The department of forest and the forest officials came up with an excellent idea to harvest rain water not only to preserve and conserve the thick forest area but also create a water source for the animals to drink water from.

Stones have been dug in large (Graded Bund) in 10,000 hectares of forest land to hold rainwater.

The mini craters can hold 2 million tons of rainwater which can be collected for further preservation.

The area around the farmland is fertile and the rainwater is not wasted, leaving it in the ground and creating enough moisture content.

The conserved water is an excellent source for thirsty wildlife animals who can find water to drink and quench their thirst.

The initiative was launched for the very first time in Odisha's Keonjhar's Andapur wildlife division.


Keonjhar Wildlife Division of Odisha government is composed of both dense forest areas and mountain ridges surrounded with patches of agricultural fields, dams, dug wells and ponds of nearby villages. The seasonal variation in every year brings out variations in the productivity level, forest good availability and species diversity and human lifestyle in Hadgarh wildlife range, Brahmanipal wildlife range and Deogaon wildlife range. Specifically summer and rainy seasons have adverse effects on these areas i.e. complete dry environments with scarcity of water due to scrunching heat and soil erosion due to heavy rainfall affected by hilly areas respectively. In regards to the above-cited facts, an initiative survey has been conducted in three different ranges of Keonjhar Wildlife Division, Anandapur during 2019-20 with respect to SMC (Soil Moisture Conservation). Three processes have implicated in all the three forest ranges i.e. Earthen Graded Bund.

Ajit Satpathy Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) said: "The aim of the survey is to conserve the water resource for future benefits particularly for irrigation during summer season. The heavy rainfall in the rainy season faster enforcement of water over the soil surface affects the sloppy surface of hilly and forest areas by depleting of the soil leads to the loss of soil quality (soil fertility), water quality of adjacent aquatic bodies and drastic environment of agricultural fields."

"As a result, this depicted structure of the Earthen Graded Bund in all location prevent the flow of water and stock the water in that particular area particularly in rainy season as a result some percentage of water has diffused into the ground through soil particles to make contribution in increasing in ground water level in these areas. The moisture content in this region has been increased, which favours the agricultural activities in these areas."

"Sub-surface dyk prevents the soil erosion occurs due to the heavy flow of rainwater from the high hilly slopes. The dyk stocks the humus contents flows along with the water, in which the reforestation starts in a succession manner. The formation of lower plants groups like grasses, herbs and shrubs are facilitated accordingly."

"Wire mesh LBCD has improved the moisture content, which automatically increase the diversity of mosses, lichens and orchids as they get suitable condition to grow upon the tree branches and above the rock surface."