Ripples of restoration: The story of India’s Lake Maker
Dr. Savji Dhokalia, a leading Indian diamantaire, philanthropist and conservationist, who is the driving force behind one of the country’s privately funded water resource restoration projects.
OCTOBER 16, 2024
Dr. Savji Dholakia is best known as the founder of Hari Krishna Exports, one of the world’s largest diamond manufacturing companies. However, he also is a committed philanthropist, dedicated to transforming the lives of India’s most vulnerable communities. There, his focus largely has been environmental restoration, and in particular the conservation and improvement of water resources.
Dr. Dholakia’s efforts to revive rivers and lakes in drought-prone regions of India are on a scale that is almost unheard of in the diamond industry, which long has had a history of paying back to the societies and countries in which it operates.
The first project he initiated, Mission 100 Lakes (#Mission100Lakes), has thus far provided crucial support to more 250,000 farmers and local citizens by creating a reliable source of water for household and agricultural use, helping mitigate the severe effects of climate change.
In recognition of his contribution, in 2022 Dr. Dholakia’s was awarded the prestigious Padma Shri Award by Indian President Ram Nath Kovind. It is the country’s fourth highest civilian honor.
His story remains as an inspiration to how businesses can be a force for positive and catalytic transformation, combatting global challenges such as climate change, global warming and the related water crises.
Out in the field, Hari Krishna founder Dr. Savji Dhokalia riding a scoop where restoration work is being done as part of the #Mission100Lakes project.
Reviving the Gagadiya River
The Gagadiya River winds its way through the Amreli District in the Indian State of Gujarat. Over the centuries it supplied water for drinking and agriculture to a region with a population that today exceeds 1.5 million people. But largely through neglect it had become an unreliable source of water supply, posing a serious threat to the farmers and communities that lived along its banks and in its immediate vicinity. In the wake of global warming, with increasingly erratic rainfall and recurring droughts, agriculture in the district was on the brink of collapse.
Born and having grown up in Dudhala, a village in the Amreli District, Dr. Dholakia River was acutely aware of the state of the Gagadiya River, and instinctively understood the need for a major intervention. In 2017, he began work on restoring a lake immediately in front of his village home. The effort was successful, so he quickly expanded the operation to create five more lakes called the Pachganga Tirth.
Recognizing the urgent need to restore water bodies, not only in Dudhala but for the whole Amreli District, #Mission100Lakes was launched, with the goal creating 100 water reservoirs along a distance of 53 kilometers from Chamardi to Krankach.
The 52.9-kilometer #Mission100Lakes, from Chamardi to Krankash in the Amreli Distict in the Indian State of Gujarat.
Multiple phases have already been completed, including deepening and widening the riverbed, removing silt, and constructing check dams to manage water flow and ensure consistent groundwater recharge.
The results have been transformative. The rejuvenated water body greatly increased water availability, making it possible for farmers to grow crops year-round, thus improving agricultural productivity between 75 to 100 percent across the Amreli District. More than 25 billion liters of water were conserved, doubling the irrigation capacity for products like cotton and groundnut.
The project has not only enhanced agriculture, it also uplifted the local economy, reducing migration from the area. #Mission100Lakes restored a sense of hope and security to rural households, who for long while saw family members choosing to leave the countryside for the cities, in search of work.
Addressing India’s national water crisis
Water scarcity is one of India’s most pressing challenges, particularly in rural areas where agriculture is the primary source of livelihood. According to NITI Aayog, 600 million people in country already face extreme water stress, with many major cities are projected to see their underground aquifers dry up by 2030. As climate change accelerates, reliable access to water is becoming even more critical to sustaining agricultural productivity and ensuring food security.
The success of the #Mission100Lakes project, with the restoration of a reliable water supply along 53 kilometers of the Gagadiya River, was an example of how it is possible to mitigate the impacts of water scarcity and climate change. It inspired the launch of Mission River in January 2024, aiming to restore rivers across the country.
Construction of the Devaliya Canal, near the village of Harsurpur, along the Gagadiya River.
The revitalized farmlands straddling the Gagadiya River, following the opening of Devaliya Canal.
