This summer the district of Banda in the drought prone Bundelkhand region recorded some of the highest temperatures in the country, with mercury repeatedly crossing 47°C and approaching 48°C during May. While climate change has intensified heatwaves across India, experts say another factor is making the crisis even worse: the steady loss of groundwater and traditional water systems.
According to a recent study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), rising temperatures and shrinking water resources are creating a dangerous cycle that is increasing vulnerability in rural communities. As groundwater levels fall and ponds dry up, the land loses its natural cooling ability, causing temperatures to rise even further.
For generations communities in Bundelkhand survived harsh summers through a network of ponds, tanks and open wells that stored monsoon rainwater and helped recharge groundwater. Over time, however, many of these traditional systems have deteriorated due to neglect, siltation, encroachment and unplanned development. Declining tree cover has further reduced the land’s ability to absorb rainfall, causing more water to run off rather than seep into the ground.
As surface water sources weakened, dependence on groundwater increased dramatically. Wells, borewells and hand pumps became the primary sources of water for drinking, farming and livestock. Years of excessive extraction, combined with inadequate recharge, have pushed groundwater reserves to critical levels.
The CSE study conducted across 15 villages in four blocks of Banda district, found that many households continue to struggle with water shortages despite receiving tap water connections under the Jal Jeevan Mission. Nearly half of the surveyed households reported water shortages during summer, while 32 percent experienced shortages daily. More than half said the supplied water was insufficient and that they still depended on groundwater sources.
Researchers found that groundwater remains the backbone of rural water security in the region. Yet around 34 percent of groundwater sources, including hand pumps, borewells and open wells, were found to be defunct. Many had dried up completely while others produced only limited amounts of water during peak summer months.
The study also documented significant declines in groundwater levels over the past decade. In some areas water tables have fallen by more than two metres, forcing villagers to dig deeper wells and increasing the risk of water scarcity during droughts and heatwaves.
The impact of extreme heat further compounds the problem. During periods when temperatures exceed 45°C, demand for water rises sharply for drinking, irrigation and livestock. At the same time, higher temperatures cause faster evaporation reducing soil moisture and drying up ponds more quickly than in previous years.
One example highlighted in the report is a pond in Tindwara village. Satellite imagery showed that its area shrank by more than 18 percent between 2012 and 2026 reducing its water storage capacity and limiting its role as a local water source during the hottest months.
Experts warn that this creates a self reinforcing cycle. Falling groundwater levels worsen the effects of heatwaves, while rising temperatures increase water demand and accelerate groundwater depletion. Together, these pressures are making rural communities increasingly vulnerable.
The consequences are visible across everyday life. Women often travel long distances to collect water when local hand pumps fail. Farmers are changing cropping patterns as irrigation becomes less reliable. Labourers continue working in dangerous heat because they cannot afford to lose daily income.
The report notes that even some water conservation projects have failed to halt groundwater decline because they were poorly planned, inadequately maintained or not suited to local geological conditions. In many places, groundwater extraction continues to exceed natural recharge rates.
Researchers argue that long term solutions must focus on restoring traditional water systems, protecting catchment areas, improving groundwater recharge and increasing tree cover. Reviving ponds and local water bodies can help store rainwater, cool surrounding areas and strengthen resilience to heatwaves. Trees can further reduce temperatures, slow runoff and improve water infiltration into the soil.
The situation in Banda serves as a warning for many other regions of India facing similar challenges. While climate change is making heatwaves more frequent and intense, experts say the degradation of local water systems is magnifying their impacts. Without action to restore water resources and groundwater reserves, many communities could face even more severe heat and water stress in the years ahead.