Project NANNEER Nearly Doubles Water Storage in Haliyal

AMM Foundation’s Project NANNEER has rejuvenated three community water bodies in Haliyal taluk, Karnataka: Kumbarekare Lake, Alloli Pond and Hanumantha Pond. The work involved desilting, deepening and structural strengthening to improve local storage, groundwater recharge, summer water availability and irrigation support. The three water bodies had a combined pre-restoration storage capacity of 389,397 cubic metres. After intervention, capacity rose to 767,024 cubic metres, adding 377,627 cubic metres, or about 377. 6 million litres.

This is a 97% increase in storage capacity. Kumbarekare Lake, covering about 54. 5 acres, increased from 352,002 to 655,452 cubic metres and is reported to support around 243 families. Alloli Pond increased from 27,280 to 87,296 cubic metres, while Hanumantha Pond rose from 10,115 to 24,276 cubic metres. Across all three, more than 370 families are expected to benefit.

Haliyal receives more than 1,500 mm of annual rainfall, but seasonal shortages occur because water leaves the landscape rapidly as runoff and infiltration remains limited. The project therefore focuses on retaining monsoon water locally rather than responding to low rainfall. The published figures establish storage capacity, not guaranteed annual usable water. Future assessment should track seasonal filling, groundwater response, summer availability, irrigated area, water quality, sedimentation, household use and maintenance. The Haliyal example also separates rainfall from usable water.

The area receives heavy monsoon rain, yet seasonal shortages persist because storage and infiltration are insufficient. By increasing capacity in existing community water bodies, the project attempts to convert short-period rainfall into longer-duration local water availability. Repeated seasonal monitoring is needed to show whether the added storage continues to deliver water after successive monsoons.

Original source references: AMM Foundation/CSRBOX, 28 September 2026; The Hans India, 30 September 2026; EID Parry Annual Report 2026.

Rural Development Today | 2 October 2026 | Development Connects | Kallol Saha