Bundelkhand's Vanishing Water: A Six-Month Investigation
Across seven districts, groundwater levels have fallen faster than official records admit. We spent six months documenting why — and who is being left behind.
Investigation Timeline
Feb 2026
First RTI applications filed across seven Bundelkhand districts.
Mar 2026
Field visits begin in Jhansi and Chitrakoot blocks.
May 2026
Independent water-table testing conducted with local hydrologists.
Jun 2026
Discrepancies found in three sanctioned check-dam projects.
Jul 2026
Right-to-reply sent to district and state irrigation officials.
Aug 2026
Investigation published; two districts order fresh inquiries.
Chapter 1: The Numbers Behind the Silence
Official groundwater board data, obtained through RTI requests filed across seven districts, shows a decline far steeper than public statements from the state irrigation department suggest. In some blocks, water tables have dropped over 40 feet in a decade.
Chapter 2: The Villages Running Dry First
We travelled to twelve villages where hand pumps have already gone dry. Families now walk between two and five kilometres daily to fetch water, a burden that falls disproportionately on women and children who miss school to make the trip.
Chapter 3: Where the Irrigation Money Went
Cross-referencing tender documents with site visits, we found three sanctioned check-dam projects that exist only on paper, despite funds having been disbursed against them years ago.
Chapter 4: What Officials Say Now
Confronted with our findings, district officials in two of the seven districts have ordered fresh inquiries. We publish their full responses alongside our evidence.