Dr. Prabhakar Sharma Explains Why Aquifers Need People, Not Just Technology
Dr. Prabhakar Sharma is Professor and Head of the Department of Agricultural Engineering & Technology at Nagaland University, with a distinguished career in groundwater hydrology, aquifer characterization, and sustainable water management. A PhD from Washington State University, Dr. Sharma has held academic and research positions across Canada, Denmark, Sweden, and India, including Uppsala and Nalanda Universities. With over 100 peer-reviewed publications and numerous international research grants, his work spans biochar-based remediation, microplastics, and aquifer recharge systems. In this conversation with Rashmi Kumari of Neo Science Hub, he discusses the transformative potential of Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) in rural India, drawing from field insights and policy engagement.
Could you briefly explain what Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) is and why it is considered an important solution for water management in India?
Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) is a method of intentionally recharging groundwater aquifers by allowing surface water, often from rainfall or flood events, to inject underground through specially designed recharge pits or wells. It is important to take extreme care to recharge optimum quality of water as per set norms. This stored water can later be recovered during dry periods for irrigation or drinking water needs. In India, where groundwater over-extraction and erratic monsoons have severely stressed water resources, ASR presents a pragmatic and cost-effective strategy. It improves groundwater availability and quality and mitigates flood risks. Our research in South Bihar shows that ASR could be an essential intervention for sustainable rural water management under climate stress. It can increase irrigation dependability as well as agricultural resilience.
What inspired you and your team to focus on the socio-environmental impacts of ASR, especially in regions like South Bihar?
The decision to focus on South Bihar stemmed from its acute groundwater depletion, high dependency on agriculture, and deep-rooted socio-economic disparities. Although previous ASR studies emphasize hydrogeological feasibility, we found a critical gap in understanding the technology’s social and environmental implications in rural India of South Bihar. The region was perfectly situated to evaluate the potential inclusivity of water management systems due to its intricate caste system, land ownership patterns, and economic instability. Our multidisciplinary approach explored if ASR could be incorporated into these local settings in addition to its technical functionality.
Your research emphasizes the involvement of the local farming community. Can you share how this engagement has made a difference in the implementation of ASR initiatives?
Engagement with the local farming community transformed ASR from a technical solution into a socially grounded process. For instance, in Meyar village of Nalanda, Bihar, the active involvement of entrepreneurial farmers in maintaining recharge pits, managing irrigation schedules, and sharing benefits led to remarkable outcomes, which has improved groundwater levels and cropping intensity. The ownership in this village developed trust and ensured sustainability beyond the project’s duration (2019-21). Conversely, in Nekpur village of Nalanda, Bihar, the community participation was relatively low, so the ASR systems faced dilapidation. These contrasting cases highlight that local involvement is not peripheral but central to ASR’s success.
What were some of the most surprising findings from your study regarding the benefits of ASR for farmers in South Bihar?
One of the most striking outcomes was the measurable improvement in groundwater levels (up to 2.5 meters rise) in areas where ASR was actively maintained. Farmers also reported water availability in previously dry wells and could cultivate additional crops during the rabi season and increased their incomes and ensured food security. Another unexpected benefit was the improvement in water quality, with some farmers noting that soil salinity had decreased post-recharge. Such changes went beyond our initial expectations and affirmed that the socio-environmental value of ASR could be greater than previously documented, especially when community-led is utilized.
You mentioned that the long-term success of ASR depends on farmer-led ownership and institutional support. Can you elaborate on what these terms mean in practice?
Farmer-led ownership involves more than simply building recharge pits, it requires farmers to actively maintain them, make collective decisions on irrigation use, and invest emotionally and sometimes financially in the initiative. The institutional support refers to creating favorable conditions, such as, financial incentives at initial stage, local governance models, technical training, and develop policies to prioritize community water rights. Without such institutional scaffolding, even technically successful ASR systems risk relinquishment. Our study emphasized that a hybrid of grassroots leadership and structured institutional mechanisms is essential to make ASR viable and scalable.
What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve encountered in promoting ASR to farmers and local communities, and how do you suggest overcoming them?
The biggest hurdles include skepticism about the immediate benefits of ASR, unequal access to irrigation infrastructure, and reluctance to invest without external funding. In some villages, social dynamics like caste hierarchies or fragmented landholding further complicated the collective action. To address these, I recommend initiating ASR projects with medium or large farmers of the village who are already willing and capable of maintaining systems, while ready for benefit-sharing mechanisms with smallholders. Long-term awareness campaigns, technical training, and demonstration models can also help in building trust and understanding of the technology’s value in long term.
