In 1985, Jodhpur experienced one of its worst droughts of the century. The city was on the verge of evacuation while its numerous baoris, instruments of its traditional self-sufficiency in water, lay neglected.

The crisis served to bring forth a popular response. The Chand and Jalap baoris were cleaned up by municipal authorities, and their water was supplied to the city. The Tapi baori, however, had been filled to the brim with civic garbage. Shivram Purohit, a resident of Bhimji-ka-mohalla near the baori, encouraged local youth to excavate the garbage from the stepwell. Purohit, who was nominated the treasurer of 1rhe Tapi Safai Abhiyan Samiti, was the first to donate Its 1,000. While the residents collected another Its 7,500, the district collector gave Rs 12,000. Once the cleaning operation was over, the public health engineering department installed a pump to supply the water. The rejuvenated baori provided 0.23 million gallons per day of water to a thirsty city.

However. by 1989 - a year of good rains - the baori was back in a state of neglect and disrepair. Purohit argues that this was because water was more easily available through municipal taps. It is difficult to prevent people from misusing the well - it is used for bathing these days - as it is a community well. To solve the problem to some extent, Purobit has built a small tank and a closed bathing space for people to have their bath without actually stepping into the well.

People have short memories and have forgotten the role played by the baori in 1985, A similar drought will perhaps turn them back to it for help. Till then, only a handful of people truly understand its worth.