Holkar-era Stepwell Restored in Mhow
In a significant move for water conservation, encroachments were removed from a historic stepwell (Bawdi) built during the Holkar era in Jaamkhurd village, Mhow tehsil. The two-day anti-encroachment drive concluded on Wednesday, restoring access to this ancient water structure.
The stepwell, located about 15 km from Mhow, is one of over 100 such structures constructed by Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar between Indore city and her capital Maheshwar. These iconic stepwells represent an ancient Indian rainwater harvesting system, featuring staircases leading down to water levels. Found in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, these bawdis served as vital sources of drinking water and storage for communities.
Punjalal Ninama, a water conservation activist in Mhow's tribal areas, highlighted the stepwell's historical importance: “Stepwells are India’s ancient water conservation architecture. Ahilyabai’s initiatives provided sustainable water access centuries ago. Over time, this stepwell fell victim to encroachment and neglect. The Jaamkhurd stepwell, once a primary water source for villagers, has now been cleared and handed over to the village panchayat. Plans include conservation, deepening, beautification, and plantation drives to boost water security and groundwater recharge,” he said.
Jaamkhurd sarpanch, Gugabai Davar, expressed hope that this stepwell would now again become a perennial source of drinking water for the village residents.
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