Ancient stepwells revived in Telangana as India faces a water crisis
Feb 28th 2026
After an 18-month clean-up, a 17th century Hyderabad stepwell now supplies drinking water again, and its revival is guiding wider stepwell and rainwater-harvesting projects as India confronts a deepening water crisis.
- Bansilalpet stepwell in Hyderabad was cleared of 3,000 tonnes of rubbish and now provides drinking water after 40 years, holding about 9 metres of water in summer.
- Architect Kalpana Ramesh has restored 25 stepwells in Telangana and aims to add filtration so more can supply potable water.
- Restored stepwells act as rainwater-harvesting recharge systems that filter runoff to replenish underground aquifers.
- Telangana is pairing stepwell work with large-scale measures including about 500,000 rainwater projects, reservoir desilting and fines for water waste.
- India faces severe water stress with over 600 million people affected and groundwater demand projected to double by 2030.