To date, the Dholakia Foundation, the charitable trust created by Dr. Dholakia and Hari Krishna Exports, has restored 160 lakes across India, providing critical relief to regions suffering from severe water shortages. These lakes play a vital role in recharging groundwater levels, thus ensuring sustainable access to water for irrigation, drinking, and other essential needs. Ongoing projects under Mission River include the restoration of the Kalwa and Saraswati rivers, which are also located in the State of Gujarat.
Aside from water restoration, the Dholakia Foundation has also spearheaded a large-scale afforestation effort, with more than 3.2 million trees thus far having been planted, helping to reduce soil erosion and improve local ecosystems, combatting the devastating effects of deforestation.
Significantly, trees play a key role in regulating the water cycle, and their presence helps maintain the health of agricultural lands, further supporting the livelihoods of farming communities.
Uplifting communities through water restoration
Restoration efforts, like those undertaken by the Dholakia Foundation, are powerful tools that address climate change. As water bodies are revived, they help to stabilize local ecosystems, improve biodiversity and reduce the negative impacts of deforestation and land degradation. With access to consistent water supply, farmers can implement more sustainable agricultural practices, diversify their crops, and reduce their reliance on chemical fertilizers.
But water restoration is about more than just ensuring a steady supply of water—it’s also is about revitalizing and supporting sustainable economic and social development.
India’s rural population includes communities that are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Rising temperatures, unpredictable monsoons and the increasing frequency of droughts are placing immense pressure on farmers, many of whom rely on seasonal rainfall to grow their crops. Without reliable water resources, farming becomes a precarious livelihood, and rural families face an uncertain future.
Water resource restoration work underway in the State of Gujarat, courtesy of the Dholakia Foundation, the chartitable trust created by Dr. Savji Dholakia and Hari Krishna Exports.
But the direct impact on agriculture tells only part of the story. In rural areas, where access to water is often limited, women and children are typically responsible for collecting the precious resource from distant sources. This not only takes a significant amount of time and energy but also limits their opportunities for education and participation in the economy.
When water is readily available, women have more time to invest in other activities, including education, entrepreneurship, and community building. Youth, too, benefit from the improved local economy, with more opportunities for employment and better prospects for the future.
A holistic approach to water restoration not only improves living conditions for current generations, but also ensures that future generations will have the resources they need in order to thrive.
Leadership and global recognition
Dr. Dholakia’s initiative to restore water resources in India has earned international recognition. The #Mission100Lakes project garnered global attention during the UN Water Conference at the United Nation headquarters in New York in March 2023, where it was formally recognized.
The Dholakia Foundation, currently led by global climate leader Keziah Theresee Gerosano, has become a key partner of the United Nations for Ecosystem Restoration. It has joined global initiatives like the World Economic Forum’s 1t.org, which aims to plant one trillion trees worldwide by 2030. Such partnerships underscore the foundation’s goal not only to address India’s water and climate challenges, but also to contribute to environmental sustainability on a global scale.
Dr. Dholakia’s approach to philanthropy is deeply rooted in his belief that business success should be used as a platform to uplift others. His leadership in environmental restoration has provided a model for how the private sector can play a critical role in tackling global challenges like water scarcity and climate change.
Within Hari Krishna Exports, this principle of environmental conservation is spearheaded by a second generation of diamantaires including Hasu Dholakia, Rajesh Dholakia, Dharmesh Dholakia, Pintu Dholakia, Brijesh Dholakia, Hitarth Dholakia, Dravya Dholakia and Heet Dholakia. Through their work, Dr. Dholakia, Hari Krishna Exports and the Dholakia Foundation are proving that sustainable development is achievable and that it benefits everyone—businesses, employees, communities, and the environment alike.
Dr. Savji Dholakia (left) receiving the Padma Shri Award from Indian President Ram Nath Kovind in 2022, in recognition of his contribution to the country and its people. It is India’s fourth highest civilian honor.
As the world continues to grapple with water scarcity and the impacts of climate change, Dr. Savji Dholakia and the Dholakia Foundation’s hope to inspire intergenerational change for the better. The diamond business is taking the lead, not only within its own supply chains but also across the broader community, regions and ecosystems.