The Bhujal App is a grant funded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, and it has also been selected as one of the Innovative Apps in the Agri Conclave inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022. Waterlab has been chosen as a technology and implementation partner by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India for the Amrut 2 Mission which targets nearly 500 cities in India.
Along with this, Waterlab Solutions has also developed the Bhujal IoT device in 2024. Currently undergoing field testing, this device promises to redefine water management by allowing remote monitoring of borewells, making it easier for users to keep track of their water resources. Waterlab Solutions has secured patents for both the Bhujal App (granted in 2023) and the Bhujal IoT device (granted in 2024).
Waterlab believes that the current depletion of ground water levels is caused by relentless pumping done by borewell users who do not have any means of understanding ground water availability in their borewells. The Bhujal App is developed to fulfill this knowledge gap and once the users understands the water availability, he or she is empowered to take decision related to responsive use of water eventually regulating consumption and saving of precious ground water.
The solutions to save groundwater are multiple including the reduction in consumption by efficiently using the available water by pumping less and by adapting efficient irrigation practices.
Many farmers are using the App to understand water availability in borewells. Their primary information targets are if their borewell has a live water stream underneath and related optimized pump operations based on water availability. The overall concern of the farmers is to sustain water availability in borewells and not to leave them dry. Many of the farmers started using the App a couple of months ago and are yet to see the full benefits of using the App.
Waterlab Solutions has collaborated with esteemed partners such as Aga Khan Rural Support Programme, Human for People to People, CEPT University (Ahmedabad), and WaterAid (India), along with the Central Ground Water Board, to pilot groundwater monitoring initiatives across various sectors. Notably, Waterlab has completed the pilot project of the Aquifer Management Plan for Pune City under the Amrut 2 Mission, supported by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, utilizing the Bhujal App for borewell water level measurements and aquifer recharge studies.
In June 2023, the Central Ground Water Board collaborated with Waterlab Solutions in Bangalore to conduct a comprehensive assessment of water levels using the Bhujal App. Together, they meticulously measured 25 borewells, both with and without pumps, to gauge the accuracy of the application against actual water levels. Remarkably, the Bhujal App exhibited an impressive accuracy rate ranging of 98.5% to 100%, reaffirming its reliability as a vital tool in water resource management.
In response to the urgent need for effective water management, Waterlab has been actively promoting the Bhujal App among farmers across Maharashtra. The app, designed to help farmers monitor water availability in their borewells, saw an impressive 84,000 downloads between February and April 2024. Remarkably, nearly 70% of these downloads were from Maharashtra, indicating a strong demand for the app’s capabilities in aiding summer crop planning.
In Solapur District, Waterlab has partnered with NABARD to develop a community-based groundwater management project. This initiative will equip farmers with the Bhujal App for borewell monitoring, promote efficient groundwater use, and demonstrate SMART irrigation tools based on Bhujal innovations. Currently under review by NABARD, the project also includes recharge measures to enhance groundwater levels.
Along with this, Waterlab is also incubated at VAMNICOM, a national institute for cooperative development. Through this partnership, Waterlab engages with co-operatives to address groundwater issues and disseminate Bhujal innovations. By participating in workshops organized by VAMNICOM, Waterlab has successfully reached out to numerous farmers, providing them with essential tools and knowledge for groundwater management.
In collaboration with Rotary International Pune and a Mumbai-based company, Waterlab is initiating groundwater monitoring, awareness, and action programs at schools. These initiatives aim to educate students about the impacts of climate change and promote groundwater conservation practices. With its dedication to innovative groundwater management solutions, leveraging technology and community engagement to promote sustainable water use, Waterlab aims to create a resilient and water-secure future for Maharashtra and beyond.
Waterlab Solutions is poised to expand its footprint across key states such as Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh, aiming to address water management needs on a national scale. The relentless efforts of Waterlab Solutions have garnered recognition from prestigious platforms, including the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), where it was awarded the 2nd prize for Best Startup in Water Innovation in December 2023.
“I’ve been farming for 20 years, but unreliable water sources limited me to one annual crop. My borewell provided insufficient water, drying up by February. Erratic rainfall often left my crops parched. However, the newly constructed farm pond by Bala Vikasa changed everything. It fills up during the rainy season, replenishing groundwater and prolonging water availability for three months post-monsoon. This year, I harvested a second crop and made good profits from cotton for the first time. Additionally, I started growing seasonal vegetables. The farm pond has not only improved my farm’s productivity,” said Katrotu Somla, a farmer of Uppulingapur Tanad Village, Yeldhurthi Mandal of Medak District.
The pioneering work of these organisations are worth a mention:
- Bala Vikasa, Telangana
- Volksara Techno Solution Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai
- Water For People, West Bengal
- Safe Water Network, Delhi
Read the full story that first appeared in Hash#ag Magazine here:
A PDF from the November 2024 emagazine is here:
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