Darbhanga: A small village in Darbhanga district has reported a dramatic turnaround after the construction of a check dam addressed long-standing water shortages and agricultural distress. Harsinghpur, home to around 4,000 residents in Alinagar block, now has assured irrigation and improved drinking water access following the project completed at a cost of Rs 9.84 lakh.
The check dam was built under the Jal Jeevan Hariyali campaign and funded through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). For years, the village had no permanent rainwater harvesting system. Monsoon water would drain away quickly through nearby channels, while in summer months falling groundwater levels caused wells and hand pumps to dry up. Farming was limited to a single crop dependent on rainfall, leading to low yields and declining incomes.
Local farmers say the new structure has changed that pattern. The dam now supports irrigation across approximately 250 acres of farmland and provides water access for nearly 500 livestock. Around 670 residents are reported to have directly benefited from the intervention. With reliable irrigation in place, farmers have begun cultivating vegetables, oilseeds and pulses in addition to traditional crops.
Officials from the rural development department say the project is part of a broader effort to promote sustainable water management and reduce rural distress. Villagers also report improvements in greenery and groundwater recharge, with some suggesting that seasonal migration has slowed as farm incomes stabilise.
“The water crisis in our village has effectively ended,” said Shankar Yadav, a farmer from Harsinghpur. “There has been clear improvement in farming, livestock rearing and employment opportunities.”
Another resident, Umesh Yadav, described the check dam as a milestone in local development. “It has strengthened water conservation and supported agricultural growth. It is improving the overall quality of life in the village,” he said.
