INDIGENOUS WATER SYSTEMS AND SUSTAINABILITY: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ARID AND COLD DESERT REGIONS IN INDIA

Water security in ecologically fragile regions of India is increasingly challenged by climatic variability, groundwater stress, and the gradual decline of indigenous water management systems.This study examines the sustainability of traditional water systems in two climatically extreme regions-the arid desert district of Churu in Rajasthan and the cold desert region of Ladakh-within the framework of contemporary rural water supply initiatives, particularly the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).Using primary household survey data collected during 2023-2024 along with secondary institutional records, the study evaluates the performance of JJM services alongside indigenous systems such as tankas, kunds, johads, and khadins in Churu, and P. K.