News in frames | Bringing water to the burning desert
TThe Indira Gandhi Canal, which flows through a small stretch of northwestern Haryana before crossing into Rajasthan and terminating in the Thar Desert near Gadra Street in Jaisalmer district, is the longest canal in India at 837 kilometers. It provides critical water supply to Jaisalmer and thousands of remote desert villages.
The canal has also reduced dependence on scarce groundwater and supports large-scale irrigation, allowing farmers to grow crops and greatly enhance animal husbandry. Rainfall itself has increased, a shift local people say is due to the increased availability of water and vegetation the canal has grown.
“Fifty to sixty years ago, our forefathers in Jaisalmer used to tell guests, ‘You can ask for a glass of ghee or milk, but don’t ask for a glass of water,'” says local social activist and veteran journalist RK Vyas. “That has changed… Because of the water in the canal, Jaisalmer has witnessed changes in rainfall over the last decade. Although there was no rain last year, we pray that this year will bring good rainfall so that our animals survive and the cycle of nature continues with joy and prosperity,” he adds.
Despite this progress, however, the problem of water scarcity persists.
As of 2022, the Jaisalmer urban area was among the seven cities on the list of 219 of Rajasthan’s 302 blocks that were categorized as over-exploited for groundwater, according to the Central Groundwater Board.
With temperatures hovering between 47 and 50 degrees Celsius, resident Razak Mahmood depends on his two camels to draw water from his ancestral well in Kalu ka Talav, a village surrounded by sand dunes on the outskirts of Ramgarh near the India-Pakistan international border in Rajasthan. People like Mahmood are still struggling to secure enough water for themselves and their livestock. “The canal needs maintenance throughout the year to prevent sand dunes from pouring into it and obstructing the flow of water,” says Hukumsinh Mahicha Rathod, who lives near Jaisalmer Fort.
Photo: Vijay Soneji
Thirst quenched: A camel herder offers water to his animals in the Sam desert on the outskirts of Jaisalmer.
Photo: Vijay Soneji
Vital resource: A resident collects water from a branch of the Indira Gandhi Canal in Ramgarh village of Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan.
Photo: Vijay Soneji
Life Drawing: A farmer stands next to a well on his farm near a canal that is key to irrigation in the region.
Photo: Vijay Soneji
Branches in the sun: Trees, unique to Rajasthan, seen along the banks of a canal at Mohangarh in Jaisalmer district.
Photo: Vijay Soneji
Daily need: A woman washes clothes next to a storage tank in Siyamber village.
Photo: Vijay Soneji
Across the canal: Razak Mahmood draws water from his ancestral well at Kalu ka Talav near Ramgarh.
Photo: Vijay Soneji
Help at hand: With temperatures often reaching 50°C, Razak Mahmood depends on his camels to draw water from a well.
Photo: Vijay Soneji
Field of Change: A farmer in his field near the village of Ramgarh; access to irrigation allowed agriculture to flourish in these parts.
Photo: Vijay Soneji
Lifeline amid crises: Farmers draw water from a well to quench their thirst amid sand dunes in Siyamber village of Jaisalmer district.
Photo: Vijay Soneji
Refreshing drops: A camel drinks from a stream in Mohangarh.
Published – 31 May 2026 07:48 IST