Volunteers begin reviving abandoned stepwell at Mutga in Belagavi

Volunteers have begun the cleaning and redevelopment of a historic stepwell at Mutga in Belagavi city, in Karnataka.

The stepwell has a rectangular and a circular section, interconnected through a stone archway. Local residents believe it was a place for women to gather water for their household, and for the soldiers to bring their horses to drink water.

The stone structure at Kanchveer Nagar in Mutga, around eight km from Belagavi on the Bagalkot highway, had been closed for decades. People had stopped using it after a few dry spells. The stepwell is covered by a thick overgrowth, the mud has collapsed, and people had started throwing garbage and debris in the premises.

Community effort and shramadan (volunteers) are expected to rejuvenate it. It is expected to not only preserve a heritage structure, but also meet drinking water needs of nearby village residents.

The initiative was launched by members of Pyaas Foundation and INTACH in association with local residents. The project was included in the Belagavi Step wells Campaign launched by INTACH Belagavi Chapter in collaboration with Maharashtra Barav Moheem (Maharashtra Step-wells Campaign).

Members of KLE’s NSS unit also joined a voluntary effort by the foundation. They cut down the bushes, cleared the debris, and carried away the mud and stones.

“The work is expected to be completed soon. The stepwell should fill up in the first rains,” said Madhav Prabhu, foundation president.