Kundalika Seena Rejuvenation and Watershed Management

Jalna is a district in Maharashtra, India, that lies in the rain-shadow region of the Sahyadri hills. The region is plagued by frequent floods in the monsoon season and inadequate water in the Kundalika and Seena Rivers for the rest of the months.

The Kundalika Seena Rejuvenation and Development Foundation (KSF) and the District Administration of Jalna partnered with the Centre for Environmental Research & Education (CERE) to develop a holistic plan for river restoration and effective water management in Jalna.

The scope of the project was to develop a comprehensive blueprint for the watershed of Ghanewadi Lake and Kundalika-Seena streams up to Jalna city.

This project hopes to enable year-round clean water in the Kundalika and Seena Rivers. The objectives of Phase 1 of the project involved:

• Studying the causes and impacts of siltation in the two rivers,
• Studying various point and non-point sources of pollution in the two rivers, and
• Recommending sustainable measures for desilting and restoring the Ghanewadi Dam and the two rivers.

The project methodology included preliminary research, extensive fieldwork with both quantitative and qualitative tools to assess data, and feedback sessions with relevant stakeholders.

The project is aligned with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• Good Health and Well-being
• Clean Water and Sanitation
• Responsible Consumption and Production
• Climate Action
• Life on Land
• Partnerships for the Goals

Various recommendations are already being implemented and positive results are underway.