With climate change affecting water resources, how do you see the future of ASR initiatives in rural India?
As climate change exacerbates water variability with more intense droughts and floods possibly, ASR stands out as a dual-purpose solution. It captures and stores excess water during monsoons and provides access during dry periods. However, its future will depend on whether we can integrate ASR into broader climate-resilient agricultural strategies and rural development policies. Scaling ASR in a just and inclusive manner (especially in hilly and underserved areas like Nagaland or other Northeastern States) could play a pivotal role in climate-proofing of India’s rural economy.
Based on your findings, what key policy changes do you believe are necessary to support the wider adoption of ASR in India?
Policy frameworks should recognize ASR not just as a technical innovation, but as a socio-institutional reform. Wider adoption of ASR in India requires a fundamental policy shift that recognizes groundwater recharge not merely as a technical intervention but as a community-centric water governance model. Policies must support decentralized implementation by offering financial incentives to small and marginal farmers for constructing and maintaining ASR systems. Integration of ASR into national and state-level water resource management frameworks, such as MGNREGA, Jal Jeevan Mission, and agricultural subsidy schemes, would help institutionalize these practices. Additionally, long-term monitoring systems, data-sharing platforms, and local capacity-building programs are essential for sustainability. Drawing on my experience with the Aga Khan Foundation in developing an ASR policy framework for the Public Health Engineering Department of Bihar, I realized how field-level insights is critical for policy design and to make ASR viable in both rural and peri-urban settings. Such collaborative, evidence-based policymaking can serve as a blueprint for other states, especially in translating pilot successes into scalable, state-supported programs. Policies should also incentivize long-term maintenance through performance-linked grants and involve local bodies like Panchayats in supervision. Most importantly, a rights-based approach to groundwater governance can ensure equitable access of water.
You highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary studies in implementing ASR. Can you give an example of how different fields of study can contribute to this initiative?
Yes, an effective implementation of ASR requires contributions from hydrogeologist, engineer, and environmental and social scientists. For example, engineers and hydrogeologists can determine optimal pit design and site selection, sociologists can help us understand power dynamics, caste-based resource access, and community governance. Economists can model cost-benefit analyses and assess financial viability, while policy researchers can identify regulatory gaps. In our South Bihar project, this blend of disciplines allowed us to assess both recharge efficiency and social equity for a holistic understanding of ASR outcomes.
Similarly in a future application of ASR in Nagaland or other Northeastern States, a region marked by steep terrains, rapid surface runoff, and seasonal water scarcity, the engineers and geologists would first need to identify suitable recharge zones using terrain analysis, soil permeability studies, and aquifer mapping. Environmental scientists would then assess potential ecological impacts and design systems that maintain the local biodiversity and watershed health. At the same time, social scientists and anthropologists would engage with indigenous communities to understand traditional water management practices, local governance systems, and cultural perceptions of resource sharing. Economists and policy researchers would be crucial in designing cost-effective models for smallholder adoption and developing localized financing mechanisms.
In this context, a successful ASR initiative in Nagaland would not just be about constructing pits but about integrating scientific design with community ownership, cultural sensitivity, and institutional support. This kind of transdisciplinary collaboration ensures the long-term sustainability and acceptance of ASR in the complex ecological and social landscapes of the Northeast.
Lastly, Professor Sharma, what is your personal vision for the future of water management in India? How do you hope your research will influence this vision?
My vision for India’s water management future is rooted in decentralization, resilience, and justice. I envision a landscape where community-led and ecologically grounded water management practices like ASR become integral to rural development, not just in the Gangetic plains but also in ecologically sensitive and water-stressed regions like Nagaland and other parts of the Northeast in India. Despite receiving ample rainfall in these hilly terrains, they often face water scarcity due to limited storage capacity, rapid runoff, and inadequate infrastructure. ASR could offer a transformative solution by enabling rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge. Our research emphasizes that ASR is not a one-size fit for all model but it must be a locally adapted and socially anchored approach. I hope this work demonstrates how integrating hydrological science with community participation can yield scalable, sustainable models fitted even for complex geographies like Nagaland. By bridging science, policy, and people, I believe my research can contribute to building climate-resilient rural systems across India.
