locals could be a strategy that every region
needs to adopt. Stepping up these revival options will
indispensably require change in legal and regulatory
framework but will perceptibly offer policy makers a
better chance to meet present demands and future
needs in an increasingly water-constrained India
