At a time when India is grappling with rapidly depleting groundwater levels and erratic monsoons, a quiet transformation in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri district has emerged as a beacon of hope for sustainable water and environmental conservation.
Under the state’s flagship ‘Har Gaon Talab’ campaign, the district constructed a record 1,030 community ponds between May 15 and June 15—earning a spot in the India Book of Records for the most ponds built in a single month. This achievement, made possible through community participation and administrative resolve, has not only addressed water scarcity but also recharged the district’s ecosystem, improved soil moisture retention, and supported climate resilience.
Recognised formally at a felicitation ceremony in Lakhimpur Kheri’s Vikas Bhawan, India Book of Records adjudicator Pramil Dwivedi praised the initiative as a model for environmental action. “This is a rare example of government initiative turning into a people’s movement. The scale, speed, and public involvement make it a replicable model for water-stressed regions,” he said, handing over the national certificate and medal to District Magistrate Durga Shakti Nagpal and Chief Development Officer Abhishek Kumar.
Covering over 700 acres, these water bodies are expected to significantly improve groundwater recharge, increase biodiversity in rural pockets, and provide a safety net against drought. With 70 to 80 ponds constructed in each block of the district, the campaign was implemented in a mission mode—just ahead of the monsoon—to ensure maximum water harvesting.
“This was not just about numbers, but about building resilience,” said DM Durga Shakti Nagpal. “We set a target of completing the ponds before the rains so they could begin recharging immediately. It is a step toward long-term water sustainability.”
CDO Abhishek Kumar, who led the field operations, emphasised the campaign’s bottom-up approach. “We mobilised communities, involved panchayats, and ensured every construction site had local participation. This sense of ownership is what makes conservation last.”
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, under whose guidance the ‘Har Gaon Talab’ campaign was launched, has consistently stressed the need for ecological restoration and water self-sufficiency in rural areas. The initiative aligns with the broader goals of combating desertification, mitigating groundwater exploitation, and building climate-resilient villages.
Economic Empowerment
Beyond ecological gains, the campaign also proved to be a catalyst for rural development. According to district officials, the drive generated nearly 7 lakh man-days of employment, providing work during the lean pre-monsoon agricultural season. Remarkably, over 30% of the workforce comprised women, reinforcing the link between environmental conservation, livelihood generation, and gender empowerment.
“This initiative turned conservation into an inclusive economic opportunity,” said Maroof Khan, an environmentalist from UP. “It showed that water security and rural prosperity can go hand in hand.”
Officials from MGNREGA, the District Panchayati Raj Office, and block-level officers participated in the implementation and review of the programme. DC MGNREGA Sushant Singh and DPRO Vishal Singh were also present at the felicitation ceremony, along with the full verification team from the India Book of Records.
As environmental concerns mount across India, Lakhimpur Kheri’s achievement offers a replicable model: one that ties ecological restoration with economic resilience, and water security with community empowerment.
