Inspired by Tal Chhapar Wildlife Sanctuary, Shravan Patel and his team constructed low-lying ponds in Melwa, Rajasthan, to provide accessible water for wildlife.
This initiative, supported by local philanthropists and a WhatsApp group, has significantly improved wildlife conditions, reducing animal deaths and inspiring similar efforts across multiple districts.
In October 2022, Shravan Patel visited the Tal Chhapar Wildlife Sanctuary in Churu, Rajasthan. Located in the Thar desert, the sanctuary is home to species like blackbuck, chinkara, desert fox and migratory birds. But what struck Patel, an environmentalist and social worker from Melwa village in Jodhpur district, were the specially designed khailis or low-lying ponds. “They were low enough for even small animals to drink from,” he recalls. In comparison, he says, “The government-built water structures in Melwa had high walls. As water levels dropped, smaller animals and birds could not reach it. I had seen dead birds around them.”
The dearth of adequate water resources for wildlife was a major problem in Melwa, part of Dhawa Doli panchayat. Apart from the small structures, the Jojari river that flows through the village is polluted with untreated effluents from Jodhpur’s textile units. “In 2024 alone, we saw some eight deer die due to toxic water,” says Patel. “But this year, we have not seen a single death. In fact, the chinkara population in our oran (community forest) has risen from 38 to 46,” he says.
The change came as Patel, inspired by the sanctuary, began constructing khailis with help from friends and environmentalists, including wildlife activist Radheshyam Pemani Bishnoi from Jaisalmer. “Since the beginning of this campaign, Radheshyam Pemani was like a pillar for us,” says Patel.
Over three years, the team built 12 ponds within oran land in the panchayat. “To stop animals from approaching the river, we built khailis every 3 km along both sides,” Patel says. Sunil Bishnoi of Doli village in the panchayat, a wildlife activist who works with Patel, explains the method: “We select sloping terrain, use a 4.5 m rope to mark a circular area, dig a 0.7 m deep pit, and create a gradual slope. About 2,000 bricks are laid to line the pond.” The design prevents seepage, keeps water cool and allows access to animals from camels to bees.
Each pond costs Rs 30,000-35,000 to construct and is filled through a 5,000-litre water tanker, costing Rs 1,500 per trip, adds Jagdeesh Poonia, a banker who works with Patel. Initially, the team paid from their pockets, but local philanthropists have stepped in to help. Patel also created a WhatsApp group, “Ek Rupiya Pratidin, Vanayjeevon ke Naam” (One Rupee a day for wildlife). Over 1,000 people contribute through it. As a result of the efforts, animals that were once forced to drink the chemical-laden water of the Jojari, now have access to purer resources. With water available right in the orans, wild animals no longer come near villages or migrate to other areas.
In 2024, the team posted a video about khailis on social media platform Instagram. It saw over 50 million views and inspired similar efforts in 30 villages across Jodhpur, Barmer, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Nagaur, Pali and Balotra districts. “Non-profits, village communities, and even non-resident Indians have started building similar ponds,” says Patel.
This article was originally published in the June 16-30, 2025 print edition of Down To Earth